Saturday 10th - Cutting more bits out

 Hmm, what was I saying last week about 4790 definitely being a quick repaint...?

Blimey Alan, did your angle grinder slip!? A very rotten corner here, but it needs dealing with, and it shouldn't hold things up on the paint job.

James attacked the other corner on the North end, with similar results.

Left, investigatory cuts, middle, new panel tacked in, right, the cause of the problem, a riveted patch with a blob of sealant. We can do better than that!

Alan also reinstated the guttering on the South end where he'd previously patched a new panel in, so that's all done, and shows these things needn't be too disruptive. 

One of the pattresses for the electrical connections was also pretty rotten so Phil set to on that. I had intended to get the masking tape on ready for livery undercoating but found a fair bit more prep to do on window frames on the Cotswold side, which was tricky to access whilst it was on the jack road. Hopefully we can still get some undercoat on on Tuesday albeit maybe not the whole coach.

Onto other matters then, Robert and Chris were cutting some more oak for pelmet infill pieces in the RBr saloon.

While Simon was cutting some new panelling for the FK vestibule.

Also on the FK was Ben who was sorting out a new capping strip for the North end.

He and Dave examine the fit.

Helen and Laura were both on DFR seats today judging by the moquette they're working.

Last week it was Ian, this week Pam joined upholstery! No stranger to the work having worked on Rolls Royces and private planes before, Pam took on the guards seat in the BCK that needed reupholstering.

Outside the 03 was receiving a bit of TLC from the dirty gang. First of all a steam clean...

Followed by a thorough greasing and oiling in all the necessary points. Ian not living up to the team name there in clean new overalls! And I'm going to have to signwrite those numbers back aren't I...

Back inside the paintshop Dave was progressing the window trim for 4798. No varnishing today with all the dust in the paintshop but staining is ok.

Onto the Mica then and Maurice top-coated the latest batch of planks ready for fitting.

Andy and John were working on a jig to bend up the new handrails.

This was it at the end of play today to do the main curve, other kinks and bends need to be added too. Next week we might have a go at heating some bar up - we have a couple of spare lengths for the 'learning process'!

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Last little bit of my tour of the little Welsh railways...

So last day, and to the cradle of railway preservation, Tywyn for the Talyllyn Railway. Their entrance had a nice contrast of heritage signage and some tasteful information boards, very good.

The views along the way are not quite so dramatic as the Welsh Highland, but equally pleasing.

Our train up to Nant Gwernol was double headed which was a good bonus. Due to the very short headshunt the locos had to run round one at a time.

The obligatory waterfall walk had a good railway element too, as the remains of one of the inclines that connected the quarry with the railway proper is partially preserved. Winding house top right, remains of stables behind the information board.

Hold on tight for the descending journey! Apparently runaway wagons were not uncommon, escapees finding their way into the river.

Our train back duly arrived in the dappled sunlight.

At the run-round I admired their excellently turned out carriages - I liked the droplight in the centre of the end observation coach.

Inside, a double take spotted that all the 'doors' on the other side were no such thing, just droplights in fixed panels. We learnt that was a stipulation of the railway inspectorate when inspecting the line when it originally opened to passengers.

A mandatory 30 minute stop at Abergnolwyn on the way back to encourage you to visit the tea room (which we obliged with an ice cream) saw they had some future plans on display, great idea, and all looks very promising for the future.

On return to Tywyn, a look around the museum was called for. They certainly crammed a lot in, both exhibits and information!

Due to the local topography, whilst it was on 2 levels the top level was also 'ground level which enabled some heavy exhibits up here too. It must have been quite an operation to get everything in!

So that was the end of our tour of little Welsh railways. Excellent fun, very different to the usual, all presented to a very high standard, and perhaps some pointers for us too.