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.