Attendance today was very good with 19 of us in and busy working off the Christmas excesses. It was also the start of our final week of running before our Winter Shutdown period with "Betton Grange" and "Pendennis Castle" looking after the two trains. When it came to the day's trains we were in for a big and very welcome surprise!
So, with feet back on the ground, on with the day's activities. Thanks to Paul E for the extra photos.
Beginning with RMB 1876, Alex, wearing his Loco shed attire, began black lining his bodyside sign writing, starting with the number on the Cotswold side.
[Photo : Paul E] Adding the finishing touches to the Cotswold side coach number.
The bogies are relatively grease free and mainly have no more that a dry grime covering. As such we should be able to paint them. Clive begins wire brushing on the Malvern side north end bogie. When tried the power brush caused too much dust so it will be hand brushing only.
Martin continued the lining out on the Malvern side, painting the top black band on the north end section and the door.
Alex had now moved on to the coach type.
In the south compartment Phil was finishing off the installation of the flying saucer lights and repairs to the ceiling following the removal of the tubular lighting units. Over to the painting team now to complete the ceiling repairs and repaint the relevant areas.
Simon was preparing another section of wall for the rebuilding of one of the toilet compartments.
Bob adds some paintable sealant to the ends of the counter. All the old cream painted areas will now be repainted white.
The next job was to white gloss the store cupboard area.
Martin removes the tape from the lower line on the door having now completed the black bands on both the end section and the door. He then moved on to the main part of the Malvern side.
Phil carefully vacuums around where he had been working,
Robert reinstates the internal base on the Cotswold side south door. The door now shuts well, so again its over to the Painting team to add several coats of varnish to the door back where it needs refreshing.
The Malvern side centre door is sticking. Robert has removed the door back.
Now to check the fitting of the back panel on the south end door on this side.
Bob has returned to the counter and is adding paintable sealant to small gaps along the metal strip on this side.
Pam top coats the internal ceiling above the shelves and servery.
She completed this and then painted the sides and ceiling of the counter itself.
The doors for the store now looking complete.
The Cotswold side of 1876 is now almost there bar some minor snagging and blacking the door handles, stops and tops of the droplights. The next job will be adding two coats of varnish and reinstating the grab handles.
[Photo : Paul E] Making use of the space inside the Mink D van Maurice primes more planks.
Paul hand sands the frame before adding more of the Dark Grey undercoat.
The planks in the van have been done. Now to start another batch alongside the Paintshop wall. The wood testles have been brought out.
In the relative quiet of the Upholstery workshop Laura is busy making another bag, adopting the newer method of using more of the plain blue moquette to economise on the patterned versions.
It is nice to welcome Carol, the new member of the team, who is also bag making. The team is now back up to seven members.
The final bit of metalwork repair on the Cotswold side of BSK 35308. James has loosely tack welded the new section of sheet metal.
Now to get it properly welded in place.
The coating of green primer has been painted over the completed repair.
Time to move round to the Malvern side and begin cutting out another area of badly corroded panel.
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The trains are running again from now until Thursday and then over next weekend, the final day of the season being Sunday 4th January.
"Betton Grange" was on Rake 2 and looking brilliant in the cold air.
"Pendennis Castle" was on Rake 1.
She looked fantastic, especially when pulling away with that deep roar.
Earlier on someone had mentioned that the first train of the day to Cheltenham was well filled. As we watched the train pull away it was very clear that the earlier comment was certainly not an exaggeration as it was indeed very full. A very welcome surprise, although was it? The Castle would have been a big draw, especially in a holiday period.
Well, she is running all week and on Sunday will be double heading. Well packed trains throughout the week would be a very nice ending to the season.
I thought that Pendennis Castle was a great catch when it was first announced. I'm not surprised trains hauled by it are full. All the very best to all the department teams for 2026 and I'm sure you will keep up the brilliant work going forward.
ReplyDeleteGeoff J
1876 must be very close to being ready for traffic now. Looking wonderful.
ReplyDeletelooking forward to seeing the Mink D taking paint on the woodwork. I am cosidering making a model in 7mm scale of one just like it.
Hoping that you all have had a very merry Christmas, and not too many pounds put on. I was watching on you tube the other day as to why we were fitter in the 50s and 60s. The main answer was that our plates were smaller! Also, that we walked everywhere, even if owning a car, we tended to use it just on weekends, and always walked to shops. (there being more of the small shops then). No internet, of course; and fewer home deliveries of food. A very interesting video.
Regards, Paul.