A quiet start to the new month with no trains running ....... but not for long as our Permanent Way gang began replacing track on the main line near the station crossing.
The Open C wagon was being undercoated in Dark Grey by Paul, Clive and Maurice.
Meanwhile on the running line the road-railer was trundling past with diggings from the track replacement area.
John offers up one of the heavy hand rails on the MICA van. These are fairly heavy and I had to give him some help so that, once held steady, part of the bottom section could be marked ready for cutting to the correct size.
Robert unscrews more of the Cotswold side planking.
Although it seems fairly straightforward, this is actually quite a complex vehicle, hence the backtracking. With the planks removed Chris and Robert discuss the next stage.
We are making good progress with TSO 4772's tidy up. The use of the polisher with the cutting paste has really breathed new life into the paintwork. Tony began the cream section and by lunchtime had got about half way along the coach.
George and Pam, and later myself, cleaned the edges of capping strips and window frames, and within the window frames. Basically all the places that the polisher cannot reach. Toothbrushes with a drop of cutting paste are very good for getting right into the grooves and inaccesible places. It takes a while but over the next week we hope to get this aspect completed. We have other plans to improve 4772 externally.
Inside the coach Jenny was doing a great job cleaning the windows. It can be somewhat tiring having to squeeze between the seat and table while trying to reach as far as possible.
The next job was to repaint in gloss black the base of each frame, which really brings them back.
Paul begins loading up the trolley with the Henry and all the cleaning bits before going down the yard to Rake 3.
I later went down to see progress. Paul had started vacuuming ......
..... while Dennis was going through the rake putting anti-freeze into the toilets.
In Upholstery Laura and Helen were working on more of the seats from the Bluebell Railway
Tim Robbins from Torrington Heritage Transport Fabrics is due to visit us during next week to view progress with the contract and collect the three recently repainted heating pipe covers. The chair looks really lovely in the new moquette.
Andy was busy shortening some stools from
Upholstery.
Phil was cleaning up some parts for the oak pelmets on RBr 1675.
The window repairs on SO 4798 have now got as far as the south compartment. Alan works on the first of these on the Cotswold side.
The result at the end of the day. Of the eight windows in the north compartment just one remains to have the pane reinstated.
Inside the coach Simon and Alan are fitting new ply side panels.
Tom is fitting top strips in one of the vestibules in FK 13326.
Well spotted! Kevin has seen that the tyres on the heavy trolley need pumping up. I am guessing that the generator is from RBr 1672 in Rake 1, which is currently in Platform 2 awaiting internal cleaning and decorating for the Santa trains.
Ian and Andy are restripping this vacuum cylinder which has proved to be a problem in that it isn't holding the vacuum.
The painting trestle jobs are stacking up. The latest additions are the wood steps made by Simon for painting and a somewhat rusty fire extinguisher holder. The steps are simply to boost our general supply.
We had a good number in as can be seen by the very full Mess Room during the morning tea break. Even with this there were several missing.
