I hadn't expected anyone to go playing on the Saturday before the Supporters' Special (anyway, it was my birthday), but John T did:
"As a result of your recent plea for help with rail chair cleaning, I went to Toddington today, despite it being a gala and parking in the field...
I managed to clean 8 chairs and remove bolts from as many more, before dehydration set in. It weren't half hot out there!
A chap called Bob Mason of P & O group called in and purchased a GWR chair that seemed spare. After deliberating over his purchase he asked if the year '46' could be painted to look like '48'. Gill and I agreed, but said we would leave to 'our artist', who would do a better job than either of us. So the chair is left on the bench with a note. Bob also asked for us to look out for a further 1948 GWR, so I've noted that on the board."
Ah-hah! GWR 1948, eh? Doesn't he know that on 1st January 1948 GWR was nationalised???
Sunday 27th
I toddled down mid-afternoon to light a fire. Stuart arrived to touch up the numbers on the front buffer beam.
Monday 28th (28/07)
Supporters' Special Day! The weather was fantastic, the food was exceptional (albeit that 200+ people came …. rather more than ever before, or that we were catering for!), the staff were brilliant, the crew were amazing, the events seemed to work well (apparently it was difficult dragging my granddaughter away from the model railway, where she was racing trains against my son, I gather!). There were a couple of niggles that we can bear in mind for next time. We've had lots of positive feedback. I'll quote just one, from Dave Gill:
" I would like to pass on my own and my wife's appreciation of all of your efforts yesterday. it was the first of the supporters days that we have been able to attend, and I can honestly say that we both enjoyed the day. I was privileged to enjoy a footplate ride and would like to say how friendly the crew and group members were. Many thanks for an enjoyable day."
The photos are courtesy of Peter Todd and Michael Howard.
Wednesday 30th
Two new issues logged by Jamie (the driver on Monday):
21 [JC]: Pep pipe valve leaking by.
22 [JC]: Balance weight sections trailing intermediate RHS loose. LHS one section missing.
No.21 is caused by issue 10 (clack valves leaking back) which causes pressure in the pep pipe. Normally, this hose is only used for wetting coal (dust); though in my youth it was also used by firemen to squirt train spotters at the line side! H&S won't allow that today.
No.22 is something we have known about and done nothing about … until today! Bruce and Gilbert have been round all of the balance weights and caulked them, to make them tight.
Gil then painted them black (to match the wheels). [He then forgot to clean the brush afterwards!]
The one missing may never have been there. It has never been there while we've owned the loco. It is possible that it was never needed .. but more likely BR lost it!
I busied myself painting four chair tops and the eight bottoms that John prepared for me on Saturday. Begrudgingly, I painted the 1946 GWR boot scraper into a 1948 one.
Saturday 2nd August [John G's birthday]
'Twas a tad damp today. I was on my own during the morning, and painted undercoat on the chairs that John T had so kindly prepared for me last week. We now have 14 in the production line.
Gil & Fred joined me for lunch (having spent the morning at Winchcombe, moving steps about, to make safe access to the siphon in its new position. 2807 was storming away in the background!
After lunch, we were joined by others for a Board Meeting.
After scoffing a couple of fairy cakes, we all toddled off home.
Roger
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