Weds 15th / Thurs 16th - Interesting times

Wednesday

Once again thanks to Gerry for another nice collection of photos for Wednesday

Steady progress with BSK 35308 continues as another repaired door is prepared for remounting. Trevor and Ben have brought the last one repaired by James around to the Malvern side to check its fit.

It appears to be successful so the door shell is taken back to the workbench to be rebuilt.

The droplight is in place and the guides are being secured. This will be followed by the scissors lift.

In the GW Inspection Saloon Neil is preparing the kitchen for the new unit currently being built by Simon.

Jim preparing planks (Gerry didn't say what these were for).

In SO 4798's south vestibule Rod is resecuring the trim strip to the right of the Cotswold side door. The new thin panel was given a coat of wood dye. Rod said that it would probably need a second coating.

Bob and Bryan were doing more on the fittings for the Weed Spraying wagon.

Old fridges make very good bunds for storing chemicals. Another one is needed for the wagon and Stu noticed this one which had been placed next to the skips. It was cleaned inside and out, and then placed in the Paintshop ready for painting yellow. The rightangled arm, also to be painted yellow, will be used to secure it.

The four grabhandles for the wagon were removed and the fixings shortened to reduce the overall width of the vehicle. They also require repainting. Their locations on the wagon have been identified on the attached masking tape.

Nick and Rex are fitting the hydraulic brake mechanism to the wagon.

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Thursday

Gerry wasn't able to capture Upholstery so to make amends a photo showing more progress with the NYMR DMU contract.

In response to Gordon Smith's query in Tuesday's post, with respect to dust the Upholstery workshop has long been fitted with a ceiling suspended air filtration system, similar to that used in the Woodwork shop.

The first job of the day for Tim was the further cleaning up of the old fridge. The sides were given a light sand ........

....... and then the requested painting in yellow could begin.

After all the usual logistical Paintshop jobs, I got going on the four modified grab handles for the Weed Spraying wagon, giving them a light sand and then a coat of green primer on the ends. The location information of each is now written on the back of one of the end sections.

An end of day photo of the four repainted grab handles and the new veneer panels for the GW Inspection Saloon with their final coat of varnish.

Richard I is measuring up an electrical baseboard for the Weed Spraying wagon. 

The prepared board with mounted battery charger and voltmeter.

Richard II was already on board sorting out more wiring.

Jeff was very welcome today as this made three from the team and we were able to get some outstanding bits of SO 4798 undercoated. Parts of the Cotswold side north end were still in the base grey, so it was good to get these cleared up.

Another job I had lined up for myself was finishing the roof painting at the south end with the Light Grey MIO. I had also hoped to complete the Dark Grey undercoating above the connection and get the Matt Black paint on the rain cover, but that will now be a job for Saturday.

Good to see the roof completed.

The livery undercoating now completed on the Cotswold side.

The Malvern side south end also needed to catch up now that the missing section of gutter had been reinstated, sealed and undercoated. Jeff again did the Cream section, after which I gave Tim his first go at coach painting by doing the lower panel and a very good job he made of it too.

3850 was Rake 1's haulage today.

It is now public news that the embankment slip curse has hit us again, this time on the Malvern side between Bishops Cleeve and Gotherington. Midweek running will be restricted to Winchcombe - Broadway until mid-May to allow engineering teams safe access to the site, while weekend running will continue as normal with a 5 mph passage over the affected section. Full details are listed on the GWSR website.

In preparation for the work the ballast train has been brought down to our headshunt for some essential maintenance.

Stu, Phil, Tony and the Indoor (who have now become the Outdoor) Gang spent the morning going over the Dogfish ballast wagons ensuring they are functioning well.

[Photo : Roger]

Roger and Geoff checking that the side chutes open freely.

[Photo : Roger]  

Phil and Stu checking the working of the chutes. The long iron bar was used by Stu to clear any ballast blocking them.

Alan and Tony oiling up where necessary.

A new step board fitted where one was missing.

Was it really that long ago that these were repainted? Happy memories of Grenville and the Olive Drab paint. They have had metalwork repairs to the bins since then by Nick and the team.

[Photo : Roger]  On board the Shark ballast plough. The hand wheel used to raise and lower the plough. When we used to have visiting school parties it was always the "steering wheel"!

With Train 1 back in the station, a chance to capture the badly faded SO 4787. In answer to Roger's query in Tuesday's post, this is the coach that will be replaced by SO 4798. The last three coaches in the rake will then be RBr 1675, FO 3132 " Mary" and SO 4798. RCS plan to move the Afternoon Tea events into 4798, with "Mary" being used as the extra space if required. Judging by the popularity of this event I think this could well be a regular occurence.

I couldn't resist two more photos of W55003, the Bubblecar. It's still hard to believe we repainted this 4 years ago.

The end of the day. The station is now closed up and the staff gone. Just Tony and I left at the Works.

Tony power brushes along the top of the Inspection Saloon's south bogie.

While Tony finishes his work, a chance to relax for a while in Rose's garden. It's very peaceful with the chirping birds in the nearby hedgerow.

This whole area is being steadily transformed. Potatoes have been sown .......

....... while nearby the rhubarb and peas/beans/sweet peas (? Must ask!) are flourishing.

Trees - cherry, apple, pear - await planting.

The greenhouse and cloches, and everything else, look very promising. Rose really enjoys everything she does here and it is already providing a lovely area to visit and relax.