Thursday 29th - Just a short post today

After all the excitement of the weekend, another quiet day. The trains had restarted on Wednesday so it was nice to catch them going by today. 

Geoff and Alan from our Indoor Gang were a bit short of work today, so instead enjoyed a round trip on the line. Roger, the third member of the team, already had plans for his day so stayed at the Works.

With the work on the north end bogies of RBr 1675 completed, it was now the turn of the south end, with the Malvern side being dealt with first, with Ian, John and Stu doing the job. The centre springs have been removed and the area where they were seated needle gunned to clean it up. I believe new base plates are fitted if necessary.

When I returned everything was being replaced. The whole side will be tensioned to give the correct ride height.

My first job today was to finish cleaning up the corridor connection U frame and give it a coat of black micaceous iron oxide (MIO). The connection is from the south end of SO 4798.

The day became quite warm but we were still able to make some very good progress with the Discovery Coach. Having completed this side of the roof in a base coat of light grey MIO (a silver grey and lighter than what we really want), Phil began giving it a second coat with the preferred darker shade. That's better!

Meanwhile Jeff and Bob undercoated quite a large area of the central cream section, and then continued with the bottom panelling. The coach is now beginning to look very much better. 

Saturday's weather looks to be good, hopefully not too warm, so we should make more good progress. Unfortunately Tuesday and Thursday next week are forecasted to be wet, but it may change.

As well as being in the Indoor Gang, Roger is also our Works H & S member and with his PASMA hat on is doing the weekly inspection of our scaffold towers.

Phil was servicing the electrical connections at the ends of SO 4798 and RMB 1876. He also removed the data plates. Rust treatment, some filler and a repaint will be required under each.

Dave was on the Cotswold side of TSO 4867 doing a bit of basic tlc. This will no doubt be undercoated for both protection and appearance.

Nearly mid afternoon. Time to have a sit and watch "P & O" come by with the Cheltenham train. 2807 was on the other train.

Sun 25th - Tue 27th - Gala Days (Part 2)

This post concludes the gala weekend and then moves on to activities for Tuesday 27th

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 Sunday (continued)

A smokey "Betton Grange" pulls away with the Toddington Broadway train.

Robert videos the O1.

The Cottons Sturdee has another outing. Robert has a go - not the easiest vehicle to drive, but once you get used to it, it's fun!

[Photo : Robert]   Just prior to Robert having a go, I was invited to try and drove it along the rough road alongside the Barn and Workshop.

An excellent photo opportunity, but it's not quite as it seems.  "Betton Grange" is actually tailing the Cheltenham train, ready to bring it back later on.

I missed "P & O" on the freight on the southbound run, but better this than not at all.

And here is "Betton Grange" on it's return, one of the final runs of the day.

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Monday

Beginning today with some views of the Works as set up for the Gala.

The main entrance with all the information notices on a board under the title " What's going on in Carriage & Wagon". Next to it a summary of the Department with a quite old pictorial display of the three sections (need to update these!) and some statistics.

On Saturdays with work going on the Workshop and Barn can only be viewed from the Paintshop and outside entrance (with the roller shutters up) respectively. On Sunday and Monday when no work is taking place, visitors are allowed through both places via a taped corridor with any hazards moved out of the way. The Paintshop is always open, with some internal restrictions in place as necessary.

The information notices displayed in the entrance  are also placed as far as possible on the individual vehicles. However in the Barn it was felt better to tape the notices for RBr 1675 and the weed spraying wagon on the side of RMB 1876 because of accessibility to them.

The Woodwork shop can be viewed from behind a chain, but actual entry is not allowed. With Upholstery partial access is allowed so that a number of interesting aspects can be seen and described by whoever is in on the Saturday - usually Laura. On the other days this will be Eve.

Laura has set up a nice display of moquette bags, spectacle cases and cushions for sale. The displays below are a breakdown of a typical seat cushion showing its construct, and one of the reupholstered chairs for RBr 1675.

On Saturday afternoon I received an urgent phonecall from Glyn in Toddington shop requesting as many cushions as we could supply be sent up on the next train. Both Toddington and Broadway shops had practically run out. In the end we were able to supply 14 which we bagged up and Ian (our HOD) very kindly took up in his car. 

Since we have been making these three items the sales have been astonishing. 

The completed seating for SO 4798 stored ready for installing when the coach interior is ready. Quite a display for our visitors. 

With everything set up ready for the day's opening, Eve takes a few moments to catch up with the record keeping .........

........ and then proceeds to get another cushion made.

Nick brought in his working model of a Sherman tank complete with very authentic sounds. It even fires little plastic balls.

2807 pulls in with the next Toddington Broadway train.

The first freight run of the day with Michael leaning out of the GW Toad, which is very appropriately signed.

You could almost say these two were the stars of the show. Bill Parker's little well tanks certainly grabbed a lot of attention. The cheeky pair arrive with Rake 4. They will be detached in the station ready to top and tail the Winchcombe freight shuttle.

"Earl David" tails the train ready for its first run. Pam and Keith enjoy the scene. 

The viewing area is always a popular venue with the photographers. The signal gantry and line curving from Toddington make a great scene.

Richard and Phil chat to Eve and Nick. Richard was our former Chairman and prior to that for 18 years Head of C & W.

Pam you are wonderful! With the steady flow of visitors and chatting to many of them, it's not always possible to get up to the Mess Room. 

I don't think you could ever get tired of watching the freight go by. The brake van rides were as popular as ever and at times the verandas were quite crowded. With that long wheelbase and excellent springing the Southern Railway "Queen Mary" is lovely to ride in.

Hopefully by the time the Autumn Spectacular takes place at the end of October the freight will have both the MICA and Open C in the consist, and there are more wagons in preparation at Toddington.

The Winchcombe freight in action once again. You never get tired of watching this either. It is a great feature to have running at Winchcombe, in that there is always something of interest going on.

Geoff in his bleached overalls in charge of 3063 on another northbound run.

Phil captures the O1 with Rake 4 as it slows for the station. The train terminates here and then reverses into the headshunt.

Alex is guard on Rake 4 today. I just missed him waving back the train on this side as he quickly moves to the opposite side to continue guiding the train into the headshunt for the layover period.

The hose in the foreground goes under the tracks to the other side of the yard and is used by the well tanks for rewatering.

"P & O" heads past with the non-stop to Cheltenham, simply slowing for the token exchange before speeding up through the station and on under the road bridge.

Nick sets his Sherman tank in motion to the amusement of the Upholstery shop visitors. The children loved it, in particular one family whose little boy wanted to know how it all worked. The little girl was crawling under the Mess Room tables retrieving the little yellow plastic balls that fired out of the gun.

The double header with the two GW 2-8-0s - 2807 leading 3850.

"Betton Grange" is tailing again.

Having not seen 75069 for very many years, I was very pleased when it was announced that it would be at the gala. It really is a great looking engine.

Also from the SVR, another favourite of mine, 7714.

A nice way to end the gala post.

Overall it was a very enjoyable gala. We had a few problems but judging by the general happy mood of our visitors to the Works, it was very well received.

It two months time it will be the turn of the diesels. Another green Class 37 in the form of D6700 will be something to look forward to.

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Tuesday

Moving on into Tuesday, but not quite back to normal yet. Some of the gala material was collected up at the end of Monday, but there was still a large amount to do.

Well, we both wanted and needed it. At last, some decent rain. When I arrived the house martins were gathering mud from a small puddle in the car park yard. At the end of the day there were numerous large puddles.

I was somewhat puzzled when I saw this until Robert explained that it was a new handrail for the mezzanine staircase.

Now in the Paintshop, Keith gives both parts the first coat of varnish.

Back to the MICA van where Maurice is top coating the Malvern side.

Keith had more light covers from SO 4798 to paint, concentrating on the white interiors. The heavy metal corner section for the Open C wagon were also top coated.

The corners of the Open C have to be angled so as to accept the fitting of the metal sections.

While Robert carefully saws, Paul leans hard against the planks to prevent their movement. After taking the photo I joined him.

At the north end Paul is priming the Malvern side cut corner.

Back to the south end Cotswold side where Alex is checking the fit of the metal corner to see if any more shaping needs to be done on the plank ends.

Alex is going around the wagon tightening all the nuts prior to trimming any excess length off the bolts.

Robert joins him on the Malvern side.

All the cut ends are now primed ready for painting. The sawn off bits have been swept up and deposited in the scrap metal bin.

The fourth and final corner sawn and primed ready for painting.

The other side of the "Not to be moved" flag with the French chalk outline ready for painting.