Apologies for the lack of postings since last Wednesday. Holidays and other things by the Blog team have meant there were no photos taken by us for Thursday, Saturday or Monday. So hopefully this really lengthy post will make up for the absence. ******************* Three photos were taken by Paul W. last Thursday of the Indoor Gang repairing the base of one of the doors of the BSK 35308 in Rake 4. Alan, Geoff and Roger became metal bashers. Alan secures the cut section of sheet metal to the base of the door. "Well, that's my bit done" Geoff coats the new panel with red oxide ..read more

 To start a little something different, you may remember previous news about our Upholstery team  carrying out work for ' The Dean Forest Railway'. Last Saturday Eve and myself visited ' The Dean Forest .....' and we travelled on the very coach they had re-furbished the seats for. ......... and here she is proudly displaying their hard work ...... Where it all started, John is making templates for the seats in 4798. I realised the Steam Gala is nearly here, we have been waiting for a window in the weather to get the Winchcombe water tank repaired. It will be used for watering th ..read more

 I am aware that some weeks there are very few photos in the Cleaning Blog. For the reason read on!  Only rake 1, and that in Platform 2. It was weedkilling time again, so the through road was cleared for the weedkilling train. As it turned it was a non-event, possibly because it was too windy. The DMU is out of action for a couple of months, no need to go down there. So there were 16 of us for 1 train! Hence I took the chance to take photos. First up is Long Tall Steve. After this he did parts of the outside of the waiting room on platform 2 which he can reach. Walking up th ..read more

 But first the usual activities. Starting off upstairs where the team were in full flow, with seats for the SO being stripped down and a start on another contract job for the Dean Forest. Here's the first seat, that headrest is quite the construction, well done John! Outside it was a pleasant day for some gala prep shunting as P&O drifts past - for the steam gala 4 rakes of coaches are out, the third and fourth having 5 carriages apiece. Onto the RBr then, and Robert was making progress with the Cotswold emergency door. This bit still needed some adjustment. Inside Ma ..read more

It was quite an interesting day with a number of aspects beginning to come together. It's still too early to say that the end is in sight with the RBr and FK  but there was a lot to be pleased about, so another lengthy posting. Beginning with 1675, Rex and Gerry trial fit the inner section of the lithium battery box. Now back in the metalworking area for some minor adjustments. The shelves had been removed for the test. The doors for the box have now been made and awaiting painting.  The next item being constructed by Richard I and Phil S. is the large skid for the 1675's k ..read more

 What a joy it was travelling to Winchcombe in the sunshine, such a change from the last four months. With the gala rapidly approaching we needed the weather to get on with the water storage tank. Steve made the plates, and cleaned the welding areas. Stick welding proved very successful and is much easier to manoeuvre. We need another good weather day and that should see it finished. Steve always smiles for a photo, happy in his work. When it's all finished it will be painted with some quality weatherproof paint. Back indoors on 13326, Simon is working on the south vestibule which ..read more

There were 10 of us attending today and two contractors working in RBr 1675. We were blessed with another lovely day, so nice that sitting down was fatal because once seated you could easily forget all about work and happily watch trains all day. The GW ply van is rapidly coming together now and needs to be if it is to join the Gala freight in just over two weeks time. The concentration was again on the doors, with Alex adding screws to secure the panel to this one. Maurice is tightening the nuts holding this panel. All the newly tightened nuts are then given a coat of green prime ..read more

Firstly apologies for no Thursday post as I was unable to come in. So to make up for it a hopefully interesting and varied post for Saturday.  Regular readers will know that Alex normally does this day, but he was enjoying a visit to the Churnet Valley Railway. Hope it all went well. Beginning with FK 13326. Simon levels off the supports for the new south vestibule floor. With the floor now fitted, he checks the fit of one of the end panels of veneer sheet. This vestibule is really coming together. The north end corridor connection is now in place. Something I started a few weeks ago ..read more

 With the contractors working in 1675, we had to make sure we were not getting under their feet. So we tended to spread out over a number of jobs. Upstairs to start with, a delivery of foam to be used in the seat build set for 4798. Back in the paintshop 1675 getting some jobs done out of the contractors way ..... aluminium guttering welded, just needs a clean up and painting can begin. Bob applying paint to his generator door creation. Its a tough climb up that tower, so Gerry is fine tuning the welder for me. Chris is preparing the Cotswold side, guttering for rive ..read more

An interesting day day to say the least, which included another successful Carriage Edition tour of the Works for 13 members of the public. We also had a very welcome surprise visit during our morning tea break. Beginning today with a photo from Saturday evening and the Fish and Chip train. One of our unsung heroes, Jeff has been in charge of these for the past 7 years. A lot of organising goes into them, everybody from our Admin staff to the stewards on the train. On the night it's Jeff who checks everyone in and is in charge of the smooth running of the evening, which it certainly was.  ..read more