Tuesday 23rd - Christmas Fun

With just 9 of us in today and Christmas just round the corner, it was inevitable that it wouldn't be all work and no play. When it was work there were the usual frustrations as well as successes, so in that way a typical day at C & W.

Many thanks to Paul E for the many extra photos.

To start off a photo of the first DMU seat cushion reupholstered in the Bournemouth Blue moquette for the NYMR contract.

On now to more progress with the very large Mink D van. Paul and Maurice have retrieved more planks from the Wagons container and Paul now makes a start on the batch, giving each a sand to remove any stray splinters.

Maurice fancied a quieter day so reverted to hand wire brushing instead of the more usual power brushing.

Top coating was on the increase with the heavy roof end rail ......

[Photo : Paul E] ..... and the main van frame being done.

Paul primes the latest batch of new planks.

The trestles loaded with even more primed planks.

Robert prepares the internal base section of the Cotswold side south door on RMB 1876.

This door back had previously worked on but had been damaged. Thankfully Robert managed to sort it out.

Phil's ceiling repairs in the south compartment are nearing completion.

As promised, two photos of the servery in 1876, with the cleaned and undercoated ceiling and repainted south end area. The latter has been done in the Silver Grey top coat to match the north end where the new chiller will be postioned. The lower area will be kept in GW Brown.

[Photo : Paul E] The top section above the counter entrance door had been removed for access to the electrics. With the rest of the outer face of the counter undercoated white on Saturday, it was time get this extra bit sanded and similarly painted. Paul caught me rubbing down some filler and giving the section a good sand with 120 and then 240 paper to finish off.

I missed David in the Barn but photo'd him doing the undercoating.

It was pretty cold in the Barn but Tony and David continued the sanding and filling on the Malvern side of SO 4798.

4798 up high on the jacks, bogieless and looking somewhat festive in its many colours! It will be good to get this back in the Workshop and then we can begin to stage the prep work properly.

That's it - work's over. Time for Christmas!

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[Photo : Paul E] One of the Christmas elves escaped and sought refuge in our lobby. With the first Santa train yet to arrive, Rose popped in to say hello.

[Photo : Paul E] And of course Paul took the inevitable group photo.

Then we raced up to Platform 1 to visit the griddle tent before the train arrived as we must not be there when the trains are in!

Alex was guard on Train 2.

I caught up with the gang who were happily chatting to Rose and one of the station staff.

[Taken with Paul's camera] When she visited the Works Rose had suggested a big group photo in the sleigh tent. The sleigh was made in C&W many years ago.

[Taken with Paul's camera] A mini video with the snow blower in action.

Then we all piled into the griddle tent to get our baps. Will that be it for baps now until the May Steam Gala? We do have all these extra events planned for next year so we may be lucky!