Saturday 18th - Railcar, bits, and a tunnel

 Today was the first of several Saturdays where the GWR railcar was out and about, first doing a morning round trip to Cheltenham, followed by Winchcombe - Toddington shuttles.

It was a fine day for it, and as this was the first time it made it to Winchcombe during working hours, the usual rag tag viewing gallery out to watch. It really does look at home on our line. If you'd like to experience it, there's still plenty of time, please do support it, doing things like this isn't cheap!

First job was the shunt the dogfish out the way, now that they have all had some attention to get the doors and handbrakes working smoothly. They will be out on stone shuttles from this coming week for the embankment repair.

Just inside the barn, Maurice and Paul did the honours with the roof canvas paint on the BR Vanfit. we have much better access to scaffolds and room to wield them at Winchcombe, hence doing that bit here.

As most painting was done in the dark by torchlight on a Wednesday evening, inevitably we missed a few bits, so Paul and Maurice kindly went round and spared our blushes. The van is now complete and will be shunted out next week.

The bogies for the Hawksworth saloon continue their clean up and greasing/oiling. 

A bit further in, Ken was overhauling one of the gangway connections for 35308. 

Although the diesel department will be doing most of the bodywork prep on this coach, being the first in the planned blue and grey rake, George made a bit of a start chipping away old cracked filler.

I'm not actually sure what John was doing here! Something on the metal folder...

Earlier he was keen to show his new turned wooden handle for the roller.

James continued welding the latest door for 35308, I think Alan was also doing some metalwork for that coach too.

Chris and Robert were back and forth between the woodwork shop and saloon in the barn with various bits of wood.

Tea brake time, and James brought in some more toys; the new Dapol 517 class and autocoach. Very pretty in the fully panelled livery!

Our chocolate and cream livery is thankfully much simpler, and I set to with the first coat of brown on the Cotswold side, Dave capturing me in the act.

Bit more shiny now!

I did my usual trick of not getting to upholstery until everyone else had gone except Laura, but I found her restocking the cushions which are still flying off the shelves. 2 more NYMR DMU seats in the foreground just ready for final sewing up.

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And finally, as I like to say after reeling off my various GWSR hats "And in my spare time, I work for Network Rail!"... Sunday was one of those days; we had a blockade on the Bristol and Gloucester line this weekend for, among other things, some drainage refurbishment work at Wickwar. 

A nice sunny day, but not in the tunnel; the view out looking towards high mileage and Bristol.

Just over 1km in length, but straight - you can see the light at the other end, just!

And out the other side, looking towards Gloucester...

Wickwar signalbox, obviously no longer operational but well preserved.

No sign of the station or goods yard buildings, but this brewery building was contemporary with the building of the line.

Although not part of the works it would have been rude not to inspect the aqueduct - much like our aqueduct at Stanton it also carries a public footpath over the top.