Tuesday 24th - A satisfying day

Another varied and interesting day, and for me it included giving two enjoyable tours of the Works.

Many thanks to Paul for the extra photos.

Beginning with more progress with the Open C wagon with Robert and Chris fitting the buffer plates on the two dropdown doors.

Carefully measured to ensure the correct positions, the holes were drilled in the cedar planking and bolts inserted. The nuts were then put on and tightened.

Paul removed the surplus length from each bolt. They were then primed.

[Photo : Paul]  With the primer dried Maurice applies top coat.

The final result now looking very good.

Maurice completed the application of Creosolve to the remaining untreated interior. There can't be much left to do now other than Alex completing the signwriting and the issue with the buffers being resolved.

On now to the MICA van. Paul and Robert mount the heavy locking bar. It looks easy, but what with the weight of the bar and ensuring it worked as it should, it was a tricky tiring job.

 

[Photo : Paul]  The end result looks very good.

[Photo : Paul]  Some of the grab rails had got splashed with white gloss. Keith tidies them up with some fresh gloss black.

Sloping off to the station's excellent Coffee Pot cafe, and who can blame them after a busy day. This is now becoming a regular thing with a number of our staff. The toasted teacakes are very tempting snd very nice!

David kicked off the work on TSO 5023, sanding down parts that had so far remained untouched at the south end. It is very important to rake out and brush clean the undersides of the gutter as finding a load of bits stuck to your paintbrush when painting the gutter panel is no joke!

Richard was back on the north half of the Cotswold side.

Ainsley continued sanding the top part of the Malvern side, while David had moved on to the sanded rivet line, adding ordinary filler where topping up was needed.

New back panels are needed for two of the doors on the Cotswold side. While one panel was given a coat of varnish on the back for damp proofing, the other was given a second coat on the main side.

As promised on Saturday, a photo of the inside of the Cotswold side toilet compartment in SO 4798, with the new panelling that had been put in by Simon and Tom.

Richard was working on the backs of the south end double doors on the Discovery Coach. I was there to wave off Alan Baugh and his friend from the East Somerset Railway, for whom I had just given a guided tour of the Works. Alan used to be a member of the Painting Team. He now lives in Bradford-on-Avon. With the train gone, while

Richard was showing me what he had done so far, we were joined by a married couple who were from the Kent and East Sussex Railway. With plenty of time before their train was due, they happily accepted the offer of a tour of the Works.

Taken later in the day, Richard continues working on the Discovery Coach. It became too warm and windy to do any painting. Instead he concentrated on scraping off and sanding the cracked paint on the backs and edges of the doors and door frame, and adding sealant and filler.

Also working on doors was Roger, who was sanding down the right hand main entrance door to the Works, having removed the weather worn advisory stickers.

Red oxide is the perfect match when repainting these doors.

By late afternoon the weather took a turn for the better with the moderte breeze easing. Robert, Maurice and I wandered over to the Usk Goods Office platform and enjoyed the very peaceful setting. This is a really lovely addition to Winchcombe Station.