Weds 3rd/Thurs 4th - All sorts of things

Wednesday

As always many thanks to Gerry for Wednesday's photos. I have added some extra ones that I took on Thursday to show the results of some of the activities.

[Photo : Gerry]  Out in the yard Trevor is working on the large flatbed for the PWay gang.

[Photo : Gerry]  Simon measuring up the floorboarding for the north vestibule in SO 4798.

[Photo : Gerry]

[Photo : Gerry]  Rex installing one of the roof panels on the weed spraying wagon.

Photo taken Thursday of the corrugated roof panels for the wagon. They were painted in grey MIO by Bob S on Wednesday.

[Photo : Gerry]  Ken working on the wooden connection supports at the south end of RMB 1876.

[Photo : Gerry]

The completed supports taken on Thursday.

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Thursday

Looking out of the Barn side door as 7903 "Foremarke Hall" passes with the first southbound train of the day.

Geoff and Alan replacing the missing step on the south bogie on TSO 5023.

Alan reattaching the back of the Cotswold side south door.

The back panels of all six doors were given a fresh coat of varnish by Bob.

The repainting of the two toilet compartments is now well advanced. In the Malvern side compartment Jeff cleans up the window frame prior to painting in silver hammerite.

With the masking tape removed from the varnished beading, the repainted compartment looks a lot better.  

The new white metalled bearings for the Open C wagon that were made at Toddington.

Stu very carefully works on the white metal to remove potential hot spots.

Alan is doing a great job at the north end of RMB 1876 with the Malvern corner now complete and coated in green primer.

During the day he completed the Cotswold corner and part of the corroded area to the left of the doorway.

The corroded area to the right of the doorway replaced with new sheet metal.

Ainsley attacking more of the lower three banded line to the right of the Cotswold side central doorway.

Phil, with ladder tightly ratchet strapped, using the compressed air lance to clean out the cowles on 1876's roof.

Phil cleaning up the frame of one of the "flying saucer" light fixtures for 1876.

The older design lights reinstated in 1876 are looking very good. We've got some ceiling painting to do!

Members of our catering team are being shown around RBr 1675.

Alan Nicholls with Richard II.

Electricians gathered - Mike, Richard I and Phil.

Maurice is gradually working his way around the sole bar and headstocks of the weed spraying wagon, cleaning away the rust and grime, and prepping with red oxide. I wonder what livery this will be painted in?

It was great to see Ralph Timmins back with his dad Bob. I first knew about Bob when he was in the photos in the Steam Railway article about the painting of the restreamlined 46229 "Duchess of Hamilton". I later met him when he was at Toddington repainting "City of Truro" in 2010 for GWR 175. Now in his 90s he is a very interesting person to chat with. 

Meanwhile I am delighted to say that Ralph is happy to return next Thursday when, with help from Bob K, TSO 5023 will be given a second coat of varnish.