Thursday 14th - Looking the biz!

Closely following the efforts on Tuesday and Wednesday, the "blitz" on TSO 4772 continued unabated. We had just today to complete as much as possible before the coach is shunted out on Saturday. As I was very much involved with the job my photos were limited, so both Paul and Gerry very kindly stood in and produced an excellent range to help cover the day's activities - many thanks to both.


Paul with bucket, mop, and other cleaning bits just off to the Rake 3 coaches in the yard.

[Photo : Paul] Inside TSO (number?) - what's that on the floor?!

[Photo : Paul]  That's better!


[Photo : Paul]  The corridor in BCK 21092 with a nicely washed floor. Paul stated that the floor in both coaches needed a nasty substance removing - best not to ask!

[Photo : Gerry]  There are still things to sort out in RBr 1675's pantry. It all looks very complicated if you aren't in the know.

[Photo : Gerry]  Richard II rebolts the inverter to the floor. Apparently the captive nut had become dislodged.

[Photo : Gerry]

[Photo : Gerry]  Meanwhile underneath the kitchen/pantry part of the coach, with presumably today's work completed, a cheerful Richard I re-covers the lithium battery boxes.

[Photo : Gerry]  I remember photographing this sometime ago. It is the cable gland plate which will be attached to the top of the lithium battery enclosure. It is in the process of being modified to accept another cable. The plate has been drilled, but awaits a counterbore due to the length of the gland thread.

[Photo : Gerry]  Some of the pelmets in 1675's saloon had gone on slightly crooked and stuck out. They had been awkward things to attach, not helped by oak being particularly hard to work.

[Photo : Gerry]  Alan and Geoff look as if they have sorted out this one, and the line of pelmets certainly look straight and nicely bedded down in the photo below.

[Photo : Gerry]


During the afternoon I had a break and took a stroll out to the Barn and yard. Passing SO 4798 I could see that the new section of sheet metal, recently welded on by Alan H., now had the necessary screw holes drilled ready for attaching the internal window framing.


[Photo : Gerry]  Rex preparing a section of the internal framing.


[Photo : Gerry]  In 4798's south vestibule Phil is sorting out the electrics.


[Photo : Gerry]


[Photo : Gerry]


[Photo : Gerry]  Bits are forever appearing, either on the Paintshop trestles or hung on the hooks, for priming and painting. We are only too happy to oblige as long as there is an attached note to say what is required if it isn't immediately obvious. No problems for Maurice with what to do with this section of metal bar used for securing a corridor connection rain cover.


Hello, some shunting. What this turned out to be was the removal of FK 13337 to allow the large flat wagon to be extracted. At the same time it allowed Neil to conduct the annual reassessment of Ian as a driver of the 03. I am very pleased to say that he passed with flying colours.


Various shunts over the past few weeks have located SK 25488 with BCK 21272. The two crimson & cream coaches look great together, and with SO 4790 recently outshopped in this livery and due to join them soon, the beginnings of a Crimson & Cream rake move a step closer.


[Photo : Gerry]  Jeff and I discuss how we are going to tackle this door and its frame. The door's back panel has already been top coated by David the day before. The blue sheet through the window is protecting the paintwork as the hinge straps on this door have been released to allow the door to be pushed wide open and made fully accessible.


Jeff, working on the Malvern side, is doing what I had done the day before on the Cotswold side with the sides of window frames and doorframe capping strips being overpainted in cream top coat.


[Photo : Gerry] Phil is repainting door handles and stops, and grab handles, and where needed some of the lining out.


Photo taken by me on Wednesday of David repainting one of the five door back panels that needed this. The panel on the centre door Cotswold side had been renewed at a later date and looked very fresh.


That is very much better. Not just the panel in Exec Light Grey, but new GW Brown paint on the sides and door base, and lower halves of the door frames.


[Photo : Gerry]  The little brushes are in action again, this time tidying up the Exec Light Grey on the upper parts of the south door Cotswold side.


Working carefully around the grab handle.


The end of the day with 4772 looking as though its had a full repaint. Well, don't look too closely. There are other things that could have been done had we had more time, the roof in particular, but at least another coach in our rakes will look good as it goes by.


We hope to do this with other coaches that come in for various mechanical repairs and maintenance. It all depends of course on what else is going on.

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