Tuesday 29th - Settling back down

After a very busy gala weekend, time to get everything packed away and get back to business as usual.  

A comment was made at the end of Monday's posting as to how well we think we did over the weekend. As Alex said in reply, we probably did very well, in particular with all our haulage being done by members of our home fleet. This is the third year that we have run the mixed traction gala and each time it has thankfully proved to be very popular. Saturday was the busiest of the two days, as shown by the numbers on the trains and visiting Carriage & Wagon.

So on to today's activities. Many thanks to Paul E. for the extra photos.

Beginning today with the improvement to the lower section of TSO 4772 using the powered polisher with some cutting paste. Taking off the tarnished layer is making a big difference. Richard completed the Cotswold side and began the Malvern side, which I later continued.

Ian did the north end and part of the south end by hand and produced a decent result.

We have 4772 for a short time only before 3850 comes in, to be followed by FK 13326 to complete its refurbishment. So we have to get a move on if we want to complete the cleaning up. It would be good to get the cream section done as well.

The seating of the south end planking on the MICA has proved to be problematical and both Robert and Chris made a determined effort to sort it out.

It involved some trimming and pulling out at the ends to make the planks seat better than they were currently.

Chris helps with the reseating and cuts a hole ready for one of the end handrails.

Robert uses his electric chisel to trim this particular plank. The end result of all their hard work was a nicely fitted set of planks with screw holes filled and everything ready for further painting.

Now for the Cotswold side doors. Discussion time for Robert, Chris and Paul.

[Photo : Paul E.]  Test fitting of the door frames.

[Photo : Paul E. - taken by Maurice]. The door hinges had all been painted but a small amount had to be removed to enable proper movement.

[Photo : Paul E.]

There was a veritable "sea" of planks to prime. More were on trestles along the Paintshop wall. Both Keith and Maurice were busy with this.

I needed to go up to the station and while there took the opportunity to capture some autumn scenes. It was very atmospheric, especially with the distant sound of the train making its way to Cheltenham and very much reminded me of a typical Peter Handford recording.

[Photo : Paul E.]  Paul captured Maurice touching up the red primer on the Open C wagon where some subsequent metalworking had been done and also bits that had been missed (hidden) when the spraying was done.

[Photo : Paul E.]

The four corner sections from the Open C wagon in the Workshop for cleaning up and repair.

Derek doing minor hole filling on the side of the Monster van.

Under a very overcast and threatening sky, P & O rumbles by on its way to the station. Not long after the rain started.

It was just Stu working in RBr 1675. The north end door and newly undercoated bit by the counter were top coated. Stu then began adding a second top coat to the corridor walls where the first coat was patchy. The light in the corridor isn't good.

Wanting a break from the work on 4772, Richard moved to the Barn and started removing the old transfers from SO 4798.

While there I caught Ainsley working in⁰ the south vestibule on FK 13326.

Keith gave a coat of Hammerite to the heating pipe covers that George had sanded on Saturday. George had made a very good job of cleaning these up, which made the painting very much easier.

Taking apart and collecting up all the Gala items, whether for display or for barriers and advice, takes less time than it does for setting it all up. It's still a lengthy job though and with just the viewing area barrier stands to dismantle and store, the end is in sight.

The lovely green Class 37 roars away from the station with the last train of the day. Just two more days of normal running. Then in mid November it's the race trains followed by the Santa season.

Monday 28th - After The Gala

 We arrive after a Gala wondering what we will find. This time? Not bad at all!

However numbers of volunteers were down a little (11 is down a little, what a change from days gone by when this would have been a bumper turnout!) so it was straight down to business and so only 2 photos.

First up is the outside team of Paul, Peter and Tim, having a second go at the Cotswold side of rake 1, once again with carriage "A" on the platform. Hopefully that will last a little now.

The only other photo is Roger C and Val cleaning inside rake 1.

All working away in various places inside were John M, Kath, Nigel and Steve. After Ghostbusting Rich was also allowed to use the new spot mop after the extensive training course!

Sat 26th / Sun 27th - An excellent gala weekend

Saturday

The day dawns on the Autumn Gala and it promises to be a good one, both from the interest and weather points of view.

What better than to start with the freight, as always one of the highlights of any gala. Maurice and I arrived and leapt out of the car when we spotted the Queen Mary brakevan at the end of Platform 1.

Alex and Steve look out for the camera.

In Platform 2 Dinmore Manor waits with Rake 3 to take it up to Toddington ready for its first passengers.

On to the Saturday activities in the Works with Jenny cleaning the three harnesses used with our Fall Arrest System.

Oh dear. Phil did tell me what he was cleaning, but with everything else over the weekend, I have forgotten. It's probably a light cover from RBr 1675.

Yet more cleaning, this time by Dave with the windows on FO 3127.

Saturday's Gala visits literally took off almost from the start of our opening. We open from 1000 to 1700 on both days. This was the scene in the Paintshop at 1055.

Keith greets another group about to enter the Paintshop.

Meanwhile Pam, who is one of our Gala monitors, took some time out to continue her upholstery work for BCK 21272.

Laura was doing more side panels in the lovely Snapdragon moquette for SO 4798.

With our repainting inside 1675, one area by the  counter kept being overlooked. The larger area (once used for notices) was recently undercoated. Jeff now takes care of the remaining bit.

That's better! [Photo taken on Sunday]

George cleans up some rusting heating pipe covers.

Back to Laura using the overlocking machine. These look like the makings of another spectacle case.

Eve is stripping down more of the seats from the Bluebell Railway.

A quick yell to Pam that we have some little four-legged visitors and she was soon downstairs with the doggy treats. We had a nice chat with this couple and their two very endearing little companions who were very grateful for the handouts.

Sunday

The weather promised to be even better on Sunday which was great news with which to start the day.

As I went out to check the viewing area barrier, a distant whistle announced an approaching train. If the time was about the same as yesterday this had to be the freight with 3850 in charge - a perfect combination.

Always a joy to see. It's no surprise that some of the biggest crowds visiting our viewing area are when the freight is due. 

With the freight briefly halting in the station, time to get on and prepare the Works for the Sunday opening. When we aren't working we let our visitors walk through the Workshop and Barn via a taped corridor.

Newly painted 2807 approaches ready to pick up Rake 3.

Now back to Toddington with the rake.

A poignant moment as the DMU slows for the station. How much longer will we see this before it departs for Scotland and a new home.

Later in the day, the weather is glorious, and Pam has made yet another four-legged friend.

Another passing of the DMU and getting well filmed and photographed, such is its popularity.

No wonder the numbers in the viewing area were gathering. P & O on the freight was a big draw, even when going tender first. Just look at the crowd in the front veranda on the Queen Mary!

Now back into the Barn to greet and talk to vistors.

The lights were switched on inside 1675 and the tape swung over to enable viewing of our progress inside the saloon.

During the early afternoon I had a phone call from Glyn. Toddington shop were in desperate need of more cushions. So after Eve had booked them out, Robert and I caught the next train and took up six in two packages. After restocking, the nice array of cushions under the shop counter. More cushions, and bags and spectacle cases were on a nearby shelf. Laura told me on Saturday that over 40 bags have now been sold.

A further request came later on for 3 more bags. Another train ride? No, they were packaged up and given to the guard to drop off at the shop.

With the shortage of available cushions Pam rejoined Eve and got going on another batch.

Robert, having enjoyed the day on the trains, in particular the DMU, got going with some work on the MICA van. The bottom 4 planks on both sides of the doorway on the Cotswold side were removed ready for the eventual fitting of the handrails at both ends.

Pam and Eve have now moved on to more stripping down of the Bluebell Railway seats.

Another four-legged visitor receives some welcome fuss.

It was getting on for 5 and regarding visitors it had been quiet for a while. So we leapt to it, retrieved everything from outside, and closed the gates from the station. Pam loads the last of the barrier chain into the bucket. 

Just before going home, a little cameo of night time running with the last trains of the Gala.

So that's it for another year. 

Many thanks to Nick, Eve, Pam, Stu H., Dennis, Keith, David, and James for helping with the monitoring over the two days. It was the first time for Stu and he said he thoroughly enjoyed meeting and talking to the many visitors. Overall it is very heartening to see how much interest in our work is shown by our visitors. It makes all the planning and setting up for galas so worthwhile.

The next gala is of course the Cotswold Festival of Steam in May. Wonder what guest engines will appear?