Most of our days are productive, but occasionally along comes one where we feel that we have really made some strides forward. Today felt very much like that.
Three steps had been made by Steven for the Mink D out of cedar and awaited some further fettling to complete them.
The job was completed by Robert to round them off and do the cutout on the one.
Meanwhile Paul and Maurice continued mounting more of the painted planks on the Malvern side of the van.
Then it was back to the drilling and bang-bang-bang to locate the bolts before adding each nut in turn.
In quieter mode Maurice undercoats more primed planks.
Paul hand sands the new steps to finish them off. More priming and painting will be soon underway.
The ordered marmoleum had arrived so Bob and Pete were able to return to begin laying the rest of the flooring in RMB 1876. A lot of space is needed, especially when the first main run is the full length of the north compartment.
Brown paper patterns made on the spot are vital for this job.
Pete carefully cuts the length in the marked out shape.
Taken at the end of the day with the main areas fitted. Above looking south and below the opposite direction.
I didn't see them go, but I expect they will be completing the job on Wednesday.
We were very pleased to see Keith back for a visit following his health problem. He plans to be back on his regular Tuesday turn in two weeks time.
Also back is Ian. He returned two weeks ago after a long spell away, only to go down with a bug a week later. Thankfully he is fine again and very keen to get stuck in on the solebar, headstock and underframe work he enjoys doing. Nearly all the Malvern side was cleaned up and painted in Black MIO.
Next the headstocks, starting with the south end. You never know just how far to go with these. There is so much that could be done, but when looking at the oily mucky state of some of it, you have to ask how much do you sensibly do. With 1876 Ian kept to just the main visible parts.
Richard highlights the lettering on the first of the two gas bottle container covers.
Earlier on he tidied up the side of doorway at the Malvern side north end where we had difficulty securing the rubber draught seal.
Alex catches up with the remaining signwriting on 1876 - the Emergency Lighting Point and the stars indicating the positions of the vacuum cylinder pull strings.
The floor track for the servery sliding door in 1876 seems to have gone missing. I found this track in our spares and Richard is now cleaning it up. It will probably need cutting to size.
On now to SO 4798 where the first chalked zone (Zone 1) has been greyed up. Zone 2 is ready, so Stu finishes off the prep in Zone 3.
Returning later with Ainsley now painting the Light Grey undercoat on Zone 0. Stu has painted Zone 2 and is now working on Zone 3.
Hey, this is looking great!
After so long in a confusing state of preparation, it's good to see almost all of the south half of the Cotswold side now with its first coat of grey. Besides some windows to catch up with, the next stage is to go over the areas needing further filling. Also of course we will continue with the Cotswold side and get more zones completed and greyed.
4798 will go into the Paintshop when RMB 1876 is completed and goes into Rake 2.
The end of a busy day. Robert enjoys a light tea before leaving for his 80 mile drive back to Pontypridd.
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A very welcome addition to the GWSR which arrived at Toddington during the day is a Great Western designed BR built Inspection Saloon. It was formerly based on the Llangollen Railway and is privately owned. Once we have completed anything that needs to be done, it will be available for private hire bookings.
All the photos were taken by Alex.
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