Thursday 22nd - True Grit
A busy day so once again a good range of photos.
[Photo : Alex] With the weather settled the planned grit blasting of the Creosote Tanker, that had been cancelled on Tuesday because of the wet conditions, could now begin.
[Photo : Alex] Good progress was soon being made with all the old flaking paint and rust gradually disappearing.
Alex and Maurice surveying the day's progress and standing on the new "beach". The job will be completed the next day.
Back to the start of the day with Maurice continuing the clean up of the Cotswold side of Tool Van 4 with the air sander.
Alex has now made out an instruction board for the current wagon work.
The Cotswold side emergency door on 1675 is off again, but with good reason as Ainsley wants to ensure that there is sufficient space when the doorway capping strips are mounted.
Returning later and the door is back on. Ainsley tightens up the hinge scrtews.
More work on this window from 1675. Tony has been doing a great job cleaning these up ready for when they can be refitted.
Lots of electrical work needed on 1675. Phil S. inserts a length of wire into the plastic piping ..........
............ to be fitted in the seating area ceiling.
Richard I is back in the kitchen with more wiring up.
Here holding a channel tray, part of which will be fitted above.
The wood panel now back in place following the electrical installations reported last week.
Having mounted the panel supports next to one of the Malvern side doorways, Chris checks the screws for tightness.
First job of the day for Roger, the weekly inspection of our scaffold towers. Four of us now have PASMA certification for performing this important checking.
The final shelf unit was taken up to Platform 2 ready for transporting to Toddingtion Station shop. While waiting for the 1015 train, a quick shot of Phil S., Paul and Dennis enjoying a break at the 1950s Coffeepot Cafe on Platform 1
Back to work. Paul cleans the floor in RMB 1808 in the 3rd Rake.
Some minor revarnishing being done by Roger in one of the NYMR coaches.
Climbing down from BSK 35308, I couldn't resist of shot of the view north, with the line curving round towards Toddington and the Cotswold escarpment, the clouds and the blue sky providing a superb background.
No bogie painting for Phil B. today with the Malvern side top coating on the Santa Coach now underway. So instead some sanding down on a compartment door from TK 24006.
The door was also stripped down with Tony lending a hand.
The finds uncovered within compartment doors never cease to surprise us. These items were dated 1981/2.
I wonder if we will ever restore SO 4806, the home for S&T for very many years. Dave H. removes years of oxidation to reveal the old blue livery. Quite a pleasant outside job as it was cool in the shade with a gentle breeze.
A
very nice surprise today was a visit by Ron Woodruff. Ron, formerly a member
of our Indoor Gang and a Guards Inspector, now lives in Sussex and with his wife had
come up to Gloucestershire for the day. While she was visiting friends, Ron came to see us
Two more rolls of moquette have been delivered for the FODR seat contract and await the lift to the Upholstery shop.
How could you say no to a request like this? With pleasure Girls, it's on my list.
Alex had been in the day before and did a great job completing the lining out on the Cotswold side of the Santa Coach.
So, off we go with the second top coat of GW Cream on the Malvern side. Richard begins by lightly sanding the whole of the cream panelling with 240 paper.
Great to see Bob K. in after a few weeks away. Bob started at the north end .........
.............. with Richard starting at the south end.
Unfortunately Richard had to leave unexpectedly early, but Bob carried on to where Richard had left off. Job done and just the lower section left to top coat.
Jeff concentrated on getting the south end black work completed as far as possible.
A small bit of fibre paste on the redundant back holes of the chequerplate and some bitumastic paint on the exposed wood behind it, followed by a coat of Silver Hammerite on the plate itself. All that remains is to complete the blackwork above the connection using the scaffold tower, and repaint the metal panelling that seals off the redundant entrance.
I got back to painting the new ceiling in the north vestibule with black emulsion. The result looked good, but a second coat will make it look even better.
[Photo : Paul W.] Ron came to say goodbye and, while doing that, Paul captured me with his phone.
We all love doing this, especially Jeff and Alex. Jeff got in first much to Alex's mock disgust.
[Photo : Alex] As I'm often taking the photos I don't appear very much, so a treat to be captured for a second time, spending a few minutes at the end of the day painting top coat Crimson on the door and end panels. I would happily have carried on to the main panel but by now those remaining were packing up for the day.
A new template from Alex appeared on the painting trestles today. He's going to be busy!
And he was, creating a train times board for Broadway.
After another session setting up more LED strips to replace our old style carriage lighting, Steve signs out on the iPad.
Tony, Alex and Maurice relax and watch the penultimate train of the day returning to Toddington behind Dinmore Manor.
