Tuesday 8th - A very welcome visit

A busy day with 12 attending, and in particular a special day with a visit we were very much looking forward to.

Progress on TSO 5023 continues to be good with much of the Cotswold side now greyed up.

David works on the centre doorway adding some fibre paste at the left side bottom section for greater strength.

With all the sanding down and any filling completed, Maurice greyed up the south door.

On the Malvern side Jeff greyed up the unpainted windows on the south half of the coach.

Ian completed the sanding and cleaning up of the north end. Bar the two filled areas we may as well go straight into glossing this end when all the other prep work is completed on the coach.

With all the centre door and frame repairs completed David vacuums the centre vestibule and step.

Ian had moved round to the Malvern side and completed the general sanding down of the old paintwork at the north end.

Moving up to the MICA van where Paul is attempting to remove a corroded bolt from one of the north end buffers.

The job was a particularly trying one and all attempts at removal came to nothing. The solution will probably be to try some heat on Saturday.

In the Woodshop Chris and Robert were preparing more sections of internal window frame for TSO 4867.

The specially made routing jig very much in use.

Today's production now on the Paintshop trestles with the backs, sides and ends given a good coat of varnish for damp proofing. The top sides will be varnished on Thursday.

A real treat today was the visit by Stu, our much missed member of the Painting Team, being heartily greeted by Keith, Paul and Maurice. While waiting for a delayed operation on one of his heals, Stu had gone out on his motorbike and was involved in an accident (not his fault). He is now able to get out and about, so we were delighted when he said he would be visiting during the day.

Paul captured Stu and myself discussing his progress, when he is hopes to return and what he will be able to do. In the meantime he hopes to keep in touch and visit us once a month. I suggested we should have a train ride on his next visit.

Keith primes two cleaned up parts of the vacuum braking system from FO 3127.

Keith coats in black gloss the new number plates for the Open C wagon and MICA van, and the two data plates for TSO 5023.

The two bogies that were sent to St Philps Marsh, Bristol were returned today, the wheel sets now nice and shiny having been turned and reprofiled.

I forgot to ask John which coach will be having these fitted.

While out in the yard, a quick photo of the weed spraying vehicle with the heavy plank floor now in place. Presumably the metal frame will be primed and painted before the planks are secured.

P & O and 2807 were on duty today. This is P & O's final season of running before it's major overhaul. Meanwhile it will be off to the Severn Valley Railway in September.

And mentioning galas, time to get our Gala monitors list up on the board with the Diesel Gala rapidly approaching. As usual during galas Pam will be providing the treats for our four legged visitors.