Saturday 9th - A trial fit

In contrast to the past week we had a more usual number attending.  Once again being busy with TSO 5023's roof, plus running a very enjoyable tour of the Works, I wasn't able to capture everyone.

So starting with 5023 and once again up on the airy heights of the large scaffold tower. To answer the suggestion about paint rollers in the previous post, we do have a longer version which I used today to add a second coat on the Cotswold side of the roof. With this version I could reach over half of the roof, in effect covering what was done on Thursday by both Phil and myself.

It was a mass painting session on the Cotswold side today with Richard and Bob painting windows and the intervening panels. Martin concentrated on the unpainted parts of the top panel.

Later in the day having now reached the remaining central section still to be done by Phil next week. I continued to second coat my area.

Richard and Bob making very good progress.

Nearly at the roof drainage channels at the north end. When I had completed the Cotswold side, I moved back round to the Malvern side to add an initial coat to the area above the drainage channel on that side. 

So just the centre section in the north part for Phil to paint and the roof is done.

 

Now a wander around the Works to catch up on what else is going on. Ken was busy stripping down the south end corridor connection from RMB 1876.

Kevin sorting out more of our stock. His job is endless, but he happily gets stuck in and in turn greatly helps us.

Lots of variety today with SO 4798. Andy is back with the rebuilding of the south end.

John is busy fettling new stays as part of the programme to reinstate the old style light fixtures in the two seating compartments of 1876.

The stays, having been cut to the correct length, have the ends bored out and the appropriate sized nuts inserted.

The long screws are then threaded through the tube as demonstrated above.

A new circular base with the centre section welded on. Andy coats it in green primer.

The new fitting above with an existing one below showing how the stays are fitted.

While taking the tour group through the Workshop, we were passed by Laura and others wheeling some of the new seating for 4798. My immediate thought was that the interior isn't yet ready for the seating to be installed. 

It turned out to be a trial with one of the bays fully fitted out with the table included. Looking at the size of the tables there is concern that they may be too large, otherwise the table top blends in very well with the dark red Snapdragon moquette.

Looking at this it's not hard to imagine the whole coach fitted out and looking very nice with a matching carpet throughout. 

A visit to Upholstery to see what is happening. The moquette used in the First Class section of CK 16221 has also been used to cover this repaired chair from Winchcombe signalbox.

Laura is busy producing more spectacle csses. Sales of these, the bags and the cushions continue to do very well.

Jenny is a star as once again she gives the Mess Room a thorough clean.

Maurice top coating the two new doors for the SR Queen Mary brakevan in Southern Freight Brown. He had previously top coated in Gloss Black the three upper connection supports for the south end of 1876 - these will now be ready for Ken to fit on Wednesday.

Pam has almost finished bringing the old track gauge back to life and it will look suprrb when finished. Be interesting to see where this eventually ends up.

It was a real pleasure to take five of our Monday Cleaning Team - Karen, Steve, Peter, Roger and John - on a tour of the Works, especially as I didn't have to keep watching the clock as is usually the case with the majority of tours. The tour was primarily for Roger to bring Karen to Carriage & Wagon as she is joining the team, but Steve, Peter and John were also interested in seeing all our current projects. I said to Roger that I will happily give the rest of the team a tour if they would also like to see what we do.

A brief visit to the yard at the end of the day to see the last train hauled by D6948 come by.

Finally a shot of RBr 1675 looking really good in the early evening light.