The shortest day arrived and the way it sped by at the Works it certainly felt like it. For more of our staff it was the final day until next year dawned.
To answer the comment from Malcolm in Canada at the end of Thursday's post, yes we know we shouldn't paint the connection friction strips. We try to leave them unpainted, but inevitably this doesn't always happen. Many sections are in fact missing or incomplete as is the case with both ends of 13326. As far as I am aware we don't have any spares, but as you say, at 25 mph it won't really matter. We don't possess any gangway curtains.
Now on to the day's activities.
In Upholstery Laura was busy trying to persuade this particular machine to work as it should. Hope she was successful.
With about 4 weeks left to get FK 13326 fully painted and varnished, including the vestibules, we need to keep the momentum going. The doors always seem to take a while before we can really get going on them. However the Cotswold side south end is available now, and Martin uses our line position tool to mark out the upper and lower lines on both this and the corner.
Meanwhile Phil discovered a faulty light that kept flicking on and off. The light itself? A faulty connection? Whatever it needed fixing as soon as possible. As such Simon removed the relevant ceiling panel.
At the north end Pam began the top coating the connection slider.
With the panel now in the Workshop Phil checks the light fitting.
Pam was progressing well. As with the south end, it will need a second coat.
The light fitting has been removed but the panel has been reinstated. Simon is now sorting out the pelmet for the slider track.
With the line tapes in place Martin is now applying the undercoat on this door and the corner.
Both the north end doors are now available for top coating, along with the two corners. Pam began with the Malvern side and then moved round to the Cotswold side to begin the painting there.
For some reason on Wednesday the Door team decided to begin replacing the threshold in the latter doorway which left us somewhat puzzled because the door was shutting well. I just hope this doesn't hold up the refurb, especially as in January new marmoleum is due to be laid in both end vestibules. We will have to complete the door and doorway painting and varnishing regardless of this extra work.
I was up on the high scaffold tower, completing the painting on the top of the south corridor connection as well as the tank filler pipes and that end of the roof.
The weird shaped handrails for the MICA van received a coat of gloss black.
Ian and the shunting crew were on hand to assist PWay. One of the long bolster wagons needed to be pulled out to provide access for PWay staff to load heavy lengths of track using the roadrailer.
The final weekend of Santa Specials with 3850 and Foremarke Hall running the trains.
Dennis empties out the toilets on SK 25488 to enable antifreeze to be put in.
Underneath FK 13329 on the Barn jack road Clive and Andy were reattaching a new hose to the vacuum cylinder.
As I walked by SO 4798 I raised my phone and took a blind shot of Alan working on more internal plyboard panelling.
James continues to do some good work with the rebuild at the south end of the coach.
He now begins the rebuild of the toilet compartment window.
At the north end of 4798 Maurice continues the pad sanding started by Keith last Tuesday.
Back to James who now prepares new sections of sheet metal.
Returning later to find Maurice completing the panel and about to move on to the door.
Just before locking up for the evening, a final look at Maurice's progress.
Photo taken Thursday of David A's sanding on the Malvern side on Wednesday.
The penultimate passenger window on the Cotswold side ready for new sheet metal infills.
New sections spot welded in place.
In the Workshop Ken is looking at some heating pipework that could be used for FO 3127 when we begin its rebuild.
Andy uses the excellent tungsten carbide scraper to clean up another vacuum cylinder.
Job done. Andy and Ian vac round the cylinder prior to painting in Micaceous Iron Oxide (MIO).
Another phone held high blind shot, this time of Paul tidying up inside 1675's saloon. I could get used to taking these blind shots - saves time clambouring aboard.
The two internal sliders for 1675's kitchen and pantry. In the end it was decided to paint the tracking plates the same as the doors. As such these now hang on the hooks in the Paintshop and have been coated with green primer.
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During the next two weeks a small group will be in on Christmas Eve, Saturday 28th, and New Year's Eve. So a short run of mini postings to come before our workforce returns in strength on Thursday 2nd January. Alex will also be publishing our 2024 Roundup.
May we wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
The C&W Blogging Team
Excellent blog as usual. Must say, 1675 is looking better and better with every photo. Yes, I too am of the age that if I can do something from ground level rather than clambering about, I most certainly will. Also, the photos turned out very well for blind shots.
ReplyDeleteA Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. Enjoy the Christmas break, you've all earned it.
Seasonal regards, Paul.