Tuesday 11th - First day of the races

The racegoers were lucky with Tuesday's weather which turned out to be a lot better than predicted for the first day of the four day meeting.

Typing this up first thing Wednesday morning, a glance out of the window with sleet, and then snow, falling. Nothing much, but the temperature has certainly dropped a bit and with a biting north wind. Thankfully sunny spells appeared later. Just typical March weather!

There were just four of us in on Tuesday, the quietest for a long time.  

Beginning with Robert and Chris measuring up more oak from which it was hoped to make the planking for the Open C wagon.

In the end this looks to be a non-starter as the oak being so hard will take a lot of cutting to try and make planks, even with the Wadkin saw.

In the Paintshop it was just Ian and myself. There were still a number of small painting jobs to do inside RBr 1675 and being quiet it was a good day to get these finished - skirting, sliding door stops, heating cover supports.

The chequerplates and adjacent areas in both connections were also done.

After that it was a general light sand of the Cotswold bodyside in preparation for the second top coat. I also checked the gutter on this side to ensure there were no cracks remaining where it butted up to the roof panels. Any found were filled with paintable sealant and later overpainted in the Flint Grey top coat.

Rake 3 waits in Platform 2, ready to be picked up on Friday, the highlight of the meeting when the Gold Cup race is run. SK 25451 is at the north end and probably the next coach for conversion to crimson & cream after RMB 1876.

The sound of P&O's whistle had us dashing out to catch the first of the two race trains.

Fifteen minutes later came the second train behind Foremarke Hall. On both trains lots of happy racegoers, many waving as they went by, with our smartly dressed staff going up and down the coaches serving their drinks.

During the long break between the morning and afternoon trains, Glyn popped in to collect more bags and glasses cases from Upholstery. In the background the large pile of heavy planking destined for the floor of the Open C wagon.