Sat 25th / Sun 26th - The Autumn Gala

All the photos are in the order taken.

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Saturday

Saturday was very busy up at the station and C & W had a very good number of visitors almost from the start. It was certainy a very rewarding day. And the Platform 1 griddle baps? As good as ever!

Opening up the Barn roller shutters to be greeted by the first train of the day which was doubleheaded. This enabled 26043 to come off to pick up one of the rakes stabled at Winchcombe. I didn't stay to see which one, but I think it was the one in Platform 2.

Moving forward in time, all the on-the-day bits of gala preparation had been completed, our Saturday staff were arriving with the Mess Room busy, and the day's work had started.

Simon is gradually rebuilding the floors in the north end of RMB 1876. This is the Cotswold side toilet compartment.

The very recognisable whistle of P & O had me rushing out to capture it passing. This is its final weekend before it disappears for its 10 yearly refurb.

We opened the Works at 1000 with visitors appearing very soon after - a good sign for the day to come!

A real treat for this gala was to have the goods train come down from Toddington and stabled in the headshunt until it began the day's running.

3850 - perfect for the freight.

A walk down the yard to enjoy the display of wagons. I noticed some were missing from the rake. This turned out to be length restrictions with the layover positions.

It still looks very impressive from the Toad brakevan.

A different view from the Queen Mary brakevan.

26043 with its returning train waits for the off. The guards whistle is carried this far by that chilly moderate breeze ...........

...... and with speed steadily increasing 26043 passes by with a wave from the crew.

3850's crew and the guard chat while waiting for their turn. The freight would go into the loop at Gotherington on its way to Cheltenham for a northbound train to pass.

Returning to the Works with visitors now a steady flow.

Sorry little one, but Pam with her doggy treats isn't in today. It was really ironic that as Pam wasn't able to be in, there appeared to be more dogs around than I can ever remember seeing at a gala.

It's never quite the same tender first, but still impressive as Foremarke Hall sends a column of smoke and steam high into the air despite the wind.

We had quite a good turnout with the Painting and Prep team for our visitors to see working. Visitor access in the Paintshop was of course restricted to the Cotswold side (where the display items are positioned) and the north end of the coach. 

Richard adds further filler to the north end of 1876.

I took a similar photo last Saturday of Pam finishing off the preparation on the Malvern side centre doorframe. She had done a very good job, so all Bob had to do was give it a wipe down with thinners and apply the light grey undercoat.

Ken works on the south corridor connection.

Now into the Barn with Alan continuing the metalwork repairs to the north end of BSK 35308.

Also at the north end of the Barn, but tucked into the corner on the Cotswold side is a small workbench. Maurice grinds clean a metal strap from the Mink D van.

Alex had come in to see progress and discuss plans with Paul. In the end all the wood planking is to be replaced.

Another gala movement with the two Class 20s pulling Rake 3 or 4 (not sure which is which now!) into the Malvern side siding.

26043 is busy today with another southbound train .......

........ followed by 24081 heading north with Rake 2.

Returning through the Works to a very busy scene and what makes all the hard work setting up for galas so worthwhile.

The entrance lobby was also buzzing with activity with visitors waiting to go upstairs to Upholstery.

Pam, where are you?! Somebody wants a treat!

More good progress at the south end of 1876, with Tony improving the Malvern side of the connection.

Ken is securing the chequerplate inside the connection.

Busy, busy, busy - just what we want!

Laura is giving tuition to Peter and Jane with stapling up a seat back for SO 4798. It's important to get the tension right to keep the moquette firm.

The team notices some more visitors and Laura happily answers their questions.

Eve has returned and helps out.

Nick explains the progress with the weedspraying wagon, the working of the gate and plans for the removable side panelling.

Ainsley did a great job getting the first coat of light grey MIO on the Cotswold side of 1876's roof.

Phil adds a coat of preservative to the little blocks, which I recognize but can't remember what they are for!

Ohhhhh, curses! I heard the freight rumbling by and shot outside, but missed capturing Foremarke Hall at the front.

On Sunday I was too late to capture what may have been a first - the freight heading back to Toddington, diesel hauled !!!

More good progress with Richard and Bob undercoating most of the windows on the Malvern side.

Ian and Clive were cleaning up the brake hangers from the two bogies destined for SO 4798.

James was doing more repairs to one of the doors on the Cotswold side of 35308, while Vic was cleaning up more of the north end of the coach.

Paul,  Robert and one of our visitors listening out for that whistle, ........

........ eager to capture P & O before she disappears on her lengthy overhaul.

Back into the Barn to find Paul and Maurice stripping down a section of the Cotswold side of the Mink D.

Alan has moved to the south end of 35308 where he is now cutting out a section of corroded metal.

Robert will be making a new doorliner for 35308.

Simon prepares to fit the new floor for the connection corridor at the north end of 1876.

Saturday was a really good day for both the gala and C & W.

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Sunday

Sunday was not so busy. Still plenty on the trains, but for the Works what a contrast from Saturday with just a steady trickle visiting instead of the good numbers of the previous day. There were times when it was just us five monitors! It was also very cold with a biting wind, which didn't do anything to help.

As with Saturday the first train had a diesel on the front. Today it is 24081 with 3850 as the train engine.

P & O arrives with 47376, detaches and moves into Platform 2 to take on the rake stabled there ........

......... while 47376 backs into the headshunt to couple to the rake stabled there.

Today it was Foremarke Hall with the freight train.

On board the Toad brakevan Andrew Goodman, Alex and guard Matt Brown.

Sadly only a few dogs came onto C & W so Pam had little opportunity to hand out the treats. In fact two weren't interested - very unusual!

What I did want to do was obtain a photo of our latest output. TSO 5023 had recently been brought back from The Buckingham Railway Centre at Quainton Road and inserted into Rake 2. The coach had been hired by a film company who are making what will be the final series (series 11) of Grantchester. I have never watched the programme but will do so now to see 5023 in action. Hopefully it will be more than just a few minutes!

Alex drops in to see how things are going, prior to taking on guard duties.

It's only mid afternoon, where have all the visitors gone?!

Another view of TSO 5023, looking vey smart in the rake. Unfortunately a bird had christened it on this side and on the crimson panel, making it very visible. Roger, our Cleaning Team blogger, was with me when I took the previous photo and promised me that on Monday the rake would be positioned with this side accessible and so the priority job would be to clean 5023.

To end the post for the weekend, the freight train pauses for the token exchange and then heads off to Toddington with Betton Grange in charge.

At this point, with our Works opening period almost over, we retrieved the sandwich boards and opening signage from the station, brought in anything else we thought ought to come in, removed all the corridor chequer tape through the Workshop and Barn, closed up the Works, and then retreated to the Mess Room for a much wanted cuppa.

All the rest of the gala stuff will be retrieved and stored away on Tuesday.

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Having been told that we were 25% up on Saturday when compared to the same Saturday last year, it looks like it has been a successful gala, even with the quieter Sunday. We have held this mixed traction gala for a number of years now and it has certainly proved to be very popular.

What we find particularly enjoyable when opening C & W during galas is being able to meet our visitors, chat to them, answer the many questions, and be able to show them first hand the work that we do. In most cases what goes on in C & W is something that is generally hidden from view during our normal day to day running, with just the blog photos providing the information. Seeing it all first hand often provides a very different perspective.

Very heartening for us too are the many appreciative comments about our work and the results, and about the blog. It makes all the effort so worthwhile. So a hearty Thank You to you all.