Monday 22nd - Two Wheels On My Wagon

 But first, here was 50009 Alycidon at 10:00 just about to go off to the Severn Valley, after it's brief but very successful stay with us.

This was the site that greeted us this morning, notice something odd?

That's right, one of our trains is missing! Turns out the weed killing train was coming through so rake 2 was way up the north siding out of reach. But that gave us chance to do extra work on rake 1. Team today was John, Kath, Greg, Nigel, Paul, Tim, Phil and myself.

And speaking of Phil, this was his project for the day

He has got the spares for this and so we now have a fully fit trolley to use.

As rake 2 was missing and next week no cleaning as the rakes are in use being Bank Holiday Monday, it means that rake will have had 3 weeks of use so we will no doubt have a lot to do. Who needs a gym?!

Monday 15th - Inter Departmental

 Starting off with Tim complaining the new brushes were leaving bristles where he was washing!

On my way over the footbridge to rake 1 in platform 2 I came across fellow volunteers scraping rust and loose paint off prior to repainting. They were brushing the fallen debris together so I did a quick vac with the Ghostbuster. I could also get in the narrow gap between the decking and the sides. Much appreciated by them and I was glad to help. 

View of a washed rake - everyone else was either inside still cleaning or washing the Cotswold side of rake 1 on platform 2. We had a mystery visit from VisitEngland recently and in their report they noted that the carriages were clean and tidy. Worth our hard work!

The team today consisted of John, Kath, Greg, Nigel, Phil, Paul, Mark, Tim and myself.

Before leaving 4270 was on the unloading road. Is it going on hols? We have another Deltic coming this week so perhaps this is a back load. As there are roadworks on the nearby roundabout and lots of builders vehicles all over the place from the new houses going up, there could be some interesting manoeuvres!

Monday 8th - Promotion!

 Team Leader John was not able to make it today, so I was promoted to Toilet Cleaner. Well, I think it was promotion or was it when I said John wasn't coming everyone else suddenly had their urgent jobs to attend to? 

Rake 2 Cotswold side got the first wash as they did not get done last week - rake 1 Malvern was also done. Paul, Tim and Roger O on the outsides; Kath, Nigel, Greg and Mark on the insides. Myself with a Ghostbuster after the toilet duties. It ain't half hot in rake 2!

So no photos this week - you have seen them all before after all! And by the time we had finished we were all k......

Sunday 7th - Taking a break

 

Alex, Nick and I have decided to take a break from the Blog for a while. Roger may still post the Cleaning Team's activities on Mondays.

We will be back.

Wednesday 3rd - Thin on the ground

 Its holiday time and this means a reduction in volunteers, however we get together and work out a strategy.

You saw it here first, the new moquette which is entitled ' Horse Chestnut Leaf '. The closely guarded info is it will be used in 2 compartments in 16221, beyond that my lips are sealed.

The magicians workshop .... I am told it is very soft to the touch, The Moquette that is.

And so to 1675, we now have the corridor connection removed from the South end, Gerry is removing various panels to expose the crash pillars and buffer plate.

Derek is removing panels, again to make access to the crash pillars. He will then be attending to the floor and making it safe for the interior fitting.

Again at the South end, that's me gas axing some redundant brackets.

Oooh the tin worm has been feasting here, a complete new frame will be going in here ..... photos will follow when its done.

I had to get out of the way, as Phil jettisoned this very old cable loom. It will all be replaced with new.

The number gives it away, Gerry is exposing more door frame uprights some are not too bad others will be replaced.

Just a few of us but the work goes on, watch this space.