Thursday 3rd - First forays

An interesting day, particularly with the arrival of our new coach FO 3127 at Winchcombe.

*************

Firstly in response to a comment from Neil at the end of Tuesday's post:

A slight correction to my statement about the acquisition of FO 3127. The PLC are the owners of the new coach. Dave H. made the very generous donation which enabled its purchase from the East Lancs Railway. 3127 will be named 'Carol' after Dave's wife and will go into Crimson & Cream livery.

The two NYMR coaches are with us on a free loan for 10 years, with the option for them to be returned if required by the NYMR. This happened for a short time after the pandemic when the lockdowns had ceased and heritage railways could resume running. 

**************

Now some further photos from Roger taken on Tuesday in SK 24949, where repairs were being made to the south vest67ibule ceiling.

***************

Now on to the arrival of FO 3127 at the Works and for most of us an initial foray inside. Dave H. and Richard J. would of course have viewed it all before agreeing to buy it.

Neil and Stu brought it down from Toddington and stabled it in the Works siding, conveniently next to the Paintshop side door.

With the Southern Region livery S3127 could well have been initially from Riviera Trains.

When climbing inside the north vestibule, the impression was one of damp and mustiness, and the eyes were immediately drawn to a nice hole on the Malvern side.

Then into the north compartment where Paul and Dave were having a grand tidy up. That's better!

Some areas made 3127 appear as though it was in service!

The formica ceiling looks in good condition.

How the moquette looked when it was new. It all looks very familiar. Have Upholstery used this for  cushions, bags and glasses cases? We have obtained quite a bit of moquette in all sorts of design and colour specifically for our shop sales.

Some definite work needed here!

The centre doors out of use and the vestibules blocked with shelving. Former main line running was very evident with both this and the secondary locks on the doors at both ends.

Need to preserve these.

*************

Now on to the rest of the day's activities.

We want to get SO 4790 finished and out of the Paintshop in about two weeks to enable 2807 to come in for painting in wartime black. Jeff does what he really enjoys. We all liked the hat - very professional!

Phil J. prepares for what both he and most of us don't enjoy, varnishing!  First he gives the upper section paintwork a light sand with 240 paper. He then gave a second coat of varnish from the south end to just after the first window.

The central window sections on both sides have yet to receive any varnish, so time to get cracking on the Cotswold side. Phil completed this, leaving just the Malvern side windows still to be done.

Phil S. creates some brackets to support the anti-frost heating unit that will be fitted in RBr 1675's kitchen.

The first heater in its bracket supports provides frost control for the kitchen skid and associated equipment.

Phil demonstrates where the Pantry frost control heater will be located.

In the Barn John is carefully raising and lowering SK 25451 on to its new bogies, ensuring the pins are correctly located in the bogie centres. The coach had come in for a bogie swap.

Rex and the team are back on window reinstating on SO 4798.

Jeff begins varnishing the new inner window sections for 4798 that were recently made by Robert and Chris. Phil tops up with more varnish, while he and Jeff discuss C&W finances, both involved with looking after our budgetting.

The supply of planks for the MICA van seems never ending. Alex did say how many would be required - the number was staggering! Maurice now gives this batch the initial top coat. The second coat will be applied once installed on the van. The backs of all the planks are receiving a coat of wood preserver.

The Santa coach steps still being repainted - actually this one looks new.

The Malvern side revolving locking bar now installed on the MICA van.

It was a really lovely day and well worth a walk up the yard to take a few photos before going back to have a look at S3127.

Wednesday 2nd - Work for everyone

 As volunteers we are always up for something new, today was no exception. Upholstery are a bit short of operatives so the idea was presented to Chris, could you help in upholstery? Oh yes please was the response ……and so …..

Chris's first comment was, how quiet it is in upholstery unlike the workshop.

Laura is cutting lining material for their famous line of shopping bags.

Another view of Chris with Eve in the background, stripping seats from the 'Bluebell' Railway.

down in the workshop, Bob is making a new piece to be welded in to the Mica Van. The edge was a bit rough so it was decided to insert a new piece.

...... Once he had finished the Mica Van job, he moved under 1675 to fit a mounting plate which will carry the water inlet pipe and drain valve.

Nice to see Tony in today, very busy overhauling brake cylinders.

These sections, four in all are from the Open C wagon and needed some weathered holes welding, John is cleaning to make ready for welding.

Simon is measuring finishing pieces for the windows in 4798, some were damaged during removal.

Rex is working a bit further along, there is a long way to go.

Still with 4798, the doorfit team are checking panel alignment/radius with our purpose made former.

It seems they are happy and so the door is brought to the vehicle.

Dave is preparing to continue the repaint of the steps for the Santa coach in Platform One bay.

It was a day of progress, with work for everyone who attended.

Many thanks to Eve and Gerry for the photos.

Tuesday 1st - The New Arrival

A busy day in the Works with a good number in for a Tuesday, and a good day with a very special event to end it.

The steps into the Santa coach (former SK 25628) needed repainting. After a clean up Ian began repainting the top and face of each one in Black MIO, which being hard wearing should last longer.

By the time I entered the Woodshop to see what Chris and Robert were doing, quite a bit had already been done with Robert tidying up.

They were making more internal window framing for SO 4798. Chris finishes this piece.

Robert checks to ensure all is ok.

A new plank has been cut ready for the next batch of framing.

A nice stack completed and placed by Stu T.'s desk as he had requested them.

Ainsley with a new bit of frame for FK 13326

Even when we don't paint beneath the sole bar, we always do the fuse boxes and external charging points. Ian does the job on SO 4790.

We are now into second coating the external varnish. Richard lightly sands the Cotswold side with 320 paper.

With the bottom section lightly sanded and wiped, Stu applies the second coat of varnish.

Later on with Richard and Stu sharing the north end lower section on the Cotswold side. We are nearly there with 4790.

The MICA van rebuild is continuing to advance. Maurice primes the waiting set of planks.

[Photo : Paul E.]   Then more planks appear ......

(Photo : Paul E]   ....... and also need to be done.

[Photo : Paul E.]  Robert and Chris were later to be found adding another plank to the south end of the van.

[Photo : Paul E.]  The result. These planks are a bit of a trial to mount, partly because they have to be bent into position.

More assessment, this time concerning the main support timbers.

We are making excellent progress with the painting inside RBr 1675. Martin initially top coated the long picture rail dividing the wall and ceiling.

He then moved on to the back of the first set of double doors.

Pam arrived and continued the top coating from the first window at the south end of the corridor.

As a final job for the day after the varnishing on 4790, Richard completed the undercoating on the 1675's saloon sliding door.

A number of items for Keith to prepare and paint, which included door hinges from the MICA van, a new footboard, and another item from the Open C wagon.

Dave prepares more items from TK 24006 which are later varnished.

P & O was running today along with the DMU.

***************

And now on to today's big event at Toddington which was the arrival of FO 3127 from the East Lancs Railway.

Many thanks to Richard J. for the photos.

So, another step towards getting identical rake formations. We may be able to begin restoration towards the end of next year, very much depending of course on what else is going on. When the time eventually comes for painting I must make sure we have a good stock of crimson and cream!

All this of course thanks to the huge generosity of Dave H., who already owns BCK 21092 and co-owns TK 24006. I'm fairly sure 3127 will be named and have a very good idea what it will be. No wonder he looks happy!