Thursday 2nd - That's it for a bit

Not many in today and even then I didn't capture everyone, so another small posting.

A catch up on Wednesday's efforts with the weed spraying wagon. The roof sections have now been trimmed.

Side panels have been cut and welded in on the Malvern side.

Horizontal strengthening bars have been welded across the back of each panel.

It's all beginning to look really good and a credit to Nick's team. I don't know what the final livery will be and as I will be supplying the paint I guess I will need to know soon.

Back to RMB 1876 where Martin is grinding down the edge of the new capping strip on the Cotswold side south end doorway to give just that little bit of extra clearance. With all the other prep done the whole doorframe was given a coat of undercoat grey.

Still some way yet with the rest of the coach before that can be greyed up. If we are to achieve the superb finish of TSO 5023 then there is still a reasonable bit of work yet to do on 1876. The Cotswold side is littered with my blue chalk markings indicating where more filler is needed and/or more sanding of filler is required.

Ainsley works his way around a window frame using the excellent sander with the tiny triangular head.

More major sanding for Bob on the Malvern side, removing the old top coat.

With the Cotswold side of the roof scraped and cleaned up as far as possible, time to make a start on the Malvern side. Phil vacs his latest cleaned up section before moving on to the next panel.

One of my jobs was to prime the area that will be under the top section of the connection support at the north end. While at this I also scraped and cleaned under the roof edge, and then coated that with primer.

Phil, having cleaned the hinges Phil coats them in silver hammerite. These are from the toilet compartment doors in SO 4798.

On board FK 13337 "Gillian", Roger, Geoff and Alan are doing more general maintenance. Before I joined the Railway, and well before I became a volunteer, I have fond memories of regularly travelling in this coach, spending the whole day in the peace and quiet of First Class when we used to charge the extra fare for this. Four round trips were the perfect wind down after a busy week at work. 13337 desperately needs refurbishing, but with so much else to do it could still be some time yet before this happens.

Phil (and I) enjoying the sight of P & O on the day's final run to Cheltenham. Just a short time left before she disappears for her major overhaul.

She's always with a lovely smile, and why not when the dream turns to reality. Rose looking very happy in the new greenhouse, especially with the trays of seedlings  and all the donated plants now making it look very established.

Rose points out all the other plans which include the setting up of the trellises at the end of the remaining building, which has been repaired at this end. It is used by our Lineside Drainage team.

Well that's it from me for a week as sunny Exmoor and the little railway beckon. The L &B is only a mile and a half away from the cottage so we will hear the whistles! Might even do the big railway if it is as wet as currently forecast.

Tuesday 30th - After the busy weekend

After the busy Railway 200 weekend it was time to put all the display goods, signs and barriers away again. Being only four weeks to the Autumn Showcase when we are open for the fourth and final time this year, Keith and I took a few shortcuts to speed up the job. We have enough storage space in the Monster van to leave intact the stands for the viewing area and advisory notices. Unless the space is needed for anything else, we will continue in this new mode- it will certainly save some time and effort when both setting and packing up.

Sixteen windows = thirtytwo pelmets to make. Why is the latter double the number of the former? The wall lights in SO 4798 are in the centre of each window. Chris and Robert are going to be busy!

And talking of those lights, Phil is repairing the base section of one of them.

Is Keith painting a coat of GW Brown on a new table top? No, it will be a new gala notice board with respect to prohibiting public access to the Works via the signalbox footway. A bit posh, but better than the small metal notice currently used. And a good way for others in the Painting team to practice signwriting. 

More new door back panels made by Robert for RMB 1876, dyed and now ready for varnishing.

As for other work on 1876 it was back to the seemingly endless body side, door and doorframe preparation. Pam working on her doorframe at the Cotswold side south end, ensuring all the filler is adequately sanded.

It was nice to see Roger back in. He ended up doing the same on the north end door.

Richard was on the opposite side doing the same on the central door.

David worked on both sides clearing up areas where more filler or sanding was required. It's amazing how much still needs doing despite all our efforts as I found out when marking these areas out with blue chalk.

Ainsley was working on windows and the gutter panelling on the Malvern side.

Maurice had a good day cleaning up the corrugated north end of the weed spraying wagon.