Thursday 19th - Quiet again, but busy as ever

Another very quiet day as the autumn holiday season continues. Just 11 of us in today.

To kick things off Stu needed to get another vac cylinder ready for use, so Maurice stepped in to coat it in black MIO (Micaceous Iron Oxide). 

Later on I captured Stu pressing rubber seals within the piston and then reconnecting the two halves.

Bryan and Rex were back on 4798's windows. Bryan initially was lightly sanding a section of internal frame.

Now sorting out the various rivet holes in the surrounding panelling of the current window.

Returning later to find that the glass has been put back.

TSO 4763 has replaced 4798 on the jack road to enable the underframe maintenance.

Being handy in the Barn helped Roger and Alan resecure some loose tables inside.

Graffittee is steadily sppearing in the dusty side of 4798.

Clean? No, it will be a repaint, but a long way to go yet before we can contemplate that.

3850 rumbles by on its way to the station and the token exchange.

With 4763 now in the Barn, FK 13326 had to be put out in the yard. 13326 could well follow 4790 in the Paintshop if we can get the coach structurally completed.

With the sound of shunting going on I went outside to see what was being moved and began to hope that maybe the Tool Vans and Tank Wagons were at last going to be taken to Toddington.

A little later the flat wagons had been uncoupled and were being returned to the siding.

And then joy oh joy.  With Neil driving the O3 and Stu acting as guard, the mini freight train trundled on its way north.

When I looked at my Tuesday post I saw that Alex had updated the text in the final photo, where I had wondered just when the vehicles would depart. Apparently there had been a recent flurry of emails discussing when the move would take place.

Sometime later the 03 returned with the brake van and another flat.

With some of the Monster van now undercoated, Derek begins sanding the next section.

Back in the Paintshop Maurice undercoats the hinges from the MICA van. 

Near the end of the day I suddenly remembered that Paul E. had reqested that the three planks in the Workshop were undercoated. A final job for Maurice before we packed up for the day. 

Kevin endlessly seeks to improve our Works. Here he is setting up a proper storage area for all our wrenches, making use of the non-slip tape to improve the grip. On the amusing side, this wide yellow tape was continually being stored with our regular yellow sandpaper, although I don't think anyone went as far as cutting some for one of the pad sanders!

A nice day always tempts everyone to enjoy their lunch outside, and what better when you can enjoy the trains as well. Stu, Rex, Bryan and Gerry make the most of it all.

Last, but certainly not least, today's efforts with 4790 were once again based on getting the little external paint jobs completed. Jeff completed the remaining bits of lining out on the north end corner sections and doors.

Sometimes, but thankfully not often, things just don't work out. The painting at the south end hadn't gone on well and it all had to be sanded back. I managed to get the left side and about half of the right side done. Obviously it's frustrating, but best done now before we begin the major job of varnishing, and all by hand sanding to minimise the dust.

The painting at the north end was a lot better and as such the edges were finished off by Jeff.

The remaining lining out completed, with both the doors and north corner sections very neatly done. 

The end of a busy day as 3850 heads the final train back to Toddington. I am really pleased the display Tool Vans and Tank Wagons are up there at last - a nice thought to end the day. Although for Maurice and myself it was back to work for another half hour or so, for Maurice the MICA planks and for me back to sanding down the south end of 4790.