Tuesday 22nd - A very varied day

A quiet start soon changed as more arrived and the day progressed with overall a lot achieved. Many thanks to Paul E. for the photos of the Open C wagon.

It was dull initially, but the weather continued to improve. P&O rumbles past the Paintshop and newly outshopped SO 4790. 

I was lucky to get this shot as it was a last second decision. I quickly pointed the phone and hoped my finger hit the virtual button correctly to enable the camera to function - it doesn't always!

Paul and Maurice sort out the next set of MICA van planks .........

...... which Keith now primes.

Chris checks the width of a new door plank.

Later in the day Keith is back with more planks to prime. The backs of the planks will have wood preserver.

The final batch for the MICA van was the comment from Chris to me about the large pile of planks he had created during the day.

[Photo : Paul E.]  In gleaming red primer, one of the Open C wagonl's wheels.

[Photo : Paul E.]  Alex had left a lengthy list of jobs: -

• Various bits of grot and scale inevitably missed by the grit-blasting need tapping off with a ball peen hammer and/or cold chisel; particularly check from inside. Also remove the remains of the number plates and bolts on the left hand side of the solebar either side.
• Where the above has been done, spot prime in red primer, along with any other bits where paint has been missed. Check particularly underneath.
• If you're absolutely sure all the remains of the scale and grot have been knocked off and missed surfaces have been primed, you can get the undercoat Dark Grey out.

[Photo : Paul E.] Maurice above and Paul below tackling the items in the list. The Paintshop now has quite a pile of fully painted parts from the wagon that await eventual refitting.

 

[Photo : Taken by Maurice with Paul's camera]

Also enjoying the better weather Derek replaces the roof batten on the Malvern side of the Monster van.

The better weather had encouraged Dave to do some outside cleaning up on the Cotswold side of FO 3127.

Ian had taken over the dismantling inside the coach and was busy removing the curtain rail.

The tables are being removed but currently not the wall supports.

The pile of seat cushions and backs is beginning to stack up.

Pam has now fitted her re-upholstered seats in BCK 21272's guards compartment and they look a treat. The tip-up seat has been held up by a bit of rope. To replace that Pam is making a new tie out of the same blue moquette. I missed taking a photo of it before she took it home to sew up and complete with eyelets.

Everything is very carefully measured. No shortcuts here!

We had a really good session inside RBr 1675.  Richard started top coating the Malvern side ceiling. In the background Stu began top coating the areas painted in undercoat Cream with Executive Light Grey, while Phil completed the ceiling in the counter area and then added further top coat in the corridor. The light in the corridor is poor and as such you sometimes end up with patchy painting. We have all struggled with it and extra lights don't always help.

Roger did the ceiling on the Cotswold side.

While Richard completes his bit of ceiling, Stu had completed all his top coating at the south end (public side of the counter, both sides of the partition, and the end wall) and was well into the north end walls and side panels. Just the door remains.

I'm very keen to get all the internal painting and varnishing in the saloon completed  Then the curtains, heating pipe covers and tables can be installed.

Richard completes some of the painting both inside and outside the north end corridor connection.

When moving the cupboard for Broadway signalbox we noticed that the back had been top coated. Unfortunately the nicely painted top, and we think the sides as well, had been overpainted very patchily, much to Keith's consternation as he had previously made a good job of this. So Pam sanded the top and sides, and then repainted, getting it back to it's previously good condition.

Catching the late afternoon sun, P & O comes by on the last train of the day. Next and final stop. Toddington.