Weds 3rd / Thurs 4th - Progressing well

Wednesday

Another great set of photos of the day's events from Gerry. Not so many this time as unusually it was a quieter day for Wednesday with some of the staff away as the holiday season now really kicks in.

Work has already begun on SK 25451 in the Barn in the form of testing the vacuum system, metalwork repairs at the south end, and general painting team preparation on the Cotswold side.

Things have now stepped up and a window has been removed by Gerry to enable repairs to the surrounding metal panel in the usual places.

A number of windows will have to be removed.

Ben is digging out rotten wood in the corridor connection.

Bob and Bryan are fitting a sink to the Weed Spraying wagon. The is a mandatory H & S aspect in relation to the handling of the spray chemicals.

Simon and Neal are making doors for the new units in the Inspection Saloon kitchen.

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Thursday

Geoff and Alan are on their way to Platform 1 to catch the first train armed with a table and fittings, and the necessary tools. The table came loose during the gala in TSO 5042. On the train's return they appeared with the news that the job had been successfully completed.

The timetable in use was for a diesel on Train 2.  37215 passes the 03 on the first return journey.

Derek primes four lengths of plank that he has prepared for more of the repairs to the Shark Ballast Plough.

Roger had made a very good job of varnishing the table legs for SO 4798 on Tuesday. I bundled these up on the trestles next to the brackets. These are now ready for refitting.

Alan fixed the remaining lengths of beading to the south vestibule ceiling in 4798. Both the north and south vestibule ceilings can now be repainted.

One of my jobs for the day was to finish off the north corridor connection, which meant bringing the tower round from the south end. With the tower secured by its brakes and props, the Henry was dragged up and, after sanding and brushing to removed dried algae and dirt, the rain cover was given a good vacuuming. New sealant was needed along the back edge and the whole top coated with Matt Black Polyurethane paint. The above panel and cover supports were coated in Gloss Black.

One of the main jobs today was to try and get the remaing yellow lining out completed on the Malvern side of the coach. Tim continued along the top line - this had been started by Martin on Tuesday.

Phil, back from a lovely holiday in the Scillies, tackled the lower line.

On the Cotswold side at the north end, Rod repainted the small corner section of the lower line. The lower band had been painted in gold colour as used with Crimson & Cream. The livery on 4798 is of course Chocolate & Cream so the band should be yellow.

Returning later to see progress on the Malvern side, Phil had got down to the south end with his taping up.

Meanwhile Rod was busy black glossing the door handles and stops. As this is the central door, which is now permanently locked out of use, the handle has been replaced with a blank.

It's a fiddly job and takes a steady hand, but the result does look good.

Phil is well into painting the yellow band on the lower line. When completed he will return to give the band a quick second coat. Both Rod and myself joined in to get the job completed.

With the painting completed it is important to get the tape off. Tim pulls it off in short lengths, safely gathering it in his other hand. This is the riskiest part as you don't want the tape snapping and depositing the wet yellow on the livery top coat. 

Almost there. 

A hearty thank you to Tim, Phil and Rod for staying on to get the job completed.

The Malvern side with the completed yellow lining out. We will leave the black band to next week to allow the yellow paint to harden off.