Saturday 24th - The new system

Another good attendance of 22 on another day of rain and gales.

The bared south end of TSO 4406. Alan has now replaced the bases of the connection support pillars on the Malvern side. The new sections and cleaned up base plate have been coated in black MIO.

Dave continues his general sand down of the Malvern side. It's good to progress this as much as possible as it all helps to save time when this coach eventually enters the Workshop and on into the Paintshop.

Ken continues the steam heating pipe repairs under the GW Inspection Saloon.

Helping our another department on the Railway, Andy tackles more of the heras fencing repairs.

Paul top coats the removed and cleaned up planks from the Shark Ballast Plough van.

The blue trestles kindly donated by Clive are brilliant as they can be expanded both in width (as in this case) and height. They also make excellent barriers and are used as such during gala openings.

In Upholstery Laura is making another door stop.

We welcome Sarah to the team, who already looks very much at home.

Phil and Jenny are cleaning light fittings.

Yet more inner window framing for preservative, wood dye and varnish. Jeff brushes on the former. The isolated one is for Alan on Thursday for Rake 3 windowframe repair.

All have had their second coat of varnish and are ready to fit. The lefthand ones have already had the screwholes bored.

More excellent progress with 25451, beginning with Clive cleaning under the solebar on the Cotswold side. 

Ian was working on the south bogie on the same side.

Bob flatted the cream section on the Malvern south half and then gave it a second undercoat.

Ian and Clive begin painting the north bogie with Black MIO.

It was an early Christmas for the Painting team with the arrival of the long wished for Mirka dust free sanding system. Once we worked out all the various aspects we got cracking on flatting the lower panel on the Cotswold side. I had the circular sander with the short pipe and Ian the rectangular one with the extended pipe. What a joy not to have to worry about dust masks, a right pain when you wear glasses and have hearing aids. Just a wipe over when done and we're ready to top coat. There was even a newish small cupboard on the mezzanine which we have moved to the Paintshop for storing it all. The system came with a range of mesh abrasive sheets, but our supplier very kindly threw in a number of boxes, each containing 50 sheets ranging from 60 to 240 grade. For the flatting we use 240.

On Tuesday I will instruct those of the team who are in on how to set it up and it's usage.

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And on Sunday afternoon?

Another afternoon tea on board " Mary".

The final one of the year and very enjoyable.

[Post published on the train on the way back from Broadway]