Thursday 21st - Back in black

It's quite something at 7.30 in the morning to enter the Paintshop by the south end door and see a great big black engine instead of a coach.  Maurice and I stopped and admired 3850, looking exceptionally big within the confines of the building (photo taken later in the day).

The shunt took place the day before and, the paintwork having been lightly rubbed down at Toddington, the engine was here for just a few days while another coat of paint was added.

Scott, who also painted 2807 when it came down to Winchcombe, was making another superb effort with 3850. Just look at that shine!

Back to our efforts with Maurice getting ready to continue preparing the north end of the MICA van for its new planking.

Pliers and an anglegrinder were needed to remove a stubborn bolt.

In RBr 1675's pantry Richard II is working on the inverter and its connections.

While underneath Richard I drills through to provide the water supply.

In the corridor and south vestibule Phil tidies up the top of the skirting board.

 

In the kitchen Paul removes the window handrail ......

........ and then sands it down ready for repainting.

There was quite an industry in progress with the improvements to the pelmets in 1675's saloon. Roger was producing new brackets which are used for securing the pelmets.

Geoff and Alan were attaching these to the backs of each pelmet board.

Roger marks the position of the retaining brackets.

Alan and Geoff now reinstate this pelmet.

Continuing the replacement of the under-window panelling on SO 4798, Alan cuts out the next of the two corner sections.

The removed sections.

The new sheet metal has been welded in and the whole area coated in green primer.

Rex is making a minor repair to this section of internal window frame.

Next a general sanding.

Gerry is removing old mastic from this window.

With the old wood frame removed the underlying securing screws for the metal window frame are revealed.

Looking a real old jumble it's not easy to imagine the lovely end result with all the seating and tables back in place and the new Snapdragon moquette looking really good, but it will happen.

Having completed another under window repair, Alan moves to the south end of the coach to continue cutting out the corroded areas, including the bottom 12 inches of the corridor connection support pillars and the heavy connection base plate.

In the south vestibule Phil shows the old piece of pipe that his new bit will be replacing.

This bit of ceiling also needs to be removed. The retaining screws are proving to be a challenge.

It was still pretty bleak outside with lingering snow.

The Open C wagon had been brought back round to the Barn entrance during yesterday's shunt.

For Tony it was back to vac cylinder cleaning up and repainting in black MIO. 

Hmmm, notice that the level in the tin has gone down quite a lot - time to order a fresh one.

With the north end repairs on the Monster van basically completed, Derek replaced the grab handles. More south end repairs are needed but the internal storage at that end will need considerable rearrangement first.

This cute little seat has been brought in for new planking and a repaint of the metal ends. The latter were cleaned up in our miniature grit blasting machine and then given a coat of green primer by Jeff.

Outside the day improved considerably - bar the bare trees, it could be summer.