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Showing posts from September, 2025

Wednesday 24th - The roof's going on

Gerry has once again sent photos of some of Wednesday's activities. Thanks Gerry.

The weed spraying wagon is making good progress with the corrugated roof sheets now being placed in position. The side sheeting is also being advanced.












John is servicing a DA valve - part of the vacuum brake system.





Ken is working on a part of the communication cord (passcom) linkage from RMB 1876.


Monday 22nd - A Chilly Start

 It was a bit nippy to start with, 4°C, so a bit of a shock after the long hot summer. But the sun came out and it was a nice pleasant temperature.

This week we had rake 1 in platform 2 and rake 2 in platform 1. Here are David, Peter, Tim and Chris almost finished on rake 1. Regular Paul was missing - 1 of 3 on the sick list.

In order to get some photos I have found it is best to walk through the trains first, then I can fill in where needed.

Kath was first, in "Mary".


Then Long Tall Steve.


A smiling Lynn, even on toilet duties!


Then to Val (Lynn trying to hide!)


Val's husband, Roger C, is recovering from a major operation, so he was just a visitor today while Val worked hard.

Then on to Greg


Rich


And Jane


John S was the photo escapee this week.

I then took a GTech and did the floors in 4 of the rake 1 carriages. This rake needed a good tidy, rake 2 was very clear.

Weds 17th / Thurs 18th - Just a short posting

Wednesday

Thanks as always to Gerry for Wednesday's photos.

The weed spraying wagon is gradually taking shape with the roof and side sheeting going on.










Rod building more internal window framing in SO 4798.


Also busy in SO 4798 is Simon continuing the rebuild of the Malvern side toilet compartment



Ballast spreading on the light railway at Twyford.



Thursday

Just a few photos from me - not the usual number, sorry.


Laura has made the replacement side panels for two of the seats in SK 25488. Alan and Roger will be making the repairs while travelling in Rake 2 to Cheltenham and back.


Neil and Stu return the brake vans with TSO 5023 in the rear to Toddington.

Tuesday 16th - Variety is the word!

A quieter day with respect to attendance with ten of us in, but the sanders were buzzing well in the Paintshop with the RMB now in residence. Robert escaped most of that, in exchange for the excited voices of schoolchilden with another day of Evacuation Experience well underway.


We have had a reasonable go at the bodysides of RMB 1876 while it was in the Barn, but now it's in the Paintshop we can really concentrate on the job. Ainsley used the small sander to access the gutter panel about the windows.


David having reamed out the rivet line on this section of the Malvern side, now primes the area with red oxide.


Earlier in the day Ainsley had power brushed the whole of the rivet line on the Cotswold side


Back to David who is doing a good job of flatting this part of the Malvern side. Following what was achieved with TSO 5023, we will be doing some aspects of preparation and painting to a far greater degree.


Pam concentrated on door and doorframe edges, working on both of the south end doors. The Malvern side door had already had quite a bit of work done it, with loose wood highlighting the need for some doorframe replacement. Regular readers of the blog will know that I'm very keen to really clean up door edges and frames, and so reduce the risk of doors sticking.


At the north end I assisted Phil with this job, where the four screws were securing something in the toilet compartment. I meant to have a look inside but was distracted by a request to look at another job.  I will make amends on Thursday.


Keith undercoats the two vertical connection supports for the north end of 1876. Those plates should be on TSO 5023.


With the promise of good weather I joined Richard in the paint repair work on the Queen Mary brake van. First job for me was to lift the foot mats and have a good sweep up following the door repairs.

While up on the van we spotted a little visitor, probably from the neighbouring housing estate and on a regular mousing run.


The rails were carefully crossed and then puss was into a balancing act along the rail. Our greetings received a brief glance and then ignored as no doubt "we were on a mission".



The crossing was carefully planned to avoid "Foremarke Hall" with Rake 2 on the run into the station.


Besides the paint repairs following the installation of the two new doors, the south end was no longer red and more like pink. Time for a rub down and a fresh coat of paint. The result was a distinct improvement.


One of the steps at the north end was also repaired and repainted. There is a bit more we can do to tidy up the van before it is returned to Toddington, if we get another decent spell of weather of course.


[Photo : Paul E.]  Keith touches up some of the MICA vans paintwork where needed. It's amazing what becomes more obvious when a vehicle goes out into the daylight.


Another job I started (but didn't finish) was to paint the four (not two as originally thought) unpainted stanchions on the Macaw wagon. I managed to get two wire brushed, sanded and then primed.


2807 slows for the station with Rake 1.


Then off to get a close up of "Foremarke Hall". John waits for whistle.


Paul and Maurice so were involved in some final bits of painting.


The Fruit C van had been brought in from Platform 1 Bay to sort out a roof leak. Chris works on the problem.


Maurice continues his cleaning up and priming of the sole bar and other underframe attachments on the weed spraying wagon.