Tuesday 25th - A very satisfying day

It was a cold bright day and thankfully dry as we were expecting a large consignment of planks for the Mink D van.

Thanks to Paul for the extra photos.

It would be hard to get fed up with this view.

Someone called out to say a lorry had arrived outside our main door. Great! The planks are here. Alex was inside the container, with Maurice and Paul getting them off the lorry. After taking the photo, I became piggy in the middle and joined in.

Alex underneath the Mink D, disonnecting the brake mechanism, parts of which ended up being primed.

Maurice and Paul continued the old plank removal at the north end of the van, the usual combination of bolt cutting followed by bang-bang-bang.

[Photo : Paul E].  All the planking at the north end now removed, leaving the doors still to do.

[Photo : Paul E]  Maurice has a good sweep round and tidy up.

[Photo : Paul E]

Near the end of the day Alex restores the trestles and coats the back of the planks in undercoat Dark Grey.  Just to recap, these are planks left over from the MICA van rebuild.

Pam had a large number of items to paint and varnish, almost all of it the latter. The step is the replacement made by Robert for the Cotswold side centre door on RMB 1876. Almost all the remaining items being varnished are for SO 4798. Pam loves varnishing so was in her element with all this to do.

On board 4798 Roger varnishes the new veneer panels under each window.

The remaining window frame needing a second coat of varnish was done by me. After a light sand I  also added a fresh coat of varnish to two of the inter-window wall panels to see how they came out. As expected it was an improvement. If we have the chance it would be good to get more of the existing varnish refreshed to bring back the gleam.

With all her trestle work completed Pam moved into the Malvern side toilet compartment in 4798 and began varnishing the veneer. It will need two coats, and if we get the chance a third. The Cotswold side compartment has had two coats - a third would be even better. The ceilings in both need painting.

On to 1876 and starting with David sanding down a small area of the Cotswold side centre doorframe which caused the door to stick when attempting to reopen it. When sufficient was removed the area had some fresh undercoat.

We made great progress today second top coating the window frames on the Cotswold side. While Ainsley did the north end windows, Richard did the south end and then moved round to the Malvern side to do the last one remaining.

Alex worked on the remaining door and corner area at the north end of the Malvern side that was still in undercoat. More filler was actually required so he concentrated on that, before freshly undercoating the lower section. The cream section will be re-undercoated probably on Thursday.

[Photo : Paul E]

David moved inside 1876 and top coated the ceilings in both the south compartment and the servery. He then began undercoating the ceiling in the north compartment.

So, overall a very satisfying day and a feeling of a lot achieved. Time to do a summing up on the whiteboard so that we keep track of where we are with 1876, except that I mistakenly put 2nd top coating for the sides when it should be the 1st. Stupid boy! Still it was the end of a long busy day.

That's quite an array of stuff completed by Pam, which now includes the new back panel for the Cotswold side south door on 1876.

The hooks area with various bits for 4798, 1876, the Mink D van and the Open C wagon.

Monday 24th - Home And Away

 The "Home" team had rake 1 at Toddington and the "Away" team rake 2 at Winchcombe.

This was the scene at Toddington.

That's new! Windows decorated with stick-on scenes. And also new - 

Christmas trees in the trains.

The trains are, as always, a sell-out. That's excellent but excited children do leave a little debris, to say the least! So on to the routine.

Val cleaning windows.

Kath sweeping.

And Jane with a cloth that was clean before wiping the top windows!

I started with the hand held vac on seats, then got the Ghostbuster. Here I was helped by Kath and Val as "Ghostbuster's Little Helpers" - they went ahead sweeping the dust and debris into piles for me to vac up, as well as me  reaching the parts the brooms didn't reach.

John M was on toilets and we very pleased to welcome back Roger C, on light duties, now recovering well after his operation at the end of August. Long Tall Steve was as usual reaching the difficult parts.

Washing the Cotswold side were Chris, David, Paul, Peter and Tim.

The Away Team was Rich, Nigel, Greg and Lynne. No outside wash.

And a couple of pics to end. Inside the new buffet car.

And the outside.

Saturday 22nd - Santa, baps, locos, youth group - oh, and work!

A very mixed day both in and out of the Works as our Santa season kicks off for this year. It was also very mixed weather with the rain quite heavy at times and then drifting into dry spells, when if the train wasn't in, we could nip up to the griddle tent on Platform 1 and grab a bacon or sausage bap. Alan had the Full House again, which is a bap with bacon, sausage, burger, cheese slice, and onions.

 The Youth Group were also in, under the care of Alex, Richard and David, and having a thoroughly enjoyable day working on the Mink D, and even helping out with the bogie swaps in the Barn and yard.

An early job (when the rain was the heaviest) was getting a barrier set up on Platform 1 using some of our gala viewing area stands and chains. This was one of the few spells when it was dry.

Simon continues the reconstruction of the toilet compartments in the north end of RMB 1876 and making a very good job of it.

Martin was doing more of the catching up with the top coating on both the south end doors and corners.

Chris and Robert removed the worn out footstep under the Cotswold side centre door.

Bob busy giving the south compartment ceiling a light sand prior to undercoating.

The Upholstery team re-covering in the red Chainlink moquette the armrests from 1876 that were worn and scuffed.

Alan repairs the metal panelling at the north end of 1876 where the passcom equipment was seated.

Chris drills out the rusted broken bolts in the step supports.

Ken is using the magnetic drill to bore out the bolt holes in the connection U frame for the north end of 1876.

Alan's repaired sections.

Paul vacuums the ceiling in the servery area.

Another new back panel, this time to replace the broken one on the Cotswold side south end door. Pam carefully applies wood dye to the light edge sections.

Betton Grange was on Train 1. The damp weather certainly provides some great steam and smoke effects. The engine is moving to the south end of the train ready for the return working to Cheltenham.

There was a lot going on in the yard with bogie swaps. Ian and Clive attach the heavy bogie puller to the back of the 03.

[Photo : Alex]  As for wheeling out the bogies from under TSO 4763, the Youth Group guided by Alex were more than happy to assist and I imagine really enjoying the experience.

TSO 4763 up on the jacks with bogies removed.

In the siding RBr 1672 now stands where 1675 stood prior to becoming operational in Rake 1. The poor old coach is well due for a rest and eventual refurbishment.

Phil is preparing a new section of pipework to be fitted under RMB 1808 in Rake 2.

I eventually managed to get a sausage bap - well actually two as this was my lunch, and the GWSR does make exceedingly good baps. On my way back to the Works two photos looking north, the second being one of my favourites - the goods platform with a fine collection of vehicles, the Usk goods office, and that lovely tree. The wetness and distant mist over the escarpment makes for a very atmospheric scene.

With the planned top coating on the Malvern side north end of 1876 abandonedbecause of the metalwork repairs, Tony reverted to more filling on the Cotswold side of SO 4798.

Pam finished off the final two heating covers from 4798. All can now be returned to the coach and refitted.

All the seating tops from 4798 have been cleaned and can now have a fresh coat of varnish. The two toilet compartment shelves are now fully painted and ready to go back in (1876 or 4798?). Finally the new step for 1876 has been primed ready for undercoating.

The new door back panel for 1876 with its first coat of varnish.

Prior to the repairs on 1876, Alan completed the repairs to the south end of BSK 35308.

An excellent job. He deserved that huge bap!

Andy continued his efforts on the left side of the double doors on the Cotswold side of 35308, sorting out the extent of metalwork repairs that will be required.

[Photo : Alex]  The Youth Group spent most of their time on the Mink D van. The jobs undertaken were wire brushing the underframe, taking the axleboxes apart and cleaning up bolts. It's great to have this group going again and getting youngsters involved - they are our future!

Maurice cleaned up two metal panels from the Mink D. Both were primed with Red Oxide and then undercoated in Dark Grey.

Paul (and Maurice) were back with plank removal.

The trolley was soon filled with the contents ending up in the fire pit in the FOWSMD garden.

With "Foremarke Hall" failing its boiler extension, we are very fortunate in being able to obtain "Pendennis Castle" which we had for our 2023 steam gala. Some quick work by our Loco Department enabled it's return from Chinnor to Didcot to be diverted to Toddington.

"Betton Grange" drifts into Platform 2 with the penultimate Santa train and comes to a halt, making an excellent photo opportunity.

A Castle and a Grange with wreaths of steam in the cold damp air. What more could you ask for?!

A brief chat to Clive before "Betton Grange" departs for Toddington.

"Pendennis Castle" makes ready to run round its train, ready to return the last of the day's Santa visitors to Cheltenham. 3850 will be taking over the second Santa train after this weekend, with the Castle and the Grange running during the week after Christmas.

Years ago I joined Alex on the last run back to Cheltenham. The atmosphere on the train was amazing with so many happy families on board. As we set off with the empty train to return to Winchcombe, Alex handed me a broom and said to help him sweep up it through! ☺

Thanks to Rose who supplied the decorations and Jenny who set them up, we have a very Christmassy Mess Room. Thank you both! ☺