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?