A two day post with myself covering Thursday and Alex taking care of Saturday’s activities.
THURSDAY
A very busy day both inside and outside the Works, including a return to an outside project we want very much to complete.
Beginning with my usual visit to Upholstery. With the new running season underway, we will need to keep the supply of cushions flowing, and we hope the new lines in bags, spectacle cases and purses. Online sales above and shop sales below.
The large delivery of wood reported by Nick on Wednesday turns out to be for the rebuild of the GW MICA Van, sheduled to come into the Works after the GW Ply Van.
Obviously the pile couldn’t stay there and so was moved to our outside storage, with Maurice and Alex doing the lion’s share of the work.
Progress with RBr 1675 covered a number of aspects today. Beginning with Gerry fitting the quaterlights to the final two windows.
Phil S. removes the sawn off bolts that are rusted in the left hand buffer extender keep.
Rex uses the plasma cutter to fashion another one of the side plates for the new battery box.
A clean up of the edges and then a trial fit.
Ian further sands down the edges to achieve a nice smooth finish.
Another step up with the exterior painting of 1675, with Phil J. and Bob undercoating the windows on the Cotswold side. When the gutter work has been done we will add the line tapes and begin some serious undercoating in brown and cream.
Phil S. uses battery power to test the electrical connections.
The Richards discuss the fitting of the large water heater skid. It was later returned to the painting trestles ready for top coating.
Now over to Rake 3. A repaired and repainted under-table panel fitted by the Indoor Gang.
(Clockwise) Roger, Geoff, Dennis, Alan and Paul take a well deserved break after the repairs and carriage cleaning. In the BCK was a large pile of black bags containing all the collected rubbish and empty disposable cups following Race Week.
Stu brought TSO 5023 into the Barn and on to the Jack Road and, amongst a number of things, was checking the vacuum brake system when I turned up. Alex and Roger look on.
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More excellent progress by Dave with his yard vehicle improvement project. There is now a whole area of dried algae to remove off the upper side of the BG before any further painting can be undertaken. A pad sander will be the best thing to sort this out.
Dave’s hard work to improve our yard will soon be paying off admirably with the start of the “The GWR Behind Closed Doors – Carriage Edition” tours which begin on Tuesday 26th March. Both this and the two in April are now Sold Out. The guided tours will include both the Works and the yard. There is a further “Carriage Edition” tour in May, after which they change to “Lifting The Curtain” and include the Loco Sheds as well for two dates in June (both Sold Out) and a date in July. Please see the GWSR website (Events and Experiences) for full details.
Alex carefully adds “Bill” and “Ben” to the second pair of Robel ballast tampers.
At last a reasonable chance to get on and complete the repaint of the Model Railway coach. Plenty of nice days but usually not when we are in, or we are simply too busy with other things. Alex and Maurice are well into sanding down the last panel.
Lots of places to fill and then sand. It tried to rain but thankfully nothing to worry about.
It was a good day overall.
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Just before I go, two photos taken by Chris, who with Alan S, did a brilliant job creating the new bar in the refurbished Cotswold Halt at Toddington.
The excellent sign that Chris made at home for the Halt Bar.
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So now, over to Alex for Saturday’s activities.
Dave C.
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SATURDAY
