Thursday 31st - A lovely Autumn day

Firstly apologies from Nick for no Wednesday post. Gerry, who usually takes the photos, was away and Nick just had too much to get done. Hopefully today's post will make up for it.

Jeff begins the second coat of varnish in 1675's saloon. All the first coat will first be lightly sanded with 240 paper.

Richard II setting up the connections with 1675's lithium batteries.

Also for 1675, Phil setting up more plumbing.

Stu tests another refurbished vacuum cylinder. We now have a steady programme catering for this important work.

In SO 4798 the metalwork repairs to the window surrounds and subsequent reinstatement of the glass and internal framing continues at a steady rate and certainly keeping Rex and Gerry busy. I must do a count of how many are now complete. 

Later Gerry was adding a new rubber seal to a very different pane of glass ..........

....... which is going to be fitted in the south vestibule of FO 3127. Dave cleans up the frame where it will be fitted.

With the ladder very tightly ratchet strapped, Bob cleans more peeling paint off 3127's roof.

A nice touch of colour in the siding. I'm fairly sure it's Herb Robert.

This siding is undergoing a much needed upgrade. The crimson & cream BCK 21272 gleams nearby. It will be good to see this partnered with newly outshopped SO 4790 in the running rakes.

Time for a break in the autumn sunshine to enjoy 3850 coming by with plenty of passengers on the train.

On a day like this, a job to be envied. Alan re-blacks some steps on a Rake 3 coach.

Climbing up into SK 24949 found Geoff and Roger doing a great job repairing ceiling paintwork.

The autumn Cotswolds on a lovely day.

Another massive painting job with the remaining MICA van planks, this time with the undercoat White.

We have got TSO 4772 in the Paintshop until about mid November, so we should be able to get a bit more done than originally thought to improve the look of this coach.

Paul is giving the inside a deep clean .......

..... while the polishing of the lower panels with cutting paste was continued by David on Wednesday and myself today. It is certainly making a difference. 

We will move on to the cream panels next. Another improvement will be to repaint the sole bar and steps.

Lunch again on Platform 2 and time to enjoy P & O running by on its way to Cheltenham. Today is the last day of normal running.

The next trains will be the race specials in mid November, followed not long after by the Santa Specials.