Saturday 10th - Another fine day
Another glorious day in the Cotswolds for the operation of heritage trains, although it didn't end up quite going to plan.
The first sign of trouble was 3850 coming back up from Cheltenham without passing anything in the down direction...
Eventually a rather funny looking P&O came past, looking much more like a peak. Happily once back on shed it turned out to be a minor issue with P&O but by that time the diesel had been scrambled.
It did mean it was slightly easier to fit in some pre-gala shunting by Stuart and Clive, getting rakes 3 and 4 ready for the event. Just two weeks to go now, scary!
All this kept John nicely busy in the signal box - so busy in fact that by midday he complained he'd only had time for two cups of tea!
The fine weather meant progress on the discovery coach continued, with Phil carrying on with the roof painting.
While Jeff gave the sides some attention
The inside is also being given a refresh with some new information boards being printed. Andy and Bryony spent the day fitting them. Do take a look next time you stop by.
Back in the works Andy was cleaning up another vac cylinder.
Phil points to his achievements for the day, namely fitting the curtain ties to the RBr
Alan was back in working on the South end of 1876
Vic needed a workbench job today, so I gave him the Open C corner plates to finish off with all the holes needing drilling - "Here's a picture, make them look like that please"
The Mica continues apace now, Chris and Robert fitted the final few planks on the Malvern side, captured by Paul.
Woodworking complete.
Maurice's mission was to gloss the Cotswold side, which he did captured by Paul.
While I was determined to start on some signwriting.
Definitely beginning to look the part now!
The G in refrigerator seems to need a more prominent and higher 'inverted L foot', as looking at the view it appears more like a C. Well done on the rest, and moreso with the wording along both sides of RMB1675.
ReplyDeleteThe style of G that the GWR used at this time for this style of lettering had a very underdeveloped inverted L foot, with no horizontal bar and no descending vertical below the curve.
DeleteHow did the refrigeration work, was there a free standing petrol engine inside?
ReplyDeleteNothing that advanced! There was a box inside either end towards the roof that was filled with ice from hatches in the roof, hence the steps and handrails for access.
DeleteI must update my 0 gauge MICA B, because I didn't know that it was fully lettered at the ends other than the number, (which was the case on all wagons). I don't think hornby, (in 00), knew either!, as they never lettered the ends. On any photos that i have seen of MICA vans, the pictures are always of the sides, so perhaps i can be forgiven for the omission.
ReplyDeleteLooks very nice Alex.
Regards, Paul.
Thanks Paul - always model from photos! I suspect end lettering was just an early period thing, maybe even being phased out earlier than end numbering (mid/late 1920s?). I think most model Micas are 1920s or later. I'm working from a 1904 photo for our 1911 build so a bit of a leap of faith, and I've had to adjust things slightly as the photo is of a diagram without steps. It's always possible of course that the end lettering was because a photograph was being taken rather than because that was what was usually done, but it's a risk I'm willing to take :-)
DeleteAs far as I know, the end lettering lasted until the 30s and was gotten rid of for the small lettered 40s livery. I may have a photo which shows end lettering on one in 20s livery so will have a look.
DeleteEd.