Saturday 19th - A cunning plan

 A cunning plan was agreed in the morning to be put in action in the afternoon, but first on with the rest of the day's activities. 

First stop was Upholstery, Laura started with a major cutting session, red chain link suggests it's for the DFR.

James was back on his end of 4798 continuing the rebuild of the Malvern side corner.

Ably assisted by Andy, here another patch gets welded into place. 

Sticking with the metal work and onto 1876, Vic was busy on the North end cutting rotten bits out... 

While on the South end Alan was finishing welding new bits in.

With the toilet being taken apart in 1876, Phil overhauls the cistern system. 

Later on Ken was up on the North end, looks like preparations for taking the gangway off, while Dave carried on the general sanding on the Cotswold side.

Work continues in the weedkilling wagon; Ian and Andy make a start on de-rusting and priming the body framing. 

I only captured Robert on the woodworking side today, doing some more routing of window frames. 

George continued his work on 4798 surface prep. 

Rather remiss of me I only photographed Maurice working on 5023 cleaning up the South end. Dave, Bob and Martin were also in action, taping up and starting livery undercoating.

My mission for the day was to make some inroads into finishing the signwriting on both the Mica and the Open C. The Mica needed the big G W on the Malvern side doing. 

And the open C needed everything on the Malvern side.

I also fitted the cast plates for both wagons that Pam had painted up during the week. 

Dave was in his element here conducting a pleasingly filled behind the scenes tour. 

Clive and Kevin were extracting the rest of the RBr seats from storage now the saloon is finished. 

Soon be sat down eating bacon rolls in here! 

Prep was in full swing for the diesel gala next week, Paul captured Jenny mopping either the 3rd or 4th rake, and I got embroiled in some shunting to get things in the right place.

Now for the cunning plan. The RBr needed a steam heat test, and that meant pilfering a steam engine. Could the loco that normally comes off the back of the train the diesel takes over be borrowed? Yes it could. 

After some merriment about forgetting to uncouple at Toddington and being dragged all the way to Winchcombe, 2807 chuffed into the yard and hooked up. 

A couple of minor leaks to attend to, not unexpected, and a few other issues to resolve, but nothing too frightening.

Sunday was a day of guarding behind 3850, with very changeable weather, sunshine and heavy showers in close succession! But all good news for lineside conditions following last weekend's thankfully brief steam ban.