Saturday 17th - Another busy Saturday

It certainly was a very busy day with a number of our staff sorting out our long term storage. While all that was progressing we were as busy as usual inside.

It was a lovely bright Autumn day with a distinct chill in the air. 2807 drifts into Winchcombe with the first train of the day to Cheltenham.

John doing a bit of on the spot priming with Red Oxide.

Ken rethreads one of the two heating pipes to be reinstated in the Inspection Saloon.

At the north end of TSO 4867 James continues the gradual rebuild with another new piece of sheet metal being welded in.

[Photo : Gerry]  I forgot to include this photo taken on Thursday. With some time to spare at the end of the day, I sanded and filled some of the areas on the side of 4867 that George had previously dug out.

Alan is also doing some great work with the repairs to the south end of TSO 4406. I will get some further photos of the metalwork repairs to both 4867 and 4406 on Tuesday.

And talking of repairs, three of the painting variety to do in BCK 21092. Firstly the panel repair in the north toilet compartment.

Then two ceiling repairs following water ingress, the above in one of the first class compartments, the other in the south end of the corridor.

Walking back from Rake 3 with Paul in time to watch the very popular 45110 pass with, for C & W staff, the very popular Crimson & Cream Rake 2.

Laura demonstrates how we make one of our small items to a new member joining Upholstery? I didn't want to interrupt to ask. We have been advertising for another member to join the Saturday team.

A lovely display of cushions for sale in our Toddington and Broadway shops. At the bottom of the pile on the right are cushion cases ready for filling.

Alex repaints the two sandwich boards destined respectively for Toddington and Broadway.

With almost all the undercoating complete on the sides of SK 25451, it was time to do some light sanding to key the paint surface. The quality of the paintwork is really good and doesn't need a major flatting as we have done previously. Bob gradually works his way along the main section on the Cotswold side.

Ainsley undercoated one of the two remaining windows still in grey.

With the tower set up at the north end Ian completes the preparation about the connection and even the reachable centre section of the roof.

Later with the tower moved back to the Malvern side, Ainsley uses the long brush to continue the roof painting. This very useful item comprises a brush taped to a pole to enable the awkward parts such as cowl backs to be painted when we aren't using the safety wire system or when the coach is outside having some paint repairs.

Ian has now moved on to cleaning up the south bogie ready for painting on Black MIO.

Ah, this is where they all are! That mournful Stanier hoot had everyone, that could, rush outside to watch 45110 pass with Rake 2. As I mentioned previously, both the engine and rake are very popular. It shouldn't be too long before 25451 replaces CK 16221 at the south end of the rake to give us a full set of Crimson and Cream coaches. Actually the first coaches in our new era with this livery were PWay's Mess coach (now needing a repaint) and the Santa coach in Platform 1 Bay.

Now moving outside where Maurice and Scouse are making the most of the good weather to continue what they could with repainting the Shark on the Malvern side.

Two photos taken by Scouse of the repainting on the Cotswold side with the new and refurbished planking in place.

Another batch of fully varnished inner window framing awaits collection, while another four just freshly coated in preservative by myself await varnishing. The sapele with this batch is dark enough not to require any wood dye.

The weather looks to be closing in at the end of another busy day as D6948 rapidly pulls away with the last train of the day.