Saturday 9th - Too much to do

Having not really been in properly for about 3 weeks, I had a bit of catching up to do with various jobs. Unfortunately that meant I didn't really have much time to properly g round for blog photos, but I did manage to get a few.

Starting off with the Mica handrails, James and John offer one up to show where they are. Just the top loop to bend onto the roof - that was today's mission.

James marks a course on the jig base plate.

It was tricky to get a good view of the final result but Dave captured the first test fit with a very pleased James and John, well done chaps, it looks great!

Inside Robert and Chris drew the short straw and started putting the internal planking back together. Unfortunately it hadn't come apart in a planned way, so it was a significant challenge to start putting it back, they did a great job figuring it out though.

On 4772 we now have just 1 week to do what we can. Dave went round cleaning door edges and other areas where significant dirt builds up.

Inside Jenny was making the vestibules sparkle again.

And Tony had the polisher out again on the cream upper panels.

There was quite a bit of work going on inside 4798 in the barn but I'm afraid I only captured Tony cleaning up the floor bearers in the North vestibule.

Andy carried on with the bubblecar seat frames, they are now scattered quite widely and evenly through the workshops!

I'm afraid that was it for photos for Saturday, just too many other things to do. However, we'll wind the clock back a couple of weeks to the Autumn Showcase instead for some more photos.

Friday afternoon and prep was well underway. 3850 was out on test run and 2807 was back from Winchcombe giving a rather good lineup of 2 black GWR 2-8-0s, probably for the first time since the 1940s?

2807 looked good in its new livery on the goods train as it lent us some vacuum to do a brake test.

Saturday dawned, first move of the day taken from the Queen Mary most definitely fitted the mixed traction theme!

After taking the goods down to Cheltenham I swapped to set 2 to guard the rest of the morning. Everyone leans out at Gotherington to watch P&O come the other way.

The rest of Saturday was taken up talking to various wagon people from other railways and showing them round, always a pleasure.

Sunday dawned crisp and bright, and as my duty didn't start until mid-morning there was a chance for a walk down to Didbrook to capture a few sights. 3850 heading the goods train was absolutely spot on, in perfect conditions.

P&O soon passed by as well.

I was manning brake van rides today rather than guarding, so a bit more opportunity to mooch around when it disappears into a siding. Here capturing both DMLL locos 3850 and 7820 double heading.

Once that was out the way 2807 came back from the North siding for another run with the goods.

Last run of the weekend was a bit sad, the final run of the DMU, which a good crowd caught for the run up to Broadway and back. As I type it some part of it may be on its way to Scotland, at least one power car left last week.