Saturday 4th - Next!

 A pretty quiet day in the works with several regulars off on holiday. But that didn't stop us cracking on with 1876 and digging the next project out...

Starting off with the RMB though, more filling and sanding. Jeff was on the Malvern side...

Tony and I on the Cotswold side. I had hoped to get my section ready for greying up by close of play but kept finding more bits to dig out.

Robert was repairing various bits of door panelling for the coach, gluing and clamping.

Chris had cut some new ceiling panels which Paul duly primed.

Peter was doing some very technical work with the sewing machine, but where's Jane, isn't someone starting on the mountain of NYMR DMU seats?

Ah, there she is! The padding foam is just turning to powder as the seats are disassembled, so the outdoor undercover workbench is the best place for this messy work.

Maurice had a good day on the weedkilling wagon, this end was all wire brushed and by the end of the day painted in primer. Not much left to do on this in terms of de-rusting/priming. Yes there is a colour scheme planned for it, that shall have to wait though... (and I need to tell Dave what colours to order!)

John was back on gater making duty when I stopped by, although he was also progressing brake pins for the Open C - the old ones are ok for now hence ok to run but could do with replacing.

The vacuum pipe connecting the train pipe to the pass comm system on 4798 was also being installed today by Ken and John.

Into the barn and Alan is progressing 35308's steel repairs on the North end.

Ian and Clive were on shunting duty today, with a few jobs on the list. First was to swap the RBR and the Santa coach + Fruit C around in the bay platform ready for the Santa team to start getting things ready.

Second was to bring in a stack of bogies for John to start looking at. I assume Some wheel swapping will be taking place as there was a defined order these all had to be in.

Third was a pretty please, can you extract our next wagon project? Why is the one I want always at the back?

But here it is, GWR Mink D 28833. This ran in the demo goods train up until about 2017 and isn't in all that bad a shape.

Almost all of the fixed planking is in good condition, so we'll just strip the paint off and go again. The roof timber is good too so just a recanvas. The biggest job will be new doors all round, as they are pretty rotten. Just a small step today, moving from the back of the back siding to the front of the middle siding on the other side of the yard, but it's all progress.

Thursday 2nd - That's it for a bit

Not many in today and even then I didn't capture everyone, so another small posting.

A catch up on Wednesday's efforts with the weed spraying wagon. The roof sections have now been trimmed.

Side panels have been cut and welded in on the Malvern side.

Horizontal strengthening bars have been welded across the back of each panel.

It's all beginning to look really good and a credit to Nick's team. I don't know what the final livery will be and as I will be supplying the paint I guess I will need to know soon.

Back to RMB 1876 where Martin is grinding down the edge of the new capping strip on the Cotswold side south end doorway to give just that little bit of extra clearance. With all the other prep done the whole doorframe was given a coat of undercoat grey.

Still some way yet with the rest of the coach before that can be greyed up. If we are to achieve the superb finish of TSO 5023 then there is still a reasonable bit of work yet to do on 1876. The Cotswold side is littered with my blue chalk markings indicating where more filler is needed and/or more sanding of filler is required.

Ainsley works his way around a window frame using the excellent sander with the tiny triangular head.

More major sanding for Bob on the Malvern side, removing the old top coat.

With the Cotswold side of the roof scraped and cleaned up as far as possible, time to make a start on the Malvern side. Phil vacs his latest cleaned up section before moving on to the next panel.

One of my jobs was to prime the area that will be under the top section of the connection support at the north end. While at this I also scraped and cleaned under the roof edge, and then coated that with primer.

Phil, having cleaned the hinges Phil coats them in silver hammerite. These are from the toilet compartment doors in SO 4798.

On board FK 13337 "Gillian", Roger, Geoff and Alan are doing more general maintenance. Before I joined the Railway, and well before I became a volunteer, I have fond memories of regularly travelling in this coach, spending the whole day in the peace and quiet of First Class when we used to charge the extra fare for this. Four round trips were the perfect wind down after a busy week at work. 13337 desperately needs refurbishing, but with so much else to do it could still be some time yet before this happens.

Phil (and I) enjoying the sight of P & O on the day's final run to Cheltenham. Just a short time left before she disappears for her major overhaul.

She's always with a lovely smile, and why not when the dream turns to reality. Rose looking very happy in the new greenhouse, especially with the trays of seedlings  and all the donated plants now making it look very established.

Rose points out all the other plans which include the setting up of the trellises at the end of the remaining building, which has been repaired at this end. It is used by our Lineside Drainage team.

Well that's it from me for a week as sunny Exmoor and the little railway beckon. The L &B is only a mile and a half away from the cottage so we will hear the whistles! Might even do the big railway if it is as wet as currently forecast.

Tuesday 30th - After the busy weekend

After the busy Railway 200 weekend it was time to put all the display goods, signs and barriers away again. Being only four weeks to the Autumn Showcase when we are open for the fourth and final time this year, Keith and I took a few shortcuts to speed up the job. We have enough storage space in the Monster van to leave intact the stands for the viewing area and advisory notices. Unless the space is needed for anything else, we will continue in this new mode- it will certainly save some time and effort when both setting and packing up.

Sixteen windows = thirtytwo pelmets to make. Why is the latter double the number of the former? The wall lights in SO 4798 are in the centre of each window. Chris and Robert are going to be busy!

And talking of those lights, Phil is repairing the base section of one of them.

Is Keith painting a coat of GW Brown on a new table top? No, it will be a new gala notice board with respect to prohibiting public access to the Works via the signalbox footway. A bit posh, but better than the small metal notice currently used. And a good way for others in the Painting team to practice signwriting. 

More new door back panels made by Robert for RMB 1876, dyed and now ready for varnishing.

As for other work on 1876 it was back to the seemingly endless body side, door and doorframe preparation. Pam working on her doorframe at the Cotswold side south end, ensuring all the filler is adequately sanded.

It was nice to see Roger back in. He ended up doing the same on the north end door.

Richard was on the opposite side doing the same on the central door.

David worked on both sides clearing up areas where more filler or sanding was required. It's amazing how much still needs doing despite all our efforts as I found out when marking these areas out with blue chalk.

Ainsley was working on windows and the gutter panelling on the Malvern side.

Maurice had a good day cleaning up the corrugated north end of the weed spraying wagon.

Monday 29th - We Didn't Clean This One

 

Last Saturday, at Rail 200, I was fortunate to be able to capture this photo of the completely refurbished buffet car, currently stabled in the bay platform at Winchcombe.  Certainly posh! But you will have to wait until next year to try it. My grapevine says staff training will take place in the winter, ready for the new season. The kitchen equipment is as that installed in the Cotswold Halt, so totally new to everyone. The Wallace & Gromitt gas boiler is no more!

Today I was on Ghostbuster duty, hence only two photos from today.

Paul, Chris and Peter. Tim had hastily dodged behind the camera. 

The rest of the team was David, Greg, Jane, John M (on toilet duty - found one totally blocked), Kath, Nigel, Rich, Steve and Val.

Second prize today was this, found resting on a radiator cover below a table.

And finally one more pic from Saturday. The lattice side parapets from Stanley Pontlarge bridge 28, being refurbished by our very talented volunteer, Neil. (One of many Neils)

Sat 27th / Sun 28th - Railway 200 Weekend

"The GWSR - Past, Present and Future"

The extra weekend has arrived and, with just about every heritage railway and railway museum doing something special, we wondered how well we would fare regarding general attendance. Overall I don't think we did badly, maybe not as busy as a gala but certainly with reasonable numbers at Winchcombe especially on Sunday.

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Saturday

A very pleasant surprise was to hear that Eddie 

(our former Head of Woodwork), and Dave and Penny (formerly in Upholstery) were up at the station so we definitely had to see them.

Pam and I were soon joined by Bob, Paul and Phil.

While there the freight pulled in very appropriately behind 2807...........

........ and the opportunity to take a few shots from the footbridge.

The freight then reversed into the Malvern side of the yard, only to come back out minus the back half of the consist.

It then backed into our side of the yard.

Whatever was going on? Hopefully not a hotbox on one of the wagons.

And then the penny dropped.

They are picking up the MICA and the Open C !

After all that time in the Works, what a heartening sight to see those two in the consist at last!

Then it was back into the Malvern side of the yard to reattach the back half of the train.

Next a walk back down the platform, resisting the goodies from the griddle tent (that would come later!), past Alex's excellent sandwich board advertising our opening, and into RBr 1675 to get some photos.

1675 had been specially opened for a VIP visit, which I didn't photograph as Ian, our Press Officer, was actively recording everything for our official news.

It was lovely to see the results of all the hard work now being used. With training of the relevant catering staff now well underway, it will be a treat to see 1675 when the coach eventually becomes part of Rake 1 next year, if not before.

Now over to the Goods Office display to capture Rose, Maurice and Paul enjoying their morning break in the Toad brakevan.

Now, I think it's time for that long awaited bacon bap!

Being Saturday we were working as usual and as we were open to the public, in the Paintshop this was restricted to light hand sanding on the Malvern side of 1876. 

When we open the Works, on Gala Saturdays visitors are restricted to the Paintshop, but can view the activities in the Workshop and Barn from behind barriers. On Sundays when there is no working a taped route through the Workshop and Barn allows full access. The Woodwork shop is always viewed from behind a barrier, while partial entry into Upholstery is allowed.

On the Cotswold side Jeff concentrated on his centre doorframe repairs, showing Pam how far he had got with the job. During the week Pam had been doing the same on the south end doorframe. Meanwhile Nick chats with one of our visitors.

Simon continues the rebuild of the Malvern side toilet compartment in SO 4798.

Lots of varnishing to do. The Cotswold side toilet compartment has had two coats of varnish, but a third coat will complete the job very nicely.

There has been a lot of tidying up inside 4798. In the foreground is one of the toilet doors ready for reinstating when the relevant compartment has been finished.

It was just George again working on the Malvern side of the coach.

The details and photos set up for visitor viewing on Sunday of what we intend doing with the construction of the weed spraying wagon. Nick's team have got this second panel installed on the Cotswold side to give our visitors a better idea of the vehicle's construction.

In the Barn Ian and Clive are working on one of the vacuum cylinders under BSK 35308. This will be the first of 3-4 coaches going into blue and grey, the repainting being done by the Diesel Department.

Roof repairs to the Fruit C van in the form of several coats of Evercryl fibre coating, which should stop any further leaks. Maurice and Paul were busy with this job.

Dennis, Dave and Paul take a break and wait for the next train .......

..... which is hauled by 6880 "Betton Grange". Good to see her back after all her travels, being a very popular loco and frequently hired.

A flurry of activity in the Paintshop with a sudden influx of visitors. This often happens after a train has pulled out.

It's the Grange again, doubleheaded with 47376.

In Upholstery Eve begins stripping the old moquette from the first of the DMU seats from the NYMR.

Nick and I set up the Bournemouth Blue moquette roll on the scaffold pipe under the table. This is what will be used to re-cover the DMU seats.

As with all our open days Pam looks after our four legged visitors. She always asks first and the answer is almost always yes, much to their pet's delight.

Then off the view the Paintshop displays, stopping first at the Led/Tungsten Bulb comparison (again many thanks to Richards I and II who kindly set this up each time).

"Any chance of another biscuit?"

Simon giving the Woodwork shop a good vacuuming after a busy day.

I missed Ken reinstating the communication cord (passcom) mechanism at the south end of SO 4798.

Nick, Eve and Pam who happily help me with all our Gala and special openings.

Rose busy cleaning the partially reconstructed Friends greenhouse.

"Betton Grange" again, this time with the freight in tow.

Our "famous two" now proudly displayed in the consist.

Approaching the end of Day One. Pam watches 26043 and 47376 leave for Toddington, having deposited Rake 3 in Platform 2 ready for Sunday's running.

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Sunday

It was well into Sunday before I started taking any photos. A good sign of the day to come was that we were getting visitors in the Works from quite early on. Keith watches 7903 "Foremarke Hall" pass with a Cheltenham train.

Initially there had been quite a crowd here waiting for "Betton Grange" with the freight, but it stubbornly remained in Platform 2 after the Cheltenham train had passed and was no doubt waiting for a northbound train to pass before moving. As such the crowd slowly dispersed so my hopes of a good photo of the freight with plenty of foreground visitors was dashed.

The return through the Works was an eye opener. Wow, this is more like it! Plenty of visitors, making all the efforts of setting everything up feel very worthwhile. The nearby group view the info about the weed spraying wagon.

Upholstery is always very popular and Eve was often kept busy describing the various aspects of our efforts there.

Not having been able to obtain the photo I wanted, let's do some close ups instead.

Hi guys, good to see you both out running at last!

A very different view from the end of the train. Many of the vehicles have now lost that "just painted" appearance, giving a more realistic look to the freight train.

A very thoughtful visitor who had bought one of our cushions for his wife who was unwell.

The waited for train has appeared behind 47376.

With the northbound train gone the crowds reappear to photograph the Grange.

On her way to view the freight leaving, Pam delights two more little visitors who are very eager to have a few treats.

2807 arrives with the next Cheltenham train ......

........ and at last the freight can depart. With the cylinder drain cocks expelling any excess water "Betton Grange" pulls away and the pleasure of watching the goods vehicles slowly trundle past is once again enjoyed by all.

And we weren't the only happy ones. Stu had very kindly come in to do an extra day and help Rose finish the reconstruction of the FOWS greenhouse. Now to get some compost, trays, pots and plants.