Weds 19th / Thurs 20th - Well that's a first!

Although the drought isn't over yet, we are at least getting some rain and the forecast shows more on the way with even a mention of "heavy rain", though a recent check shows that to have disappeared.

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Wednesday

As usual Wednesday's photos were kindly taken by Gerry. 

A busy day in Upholstery with Laura, Ceri and Eve making key rings, and now mobile phone covers. Always innovative, what will they come up with next?

Simon and Mick are stripping out the old flooring in TSO 4867 ready for a new one.

 

Nick and Gerry refitted another window following the panel repairs underneath.

TSO 4406 was once again brought into the Barn to enable Alan to continue the repairs to the Cotswold side.

Ben hammering around the new skin on this door (must find out from which coach).

Making additional chequer plate for Derek for the Shark Ballast Plough.

Jim points to the hardwood from which he will be making the joints for the Mink D doors.

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Thursday

Bob, Graham, and myself when not doing other things, continued the filling and sanding on the Cotswold side of SK 25451. Always a very lengthy process, it will be with a sigh of relief when we can begin greying up, though there will inevitably be some top-up filling to do.

Richard works on the Malvern side south door doing the all important job of sanding and cleaning up the door and doorframe edges.

Adding some further photos of the Wednesday work on TSO 4867's windows, the latest frame extracted is undergoing refurbishing, and below the window reinstated by Nick and Gerry.

GUV 86828 is going for scrap. The three photos below, taken by Roger, show Ian, Geoff and Alan removing the wood interior. Included is a photo of Geoff taking a photo of the photographer.

Derek has been working hard to get the Shark Ballast Plough into better shape. The pile of planks currently in the Paintshop is from here.

Annoyingly some of the black paint has come off both ends of RBr 1675; thankfully it's only small areas. I looked after the affected bits on the north end on Tuesday, while today Richard sorts out the few bits along both edges at the south end. I don't think we keyed the primer.

The reason that 1675 was taken out of Rake 1 was to fit a Starlink dish to the roof. It's not too visible, especially as catering vehicles have extra roof appendages anyway. It was tested with the coach still sitting in the metalclad Barn and the reception was still good. It means that our card machines on our catering vehicles will now be much more reliable. Both RMBs will be similarly modified.

The 03 has been connected ready to take 1675 to Platform 2 after the final crossover of the day has taken place.

And here it is with the Peak on the northbound train and D6948 about to pick up the token.

While waiting for the Bubblecar to appear, a shot of the Discovery Coach. We must try and find a slot in which to finish repainting this, not easy with so much to do inside and the many dependencies affecting outside painting, especially up at the station (the coach cannot be moved).

And would you believe it's the Bubblecar that is to return RBr 1675 to Toddington to restore it to Rake 1. This has to be a first for us, proved by the fact that I wasn't the only one taking photos!