Saturday 13th - All done the day before

Thanks to Alex for the first two photos and the finsl one.

Driving in on Saturday morning my thoughts were on my first job of the day which was to reinstate the commode (grab) handles on TSO 5023 before the coach was shunted out. Maurice and I entered the Paintshop and gasped. 5023 had been replaced by RMB 1876, and the Open C wagon and MICA van had gone. SO 4798 was still in the Workshop, but on the Barn through road was the very faded BSK 35308 and on the jack road the Fruit C van. It had all happened on Friday, being done by Stu and Alex.

Both photos taken by Alex on Friday.

Prior to the shunt Alex had completed the signwriting on 5023.

BSK 35308 is now looking very tired on the outside.

There was no hanging about with 35308. By the time I got around to taking pictures, Clive, Andy Th. and Andy Tu. were well stuck into the south end.

At the north end Alan was cutting away a large rusted section .........

........ while Vic was similarly busy on the other side of the connection.

One of the doors had been removed so that the corroded bottom section could be replaced.

James fashions a replacement piece of sheet metal, here carefully bending the edges.

Loosely placed on the door for now and ready for final cutting, shaping and welding in place next week.

The north end of 35308 at the end of the day, with new sheet metal tack welded in on the right hand side ..........

......... and numerous areas cut out on the opposite side.

Paul and Maurice were inspecting the leakage area in the roof of the Fruit C van.

Ken was reaming out the holes ready for refitting the communication cord assembly at the south end of SO 4798.

In the Paintshop Bob does further sanding on the Malvern side south door on RMB 1876.

Ken also worked on the north end of 1876, fixing the first of the connection supports. This will eventually be removed for painting. The two vertical supports are on the trestles for painting.

With 5023 gone I spent a lot of time having a major clear up of the Paintshop. Pam took over the floor vacuuming using our large cleaner.

Earlier on in the day a walk around outside to see what is where. The MICA practically glowing in its new white paint at the end of a line of brake vans and the 03. Mustn't forget the paint repairs on the Queen Mary where the new doors were fitted. The south end panel and headstock could also do with a fresh coat of red paint.

TSO 5023 and the Open C have been positioned alongside the Works.

Walking past the goods siding display, another job to note. Two of the stanchions on the flatbed need painting.

Over to Platform 1 Bay and into RBr 1675 to capture Jenny and Paul fitting rubber feet to the chair legs. I took the photo and departed - they were so concentrating on what they were doing, I don't think either of them even knew I was briefly there.

Looking down the corridor with the kitchen sliding door closed, which is of course how the passengers will see everything when walking to the servery.

Laura was helping out the owner of this car cover with a repair. Upholstery haven't been featured much lately so I was keen to include her.

We spend all our time working on our coaches, but hardly any time enjoying travelling in them.  With 5023 finished, time to have a trip for a change. For Pam and myself this is only the second trip this year - can we make a third before the main season closes at the end of October?

Bob just went to Cheltenham and back, while Pam and I did the complete round trip so we were away for about two and a half hours.

The Cotswold escarpment from Stanway Viaduct.

The model trains were out again. I missed taking the LMS Garratt owned by Phil.

James' lovely SECR train. He has three SECR locos.

Finally a photo from Alex taken under the MICA van. The draw gear had to be taken apart to inspect.  Both nuts were completely seized and had to be heated to try and free them, and even then they were very stiff. The rubber pads were perished so had to be replaced. Mission success was achieved by 6 pm, somwhat later than hoped.