Tuesday 18th - Thankfully cooler

With temperatures feeling more like normal, we all feel a lot better and our various jobs seem easier to tackle. There's even the promise of some overnight rain, though it will only be light.

The first train of the day hauled by 24081 approaches the token exchange.

A brief catch up of some of Saturday's metalwork repairs on TSO 4867.

Investigation shows that this window doesn't need to come out. 

Somewhat warped from the corrosion, this capping strip will need removing and new sheet metal inserted.

James, having completed the righthand of the two windows, has moved onto the left and is removing further corroded metal.

With that job done it's now back to the north end and repairs to the Malvern side door frame. With a length of metal bar clamped on to the metal sheet to act as a guide, James proceeds to plasma cut the thin length needed for the repair shown below.

A general view of the cleared south end of 4867.

It's a very different story onboard the GW Inspection Saloon where Stu is carefully applying the wood dye to the new panel under the kitchen window.

The front of the shelving has been given another light sand for yet another coat of varnish, while the interior has also been dyed.

Some further light sanding of the back of the work top.

In the yard Dave is cleaning out the rivet line on the Cotswold side of TSO 4406. 

Later on some further general sanding on the Malvern side.

With SO 4798 now out in the yard, a photo is needed, but first the trains have to pass. 47376 with Rake 2 is nicely reflected in the new paintwork on 4798.

Richard has swapped his Tuesday in the Paintshop with an RCS turn in RMB 1876.

24081 passes 4798 with Rake 1 on the return to Toddington and on to Broadway.

With the trains gone it's now safe to cross the running line to get the photo of 4798.

Scouse was coming in on the train today so the next port of call was the station and the Coffee Pot cafe, where Phil and Maurice have joined him for the 1100 break. I was offered a cake but politely refused as I needed to get back to the Mess Room for my own tea.

The buddleia on Platform 1 has put on a lovely display despite the drought, but there were no butterflies.

Earlier on I caught Maurice rebolting the heavy iron roof section to the south end of the Mink D van.

Scouse has put his "requirements" for the use of the Paintshop tower by anyone else. The Wagon team aren't in on Thursday so it may be temporarily reclaimed for roof work on SK 25451. Better get some bottles of Peroni !

The roof canvas still needs trimming and battens nailed on, but the roof painting with Evercryl can go ahead.

SK 25451 is looking more like a camoflaged coach by the day as Ian slowly works his way along the upper half of the Malvern side.

For David, and occasionally me, it was adding a lot more filler on the Cotswold side. 

Having already photo'd Richard in the RMB passing by earlier in the day, I took the opportunity to grab a close-up photo of Richard and wife Chris while Rake 2 was in the station.