Tuesday 25th - Another lovely day

 Yes, it was another lovely day and great for anyone working outside.

 

David, Dave and Phil rush outside to catch 75014 returning north on the first train of the day.
 

On first entering the Paintshop I noticed that the background to the second name plate had mysteriously turned black and the numberplate had received an orange line. Ooh-er!

 

Besides taking photos and the usual leaping about, my first job was cleaning up the Cotswold side sole bar on the Santa coach and then removing the rotten steps. There are no doors on this side so the replacement steps will be for completeness only.

Phil took on the continuing filling and sanding at the south end .................

 ................ while Richard worked at the north end. This particular step will be retained as, bar a bit of filling, it is in relatively good condition.  

 David worked on the Malvern side.

Enjoying the lovely day were Maurice and Paul, continuing the painting of the protruding bolts and nuts on the Mink A van. Another job that needs to be completed as soon as possible with the gala getting closer by the day. We should be able to put out a very reasonable length goods train this year, with brake van rides again being offered (very much recommended if you have never done one). 

 

 By now Pam was well into the outer border with the brass paint.

Just in time to catch Farmer Robert on his way to the station. Our Evacuation Experience for schools is well underway again. Robert was looking after a school from Gloucester. He will be back in the afternoon.

Another one enjoying the day was Dave, back with more cosmetic painting on our storage vehicles. They look so much better with this treatment.

 

Lunchtime could be enjoyed outside again for those wishing it. Perfect timing for the passing trains. 

 

Alan added dark grey undercoat to the battery box doors and the back of one of the boxes. They can all be coated in black gloss on Thursday.

Pam was now well into the lettering. A slight hiccup with the little pot of paint but there will be enough to finish the lettering hopefully - Alex has another pot available.

 Robert adds the last piece of wood to the base of this emergency door from RBr 1675.

We are always creating new tools. This one was mentioned in a previous posting and Robert says it is now complete.

 Using the doorframe stile template, Robert demonstrates how it will be used to cut the rebate.

 

Another recently created tool to be used when vacuum testing.

 Almost there - well done Pam!

Monday 24th - Oomphed Out

 The weed killing train completed everything last week, so it was both rakes today. First of all Paul, Tim and myself washed the Malvern side of rake 1. This side had not been washed for 3 weeks and the south end carriage needed a good rub down to remove the soot/diesel fumes. (North end carriage off the platform and can't be reached).

So by the time I got the camera out Paul and Tim were well down the maroon set in platform 2. It was also an excuse for me to get out of the rain and stand under the canopy to take the photo!

After that I got a quick snap of Kath

And John, finishing off inside

Also inside at some point were Greg, Jane, Nigel and new starter Sarah.

Why the blog title? Well, the maroon set had not been touched inside for 3 weeks and was pretty dire - crisps, half eaten raspberries etc etc. And with "Ghostbuster" Rich on holiday (tut) and me now assisting outside after Phil's passing, there was no big vac in use so all the sweeping had to be done with brooms and Gtechs. Both sets really needed a mop but we were all oomphed out by this point so it did not get done. Minor consolation was that with the wet weather due this week it would soon be dirty again! 

The next two Mondays are bank holidays so trains will be running, and then it is the Steam Gala. https://www.gwsr.com/galas/steam-gala But this year there are no trains running the day before the Gala so we plan a Thursday special on May 11th.

Saturday 22nd - Upholstery saved the day

This post has only happened thanks to Jenny and Laura, who wanted me to take some photos in Upholstery. With Alex undergoing his annual reassessment as a Guard and so based on the Maroon Rake all day, and loads of jobs to do in the Paintshop, I decided to have a break and forget a Saturday blog. However, having got the Upholstery Shop photos, I then decided to make a go of it and scurried around in the afternoon gathering what I could. Apologies to those I missed.

On initially arriving at the Works I took this shot of the two replica nameplates being made for the "Last Hurrah" day on 9th May. Alex had been in the previous day and started to paint the surround and lettering in brass paint. A note had been left for Pam with instructions.

It was a very cold morning with much of the driving to the Works being done in thick fog (Cheltenham was very bad). Great steam effects though with the first returning train.

 

I captured Laura and Jenny measuring up a large piece of foam. However at this point I decided to get back to the Paintshop work and forget the blog. There was just too much to done.

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The first completed seat for the Dean Forest Railway is what they wanted me to photograph, and having taken this, .......................

...................... Jenny showed me the pieces that they had cut from the original large sheet, next to which pieces of shaped foam have been marked "DFR".

A large restocking delivery had taken place on Wednesday.

The neatly laid out progress plan for the DFR contract.

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So having decided to do the blog post after all, time to see what could be captured. The photos are in the order taken.

Ben sorting out the middle hinge on 1675's Door - er 2, 3? I can never get used to the numbering system. It's the single access door to the counter on the Cotswold side. Nice to see the new capping strips in place. Ben has spent a lot of time on this door, making sure it fitted well.

Climbing into 1675 to find Alan and Simon erecting the ceiling supports in the kitchen.

After all the floorboard preparation for 1675 over the past few weeks, the north end of the Paintshop is now back to the extended trestle area to cater for the painting of the two new battery boxes and the passenger area lighting channels for 1675. Jeff completes almost all the undercoating of the outsides of the boxes in dark grey undercoat. The insides have been painted in white undercoat. The lighting channels have been undercoated.

It was just George working on the Santa coach today, sorting out more filling and sanding. With FK 13326's initial preparation more or less completed, the concentration will now be on the Santa coach.

 

Pam was now well into the brass painting on the loco nameplate.

The hiss of steam and a whistle outside had us running out to watch Dinmore Manor passing on the Maroon Rake, with Alex guarding. The weather had considerably improved and, being much warmer, lunchtime for several of us had been taken outside.

Ben and Ainsley ponder the fit of this Malvern side door on 1675. I had earlier helped Ainsley mount it and when tested the fit wasn't quite right.

Ainsley works on the back plate of a hinge, presumably the centre one from the above door.

Andy and Ian in discussion following the day's shunting activities. The Mink A is now outside the Barn, and the good news is that CK 16221 is now back at the south end of the Maroon Rake.

Pam looks happy. "Capel" has been painted and much of the outer border too.The fiddly bit with the letters is the careful painting required when coating the sides, often with the paint doing its best to run off onto the black base.

In the Woodshop Robert is setting up a tool to help with making the curved lengths of wood; part of one can be seen in the background.

Above and below, the two emergency doors from 1675 with the bases now repaired.

A happy Pam with the top section of the first nameplate completed. She thinks some of the letters may need a second coat, but overall it looks good. The bottom section still has to be done. And then there's the second nameplate, the main face of which I undercoated in dark grey while Pam was finishing her plate.

Weds 19th / Thurs 20th - A celebration

Two more interesting days to report in our busy life at the Works. It certainly makes time go quickly, especially when some of the work is needed for a number of events which are now looming near. The culmination of these is of course the Steam Gala on the weekend of 12-14 May with the theme "Cheltenham and Gloucester Remembered" and eight locos in steam, five of which are guests (https://www.gwsr.com/galas/steam-gala).

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Wednesday

Many thanks again to Gerry who took Wednesday's photos. 

We start the day with Colin celebrating his 90th birthday. Along with fellow woodworker Geoff, we now know him of course as one half of the Chuckle Brothers!

Speaking to Colin last Wednesday he said he felt a bit nervous about coming in this week, but I'm pleased he did turn up. Many congratulations Colin, you must be the oldest volunteer on the Railway, still going strong and doing some brilliant work.

 "Shall we dance?"

The final repair to the bodywork on the Santa coach. Bob S. is cleaning up the holed area under the roof edge. He cut a very accurately shaped patch ready for Nick to weld the next day.

More excellent progress with FK 13326 in the Barn, with David .................................

.................. and Pat adding more filler where required, before beginning the greying up on this side.

Stu takes a breather while refitting one of the vacuum cylinders on CK 16221 "Abigail/Charlotte". Both cyclinders were in fact ok which is good news. An adjustment was required to allow them to work as they should.

Steve is making a support bracket to assist when replacing the seal on a vacuum drum.

On now to RBr 1675's progress with Rex welding a door support back in place.

With the painting completed around the north corridor connection portal, Ken now reattaches the vertical supports.

Colin, our happy nonaganarian, preparing to make some hardwood window frames for 1675.

David repairing a door support for 1675.

Trevor fine tuning the fit of Door 3 on the Cotswold side of 1675.

 Ainsley and Ben are refitting Door 2.

 More window frame cleaning being done by Chris.

Thanks again for the photos Gerry.

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Thursday

 

We began Wednesday's post with the Santa coach, so doing the same for today, a shot of Nick welding on the section of sheet metal prepared by Bob S. the day before.

Tony prepares a new length of metal that will go above a set of window sliders in one of the second class compartments in CK 16221. 

A little later and the new piece is being screwed in place.
 

Another window repair being done by Ken who is replacing another of the blown double-glazed windows in the corridor of 16221. The vacuum cylinder problem in effect provided the opportunity to get these outstanding jobs done, which would probably have had to wait until the closed season.

With the vacuum cylinders back in place and the necessary adjustments made, time for a test. Ian looks on as Stu prepares to go below and connect up the vacuum hoses. I am pleased to say that the test was successful, so it is planned to return 16221 to the Maroon rake this coming Saturday.

Another glorious day with Geoff, Alan and Dave giving the crew and our passengers a hearty wave.

Geoff and Alan making this door easier to close at the south end of FK 13337 "Gillian". This coach is so deserving of a full refurb, having twice been postponed in the past because of more urgent work. Our 5 Year plan initially suggested this could have been about now, but inevitably this has been pushed back, especially with 1675's major rebuild.

We value greatly our group of trolleys of various sizes. They have a hard life and as such sometimes are in need of repair. We could always do with more, so why not build one? John demos where the handle will be fitted. The wheels have already been bought and stored ready.

Following on from yesterday, Pat completes the greying up of the Malvern side of FK 13326. Some secondary filling will be required, but the coach overall has come on in leaps and bounds over the past three days. The window to Pat's right will be coming out so that the large hole above it can be properly repaired, hence the patch left unpainted underneath. The repair will be done at the same time as the major rebuild of both ends.

One of our urgent requirements for the Gala is to get the Mogo finished and we are not far off now. Maurice's priority for the day was to get the backs of all the doors primed, and despite there being six large doors, in particular the end ones, he did the job with time to spare. He then helped me by completing the priming of the second "Capel Dewi Hall" nameplate, another urgent job.

Bob K. undercoated the insides of the two new battery boxes for 1675.

  Our hardworking Metal Bashers were as always busy with 1675, with Gerry,  ............

.................. Bryan, ........................

............... and Rex mainly working on doorways.

And to end, having taken them, why not include them. Tomorrow the rain is back, so a short sequence of 75014 "Braveheart" returning to Toddington and on to Broadway, during lunchtime on this gloriously sunny day.