Monday 23rd - Busses

 You know the saying - no bus for ages then they all come at once. Some weeks there have been very few Carriage Cleaners but a magnificent 9 turned up today!

Here we have Phil, John, Jane, David and Paul. Also around were Nigel P (our only Nigel now), Mark and Roger O. As Mrs Blogger is making progress with her recovery I was able to attend on my own. Neil (ops manager) had swapped the trains round for us and moved them down the platform to get the north end coaches on, so we were able to wash parts that other hoses don't reach. I gave the Ghostbuster vacuum it's first outing of the season inside train 1 while others did the train washing and/or cleaned the rest of the interiors. Odd fact - the best coach in Train 1 - "Mary" - is the only carriage that gets cobwebs on a regular basis!

The day was made more interesting with the arrival of our Gala visitor 47109.

Saturday 21at - All hands to the pump

 Apologies if goods wagons aren't your thing, but inevitably they're featuring quite a lot at the moment here as it's my main pre-occupation! So starting with them...

There were a number of small issues with the Mink G that precluded it running, we've steadily worked through them. I think the last showstopper was a very precarious door locking bar - the timber it was screwed into was holding on by a thread. Robert kindly helped out with a fresh piece of wood and got it all solid and working:

On the Mink A, the dirty gang were underneath servicing the drawgear:

At some stage the cradle had dropped out of its runner and needed jacking back up.

It had obviously been like that for some time as the pins were rather worn:

I spent some time getting the North end ready for undercoating, initially with the wire wheel on the steel uprights before applying some red oxide:

Towards the end of the day we pushed it just inside the barn just in case it rains during the week - we can't afford rain to stop play on this one!

Progress on the Toad was also good, Maurice and Paul broke out the topcoat on the Malvern side:

Paul captured me paining the upper part of the interior in top coat cream:

Later on I too picked up the top coat grey, and did most of the Cotswold side:

Hopefully Tuesday should see everything into gloss.

At Toddington progress was also good, Mark captured Harry and Andy (after a morning driving P&O) painting the beer tank conflat:

By the end of the day all the brown had been done and about half of the underframe in black:

The Macaw also had the last of its gloss done, which allowed me to pop in on Sunday for a little bit of overtime to finish the signwriting:

Time to update the picture on the wagon list!

It wasn't all wagons though, the usual complement of upholstery members soldiered on with RBr chairs:

Ken was busy making lots of noise, I think he was cleaning up components from the RBr too:

The CK also saw plenty of focus, here Paul, Phil and Dennis were checking the water tanks and associated plumbing to see if it all held water:

Chris and Ben put another door on, always feels like a good step forward when that happens:

While Dave was on compartment panelling fitting:

We're never too busy to watch a train or two, P&O and Foremarke were out today and as they were facing different directions, every other crossover you got a smokebox first passing smokebox first:

Thursday 19th - The pressure's mounting!

 With the gala just over two weeks away (have you booked your tickets yet?) preparation was in full swing. Bryan and Rex were on axlebox duty, first the Mink A:

And then the Mink G:

Up on the mezzanine Richard II was sorting out some circuitry for a new fridge on the third rake RMB:

Which he later took out to fit just as I was taking a photo of my progress sanding down the Mink A, to get a "Ah, you can help me lift it up"!

Oh alright then. Whilst there, I found Geoff and Roger engaged in various repairs throughout the third rake:

While Paul was making sure the short 4th rake for the 'local' train was in good order, here fitting a plug to the sink in BSK 35308:

Back to more sanding on the Mink, it's got to be in GWR livery by the gala!

In the background Dave was sanding the Quainton Road TSO, but later joined me on the Mink:

In other wagon progress the Toad continues to come on in leaps and bounds. The south end is more or less complete with window frames in:

Richard and I were both keenly aware of our gala deadline so we pulled a late shift which enabled him to make good progress at the North end too:

A very satisfied worker! The space on the right is the only bit of timberwork left on this, apart from fitting windows.

With most of the Mink pad sanded down I broke out the undercoat for the last few hours:

I managed to get virtually all of the Malvern side done:

Some of our less urgent projects also saw progress today. Jeff and Bob were on the bubble car, and finally some topcoat! But first Jeff finishes off taping up with the line gauge:

Be the end of play the gutter to top line had been done all the way round, and about half the Malvern side had been glossed as far down as the waist line.

Phil and Gerry were in the RBr, I missed a photo of Gerry, but Phil's got the acro-props out for some ceiling work by the looks of things:

While in TK 24006 Robert was sanding down the north vestibule, which came up rather nicely:

We did watch a train or two go by on this fine day, it says we must in the rules!

Friday - more wagon work!

Action on two fronts today at Toddington, the beer tank and the Macaw. The conflat had some undercoat applied, the tank itself still awaiting prep:

The water tower was playing up and needed emptying to repair. The locos were all brimmed but there was still some left, and so the beer tank was soon filled up too.

Onto the Macaw - I actually did this bit on Wednesday before it chucked it down with rain much to my annoyance:

Today saw a big push on the timber work, with Mark, Steve and Neal all involved:

The replica numberplate was also fitted, and the number painted on above:

An overall view, beginning to look the part now! Just a few more planks to put in and the other side th signwrite.

Wednesday 18th - Not a lot

 Wednesday can be a strange day, the teams tend to roll over and vary the attendance days. We find this is ok, and do use the various communication links to inform each other what is going on.

Phil's first job was to rewire a grinder, these little machines lead a very hard life. This one can now do a second one

A mass gathering of upholsterers.

Meanwhile in the carpenters shop, Geoff the maestro at work.

And Colin the other maestro away from the workshop in 16221.

Rex was on his own in 1675 today, replacing the next cross bearer. He found a heavily corroded section which supports a dividing panel in the kitchen, the only choice he had was to make a new one.

A Wednesday pic. of the TOAD Richard and Stuart agreed a pose for me. I will add the new floor looks amazing, hopefully it will attract many riders at the Gala.

Richard had previously blown all of the dust and cobwebs from the TOAD chassis, then Dave could apply a fresh coat of paint.

Ian and Clive spent most of the day shunting ......

which included 2 bogies for 1675, Clive toured the works enlisting help to move these heavy beasts..

At this point Ian is seen orchestrating the move.

This Mink A will be repainted in time for the Gala ....

The Mink G will be joining the Goods train at the Gala, and hopefully be re-painted after the Gala. Unfortunately there is not enough time or space to get this done before.

The day is never better than the sights and sounds ..... of Foremarke and P&O.