Saturday 17th - Signwriting and Stirrup pumps

 A more Autumnal feeling today with the temperature set to 'fresh', the steam heating was on on the service trains. The latest batch of coal is from Poland and is rather aromatic...

The early starters as ever were Richard, Paul and Maurice on the Toad, who were fixing the canvas that has finally arrived after much delay:

I had an enjoyable day signwriting a new font, Clive who owns the CK decided he wanted to name his coach after his two daughters, and as one side was all ready, I set to with the chalk and masking tape:

Later on Dave caught me in action:

And the final result with the black shading really lifting the lettering:

Quite pleased how that came out! 2 daughters, and only 1 coach? yes the other side will be different, which won't be confusing at all I'm sure...

Meanwhile, today on The Repair Shop, Robert has bought in an old stirrup pump for expert restorer John to take a look at:

"Well it's going to be quite a challenge Robert, but I'll see what I can do."

[Spool forward]

It's an hour later, and Robert has come to see the final result.

"How are you feeling Robert, what does this mean to you?"

"It was my Grandad's you see, and he single-handedly put out all the fires in London during the blitz using it [-Ed note, check?], and, well, it just means so much to me [overcome with emotion]"

The grand reveal, "Wow, amazing, it's like new!"

"Look at that, it works brilliantly"

"How can I ever thank you enough John, it's such a family heirloom!"

It looked suspiciously like one of the stirrup pumps the evacuees' team use for school visits up at the station to me, but what do I know? :-)

Back to more sensible matters, there was a project meeting in the RBr today with members of the catering team to discuss how it's all going to be fitted out:

Presumably whatever was decided, it didn't need the bit Phil was wrenching off later:

Dave carried on with his crusade against grotty doors being rehung on nearly finished carriages sanding down another RBr door, now we'll be rehanging nearly finished doors on still grotty carriages!

Chris and Ben were examining the two emergency doors, I think the conclusion is that these are so rotten they will need to be completely replaced:

I guess they'll take the various mechanisms off and fit them on some new door skins, modded to suit?

This seat cushion marks the passing of the half way point for John and Laura reupholstering the 2 first class compartments on the BCK, normally they whizz through jobs but there's a lot more to first class seats:

Back to the CK and there was plenty of woodwork going on, after Robert's emotional moment with the stirrup pump he was out with the router cutting more lengths of trim:

Later on a bit of adjustment was required where some new skirting board was interfering with the door fit:

Simon was on ceiling duty, nice to see these panels go in after the problems with the water tank earlier in the year prevented the ceiling going in:

With all the to-ing and fro-ing it was a bit much to do any more gloss painting to I sent Pam out to slap some more undercoat dark grey on the Macaw:

Late afternoon it was still very pleasant outside and I fancied doing something on the Macaw too, so I got out the gloss and did the Cotswold side and solebar in the last couple of hours:

You can see how well Clive and the others have done undercoating all the internal framing too.

As the last of the Autumn sunshine dipped below the hills, we hung on to see Foremarke Hall through on a 'Murder mystery' Fish and Chip Special:

And then wended our way home, before we ended up as the victims!

And lastly, Sunday was another day of signwriting for me, as I made a start on the second coal wagon in the yard at Toddington:

Once again, apologies to my fellow Wednesday evening wagoners for failing to take any pictures of other progress with these, as that will be my only railway attendance for the next few weeks I shall have to try harder!

Thursday 15th - A busy day and some more sad news

We begin today's posting with some further sad news with the passing of two of our staff, one current, the other retired.

 

Tony Baker 

Tony was a very skilled and well thought of member of our Indoor Gang. Sadly cancer took him away from regular attendance, although he did manage the occasional day with us. It was only a couple of weeks ago that Tony unexpectedly visited us, so it was somewhat of a shock to hear he had passed away last week. He will be very much missed. Thankfully we have very many photos of him working happily over the years with the other members of the gang, a number of which can be viewed in the relevant Meet The Teams page.

 Richard Unitt

Richard retired from Carriage & Wagon over ten years ago, but in his time with the Department was a very prominant member of staff. Back in the very early days he had even been Head of C & W. His forte was painting and as such he had always been in charge of that section. In a 1989 edition of the Cornishman Magazine, he is in the photograph with other members watching the very first coach to enter the old Winchcombe goods shed, which has been our home ever since and which we now term the Workshop. We were very sorry to hear that he had passed away on Sunday.

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Not many of us in today, but a lot was achieved.

 

A visit to the office means passing through Upholstery and this collection just had to be photographed. 

With two completed backs, three cushions, and now this seat base under construction, the two first class compartments in BCK 21092 will look stunning! Some repainting in the coach is required in the guards corridor, so when we can get around to it, the corridor, disabled area, and guards compartment will be done in the lovely Executive Light Grey (same as we did with BSO 9000).

There was some good progress with CK 16221. All the new footboards were installed, six long boards and one short. Roger assesses whether this is where the short one belongs.

The bolts for one of the long boards are tightened.

Alan and Geoff installed the six remaining threshold strips. Each one had to be cut to fit, as did the bases of the interior doorway beading and rubber draught seal.

Geoff carefully trims this one.

The south end doorways, one strip fitted, the other in the process. The temporary footboard has yet to be replaced.

Jeff top coats the new section of ceiling panel for the south end vestibule. The kickboards in front have been primed. This will be followed by undercoat Dark Grey and then Black gloss.

The base of this compartment door looked somewhat woebegone, so Jeff set about a joinery job to sort it out.

When cleaned up and the top edge of the new piece rounded off, varnishing will be resumed.

Time for some more lining out. Bob tapes up the top line on the Cotswold side north half.

Then on with the yellow. He was later called  away to do some paint repairs in the SK in the 4th Rake, so I continued until he returned. We always add a second coat of yellow even though the first is still tacky, so when Bob had to leave for the day I completed the job.

The bundle of tacky tape- the trademark of a completed lining out session. We never leave the tape on longer than necessary when lining out.

The south end with the initial line tape removed and ready for lining out. With the top coating almost completed and lining out well underway on this side of 16221, it gives a false impression that the coach is well on the way to completion. In reality there is still a comprehensive list of things to be done.

After the focus of attention on Wednesday, RBr 1675's progress today involved just me sanding down the last of the kichen doors.

In the SK in our 4th rake Paul was vacuuming seating.

While Dennis was cleaning the ceiling in this compartment.

The compartment ceiling in the SK that was undercoated by Bob after removal of the cracked and peeling paint..

Squeezed down in Platform 2 bay Richard I was retrieving redundant batteries from the Model Railway coach - power for the coach is supplied directly from the mains.

The end of a good, but also sad day with the loss of two more members from Carriage and Wagon, one current and the other retired.

Wednesday 14th - A bit more progress

 Nice to be back after a weeks' break, just a small number in today. Nevertheless Rex had the plan ready, around the south end and kitchen area we need to make the floor safe. To do this we need to finish doorway replacement and any corroded vertical sections, Then Derek can carry on with this all important phase.

Another piece of the jigsaw is done, so Rex gets some paint on it.

Rex's plan was to get these side pieces in, this creates a strong supporting arch because ......

..... we have now removed a large piece of the buffer plate, to be fair the crash pillars had already left this world. We will be fitting a new purpose made buffer plate and crash pillars, which will be 400mm long and root welded to the existing upper pillars which are in very good condition.

Although the gas axe makes short work, Rex is assisting here by cutting through the old welds. We have to be very careful with fire risk and always have ready to hand means of extinguishing any flames, for this reason we have a rule that no heat is applied after the 1 hour before going home time. A laser thermometer is very useful for finding hotspots.

You may remember from Dave's blog, about Ken's struggle removing the axle slides from 1675's north bogie. Well Ken is never beaten and here is the result, they will be cleaned and painted and welded back on after careful measurements and jigging is carried out.

Ken is now cleaning the mating faces on the bogie, there is not much room in there.

 It is great to have Ken back, corridor connectors he is so good at but he did admit they are a difficult beast to re-build.

Phil is about to sort some cabling, at least thats what he told me.

Here he is in a very tight position and uttering all sorts of English.

David is sorting the kick strips to go into 16221 which is ( dare I say ) nearing completion.

Colin is explaining the technicalities of a biscuit joint for the window surrounds ....

....The biscuit joint, you will not be able to see the join.

Trevor working on a door for 1675, doors being a job on their own.

Ainsley has just attached clamps to bond a window seal in place.

Finally a group shot, the weather had improved and our chances of dining outside will be getting fewer. We like to wave to our travellers, there is always the lunchtime cross over at Winchcombe and today we were treated to 'Dinmore Manor' and Foremark Hall' doing what they do best.