Saturday 6th - Getting on with it

Another day of striding forward on all fronts, and as ever I didn't get round everyone.

Starting off on the Mink D then, and a welcome to new volunteer Ed who joins us in addition to Didcot C&W. He got going on cleaning on and painting more of the frame.

Maurice spent the morning on priming and the afternoon on undercoating, it's all go.

Thanks to Stuart for the help in removing the faulty vac cylinder after I disconnected everything. Still not quite sure how we'll get it all back again! But after a lot of effort we had it all apart.

Andy stepped in to clean up the internal parts. Some new seals, rubber rings etc and all should be ok.

Paul also got going on plank priming from the batch cut on Tuesday.

Stacking on the wagon seemed like the best place out of the way! Some of the longer planks Ed took care of along the wall in the paintshop. We also had Steven start on the new step boards in cedar, although I missed a picture of that. Unfortunately our hardwood supplier has closed, so we're on the search for a new one to order the timber for the door frames.

Out in the barn to see what was going on; Andy and Andy successfully refitted the new drawbar tailpin on Mary.

Then a check on the brakes to make sure everything was connected up before lowering down.

On the other side, James had done a bit more welding on the BSK and splashed some green primer around.

On 4798 ceiling painting continues apace, with Ainsley...

...And Tony making good progress

Robert and Chris were looking at some door woodwork repairs for the RMB.

While on the coach itself, Graham flatted the Malvern side back ready for second top-coating.

Inside, Dave was top-coating on top of the primed melamine

Simon and Phil continued the toilet vestibule end fit out.

And Ken carried on with the fitting of the South gangway connection, here aided by Stuart.

Thursday 4th - The big box

It was a much quieter day with not many of us in. Our signing in sheet looked a bit sad after the lengthy list of the previous day.

This long tall box has been sat in our lobby for a while, though I guess it was generally well known what was inside, and obviously by those who requested it and were involved with the ordering. It was now time to unpack and load the new chiller unit to its future home on board RMB 1876.

Our electricians Richards I and II, and at times Phil S, were very much involved. The fun was getting it into the coach and involved the use of the jack trolley for the initial lift, and then with help from Phil J and myself we got it on board and into its final position in the servery.

Alan, Christine and another member of RCS came to view it, with Richard II providing the explanations.

Now for some testing of this particular inverter to see if it would be adequate for the power supply.

Meanwhile in the north compartment Bob began top coating the ceiling. 

He almost completed the job with just two panels left, which will be done on Saturday. Both the south compartment and servery ceilings have been top coated. This leaves the vestibules to do when they are ready.

Later in the day the chiller was moved back out of its position to allow me to clean up the area and apply some melamine primer. It will be nice to freshen up the severy counter area with some new paint.

In SO 4798 Bob watches Phil in the early stages of glossing the south compartment ceiling.

Enjoying the high life in FO 3132 "Mary", which is currently up on the jacks in the Barn, Paul gives the inside a deep clean.

[Photo : Paul W]  Phil meanwhile sorts out a loose table fitting.

[Photo : Paul W]

[Photo : Roger]  More running repairs being done by the Indoor Gang in Rake 2, which is currently stabled in Platform 2.

[Photo : Roger]  With the rake not running the team are able to return to the seat side panel replacements in SK 25488.

[Photo : Roger] Another new side panel in place - that's better! As we don't have any of the existing moquette, the plain dark blue chosen by Laura blends in very well.

[Photo : Roger]  The worn out panel that was replaced.

[Photo : Roger]  Other running repairs in the rake included fixing loose arm rests and tables, and internal doors which were not sliding or locking.

Bob Mack's memorial very thoughtfully decorated for Christmas by Rose, a very warm hearted touch for an all round volunteer we will always very much miss. Thank you Rose ☺

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In the Tue/Wed post there was the following query:-

Ken HainesDecember 4, 2025 at 11:54 AM

I note you are fixing a new skin to a door - are these off-the-shelf or do you have a press to make them?

1. 
   RodDecember 4, 2025 at 6:03 PM

   No we do not make them, they are "off the shelf" but I do not know the supplier.

To add some more background to Rod's response, this may be the last of a small batch that was obtained many years ago, however I don't know from where we got them. Back in 2009 we were joined by a very skilled sheet metal worker, who has been retired a good number of years now, who actually made several door skins. He even made a jig to be able to form the window section correctly. After that he had a number of skins part made by a firm, which he then completed when a new skin was required. The members of the Door Team who were around at the time have now also been long retired or have sadly passed on.

I will ask some of our longer term members to see if anyone can remember the source of this batch. We may, of course, have obtained them from another heritage railway.

Tues 2nd / Weds 3rd - A different double for a change

A Tuesday - Wednesday double post for a change. Many thanks to Gerry for very quickly sending his photos of Wednesday's activities and to Rod for extra information.

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Tuesday

A bright cheery day, very enjoyable when venturing out after all the recent rain. The yard was back to its Great Lakes impression.

RMB 1876 is coming along very well. Just the north compartment remains with ceiling painting still underway. David completes the undercoating.

Phil is refitting the floor in the servery where the new chiller unit will be based.

He is measuring  and marking up a length of veneer. He then gave it to Robert to cut. I meant to ask him what it's for, but very probably related to his efforts in the servery.

With a good 3" brush now available, Alex begins second top coating the cream section.

A further shot taken a little later on. It's now really looking good with some excellent painting being done.

David later moved to SO 4798 to carry on the ceiling improvements in the south compartment that I previously been doing. Paintable sealant is being used to fill the gaps where the securing strips are in places no longer tightly fitting to the ceiling hardboard panels. It all looks so much better when completed. The ceiling is now ready for topcoating.

Richard sands and keys the ceiling in the two north  end compartments ready for painting.

[Photo : Alex]  When David had left for the day,  I was captured by Alex as I continued the sealing activity in the north end compartments.

A lot of activity on the Mink D wagon with both Maurice and Paul cleaning up the main frame and removing all the old flaking paint

Alex also joined in, doing this before moving on to the RMB.

With delivery of planks for the MINK D taking place last week, it is time to begin the long job of cutting them to the required size. Alex and Robert bring in the first four.

Maurice and Paul follow with two more.

The green primer begins to go on at the north end.

Maurice cleaning up the next set of vents.

More priming in the area where Alex was working.

It was very pleasant to have a visit from Ian, who has been absent from our Tuesday gang for a while now following his knee surgery. He has restarted his Broadway activities but only in a limited way. He hopes to be back with us in February.

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Wednesday

Imside SO 4798 the Upholstery team are discussing the fitting of curtains with Simon and Jim from Woodwork.

Simon and Eve, ..........

......... Jim, ........

......... and Laura and Ceri.

Back in their workshop the team revert to their usual activity, with Ceri and Laura on contract work rebuilding a seat cushion.

Eve is rebuilding a seat side panel for 4798, again using spare moquette to help with the padding.

Jim, Simon and Trevor are working on door back panels on 4798.

Ben, Rod and Trevor are working on the replacement door for BSK 35308. Ben drills holes in the side of the new door skin for the securing screws.

Rod is clamping the new skin in place ready for fixing.

Trevor and Ben are removing seized hinge bolts.

Ken is working on fitments for the north end corridor connection on RMB 1876. Here creating a new securing plate for one of the flexing mechanisms.

Part of the flexing mechanism with a well worn securing plate and in much need of a good cleaning.

The securing brackets for the connection rain cover.

In the Barn the drawhooks from FO 3132 "Mary" removed by John ready for inserting new tailpins.

The drawhook in position with the buckeye coupler dropped down.

One of the old tailpins.

Finally a long run of photos related to the weed spraying wagon. One of the tanks had previously been removed from the wagon and placed on metal trestles in the Workshop. It looks as though a stand has now been made for it as Nick welds two sections together.

Rex and Nick are working on safety lock and fixing devices for the weed wagon.

One of the lift out safety barriers being primed by Bob.

Our old fridge, now changed to a storage cupboard, receiving its second coat of yellow paint.

Bob with the plans for the spraying equipment.