Thursday 13th - Race Day 3

Today started with the car covered in a very hard frost and speckled with large frozen snowflakes. There was a bitingly cold north wind. What would it be like in Cheltenham and for us in Greet?

Going outside to watch the first of today's race trains revealed a very pleasant surprise. The road- rail vehicle had gone and once again the lovely cameo of the Usk goods office, platform and wagons was displayed as it was meant to be. And we all love that tree, especially in the autumn. Many of us in C & W wish the scene could remain like this.

A glimpse of steam above the vehicles in the yard and the mournful whistle soon revealed P & O on the first of today's trains. The two trains are scheduled to leave Toddington at 1050 and 1105 respectively, arriving at Racecourse Station at 1125 and 1140.

A quarter of an hour later we were in for a surprise when a tender first loco appeared round Chicken Curve. Where was Foremarke Hall which was on Train 2 on Tuesday?

The penny soon dropped! We had heard that Betton Grange had  now arrived on the Railway and here she was coming up the gradient with eight coaches in tow. The racegoers were happy though, with many waving and smiling as they went by.

Back to work and progress with RBr 1675. With the light sanding completed and the side wiped down, David began adding the second coat of GW Brown to the gutter and top panel. Bob started at the south end and the top was soon finished.

Next it was the turn of the windows on this side, which were also completed. It will be the cream panels next.

Meanwhile Phil and I took care of the Malvern side, giving the first top coat a light sand with 240 paper and then a wipe over with white spirit.

SO 4798 is also progressing well. Gerry has a quick sweep around the south half of the coach, which is now being gradually tidied up as various aspects are nearing completion.

It might still look a muddle but is a lot better than a few weeks ago.

Rex and Gerry are working on the final two windows on the Malvern side.

The special screws are steadily being added that clamp the inner and outer window frames, forming a tight seal around the glass. They can need a bit of force to get them really tight.

I love the special tags that BR mounted describing the wood used for the veneer panelling.

At the north end of 4798 Geoff and Roger were remounting one of the doorway capping strips, redrilling the holes and using one of the hand rivetters.

At the north end Phil was removing the wall light fittings. 

This is repeating an exercise we did a few years ago, basically replacing the existing twin bulb arrangement to a single LED bulb.

The metal shade is also altered with a new centre hole.

In the Woodwork shop Alan bores the centre hole in another wood mount.

Wishing to get a photo of Betton Grange with headboard and facing the right way round, it was time to get outside for when Train 2 returned to Toddington. It seems a pheasant was also interested! Luckily he kept away from the running line.

Betton Grange rumbles through the station, the token is exchanged and she passes by. Train 1 had passed by fifteen minutes earlier.

At the tool bench Richard I is setting up the take-off from the interconnecting pipe that is fitted between the two water tanks under 1675.

The next job is fitting it in place.

With that in place, the next job is fitting the insulation.

Door stops created by Derek for the Monster van.

The sound of a Merchant Navy loco whistle has me dashing outside to catch Train 1 returning to Cheltenham. It's still cold, and now also raining, so lots of steam effects to enjoy.

The two trains, with their happy racegoers back on board, leave Cheltenham at 1810 and 1825, arriving at Toddington at 1845 and 1900. 

Friday is Gold Cup Day and all three of our rakes are in use, with Train 3 leaving Toddington at 1200 and arriving at Cheltenham at 1234.  Return times are similarly after those for Trains 1 and 2, leaving Cheltenham at 1840 and arriving at Toddington at 1915.