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Tuesday 20th - Another milestone

The day began with very heavy much-needed rain, so plenty of fun-and-games driving in through the many "lakes" across half the road. Any outside jobs were out of the question, but we had plenty to do inside. The planned grit-blasting of the Creosote Tanker is now Thursday/Friday.


Another milestone was achieved in the long saga of 1675's rebuild when Ben, with help from Ian, hung the second of the two emergency doors. Ben checks the clearances along the edges.


Certainly some anglegrinding needed on the left side, but good to see yet another door in place.


The battery boxes now look externally complete with all the fittings in place. Think they will need another overall coat of paint. 


 Following on from Saturday's post, the south end of FK 13326 now with the buckeye coupler removed.

The north end with the coupler back in place. 


Dave was in the process of moving spare SO seats from the Monster Van to other storage. 


No work could be done on Tool Van 4, although the side against the Paintshop wall had kept dry. Some priming of the sanded wood was done later in the day once the weather had improved. However the removed grab rails, which had previously been sanded and primed, could now be undercoated by Maurice.


 There was now time to get back to the lamps.


Nice to see components from TK 24006 once again being worked on. Alan sands down some beading before moving on to the compartment door being previously sanded by Dave.


Keith undercoats the back of the new sandwich board, that Robert had made for Alex. Having remembered to ask Alex where this was destined, he replied, "The Broadway Shed", otherwise known as the new shop.

And the man himself, now applying yellow to the top line on the Cotswold side of the Santa Coach.

Following on from George's work on Saturday, Ian packs the long dug out section in the south end corridor connection, before applying filler. A smaller area in the roof of the connection was also filled. Later on Ian, with help from Alex, managed to bolt down the warped chequer plate. This connection is blanked off and so not used, but it's nice to see that plate sorted out at last.
 


Pam added a second coat of Crimson paint to the gutter panel along the entire length of the Malvern side of the coach.


On the north bogie on the same side, Keith initially painted the coil springs, followed by White undercoat on the axleboxes in preparation for Yellow top coat.


He then moved on to the south bogie to complete the Gloss Black painting. 


A later photo of Alex, now on the way to completing the top line yellow band. The festoon of used tape, his lining out trademark, is taking shape.


Besides all the usual chasing about, I managed to sort out the floor in the north vestibule entrance. It ended up with the filler sanded and floor painted. I also trialled some black emulsion on the new ceiling in this vestible - need to check it on Thursday, but I think it will be ok.


 Yep, there's an Alex about!


Ben doesn't normally do Tuesdays. What brought him in was the planned visit to the Railway by a group of friends, who enjoyed their tour of the Carriage & Wagon.

Monday 19th - A Routine Day

 


Neil had arranged for the rakes to be swapped over so we were able to wash the Malvern side of rake 2 and the Cotswold side of rake 1. Other than that it was all the usual washing/interior cleaning/mopping. Only 8 of us to day so I only had chance to take this lonely picture. Outside were Paul, David and Peter. Inside were Kath, Greg, Nigel and Rich. I started on toilets then mopped and finished up on the last bit of outside after David had left.

Saturday 17th - Strawberries and cream

Once again a Saturday, my favourite day at C&W. It was still hot and with little breeze, so trying to cool down the Bill Ellesmere building with its insulation was proving to be difficult, even with all the doors wide open. 


The creosote tank is due to be grit-blasted on Tuesday, so Maurice had the job of removing some unwanted bits of wood on the sole bar ................


.................. and stanchions, the latter in particular could almost be wrenched out, it was so rotten, leaving just the securing bolts to be cut through with an angle grinder. This former GWR 1911-built wagon will look good just with all the old peeling paint removed and primed. When fully painted it should look superb.


The same will apply to former GWR Tool Van 4, which was undergoing more general sanding down by Clive.


Maurice had earlier removed some of the van's grab handles and was now cleaning these up ready for repainting.


 Paul gathers what he needs prior to more cleaning inside the 3rd Rake.


Underneath the north end of FK 13326, with the new tailpin in place and the drawhook installed, Andy works on the final bits to complete the job. 


Now for the south end. Ken shines a light to assist Andy with the initial part of the removal process.


Ken had previously begun the dismantling of the south end corridor connection, with the rain cover and other bits awaiting gathering up.


On now to the Santa Coach and for a change some more internal work. This time replacing water-damaged parts of the north vestibule ceiling.

 


 Alan and Simon prepare the replacement panels and are soon busy installing them.

 

Back to the Malvern side top coating as Pam begins with the first coat of GW Cream on the north half of the coach. She actually started at the first window panel so as to keep clear of the north end doorway where Alan and Simon were working.


Good progress, and a good job being done. As with Pat on Tuesday, Pam is relatively new to top coating on the coaches. The very warm Paintshop wasn't making painting too easy.


George did a cracking job inside the south corridor connection, in fact removing a whole length of old filler that initially appeared to be sound, and generally tidying up. Although work here is largely cosmetic as this doorway is not used and thus sealed off, we still want to make it look good.


Later in the day Alex began the lining out on the Cotswold side. With just the lining out and numbering to do here, this side is now beginning to come together. Then it will be two coats of varnish to finish off.


On now to 1675 and Phil and Robert are inspecting the location of the door frame of the first of the two emergency doors.


 New member Chris measuring up next to one of the Malvern side kitchen access doors.

Following on from the work being done by Richard I on Thursday, the completed set of electrical conduits in this location.


 Alan inspects the panel that will be put in place to cover the division.


 Robert prepares a short length of door liner.


 The door liner profile tester produced by Alan with his 3D printer is perfect for this job.


Kevin hauls out more stuff from the Monster Van to sort out. It will take some time to complete all this with all the items recently donated. Keep going Kevin, you are doing a great job!


A warm welcome to Helen who has joined our Upholstery Team. Helen is the wife of Stu, our Works Manager.


The girls stripping down another of the seat backs from the FODR. 


Another completed seat back and cushion. 


 The various internal panels stripped down and awaiting their rebuilding.


 Alex primes his new sandwich board - I keep meaning to ask where this one is destined.


It's the weekend of our Real Ale Festival and the DMU shuttle service between Toddington and Winchcombe is proving to be very popular. We ought to be doing a regular weekend Winchcombe-Broadway shuttle. I'm sure it would prove to be very popular and provide an extended travel experience to our regular two train service.

Strawberries and cream - a special treat for the End Of Day Tea Club. Thank you Pam, you are a star! It was almost 7 pm by the time we had followed this with our usual cuppa.

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A short interlude in Bristol Harbour 

The day before I had my annual visit to the BRI and afterwards a chance to wander around the extensive harbour.


 A fine collection of wagons along the harbour line.


Had a feeling Alex would love to have this one in our freight. When he saw the photo his eyes lit up.


  Former GW steel open ballast "Starfish"


  Their MOGO looks good.


 


 5 plank open wagon. What a pity about that dropdown door! No doubt a replacement.

Former S.R. 12 ton 8-plank open wagon 


The fire had been lit in Peckett 0-6-0ST "Henbury" in readiness for a weekend of harbour trips.


The trip train's nicely presented Toad brake van. 


 


 

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All this brought back memories of an excellent Vintage Trains trip to Bristol for four of us on a very warm day in March 2012. We were hauled by 6201 "Princess Elizabeth". It was an epic trip returning via the Lickey where we had two bankers.

"Henbury" was doing regular trips along the harbour line ..........................
 

.................. and of course we just had to partake!


A kind soul on the next table took our photo - myself, Paul, Phil and Andy.