A short “After the Bank Holiday Monday” edition for you!
John Dixon has formally announced that work on re-covering the roof of Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 had been completed – apart from renewing the cabling to the internal lights which Sam is planning. Inside, work has continued on renewing veneered panels, painting ceilings and cleaning light fittings. More time is also now being spent on sorting out the former kitchen compartment where Ed is seen removing yet more varnish from the woodwork.
Another step forward was taken this week in the refurbishment of Wootton Hall’s tender tanks with the fitting of the reconstructed water take off sump. On Wednesday Ade operated the fork lift truck to lift it from the shed floor onto the tender tank.
We arrived on Friday to find that Keith and Matt had successfully used block and tackle to lift it into place, a perfect fit.
Andy Booth appeared on Friday to announce that Cumbria’s new tubes were now all fitted and that they would be beaded over when he returns from holiday.
Finally, we can reveal the latest loco to arrive at the Ribble Steam Railway. With no room available in the running shed it was shunted into the shop!
With Ade driving RSR’s mid-week train on Wednesday and Alan away on holiday, it has been a slightly quieter week. However, work has continued on Great Eastern Railway Royal Saloon No. 5 where the much anticipated replacement veneer arrived just after lunch on Friday. Phil didn’t waste any time in starting to cut and fit some of the new veneer as can be seen here.
The next job in the saloon will be to re-fit the vents and light fittings which are currently receiving attention from John Dixon.
John Davis has been continuing the job of removing old varnish from the kitchen compartment cupboard doors.
The removal of the centre springs from Wootton Hall has given Fred the opportunity to clean up the spring hanger bolts, collars and washers.
Work has continued on Great Eastern Royal Saloon No. 5, with Tim completing the painting of the corniche mouldings and John Dixon installing the last of the re-built vents on the roof. The moquette for the chaise longue in the large saloon has been ordered and, in anticipation of this, the saloon ceiling is in the course of being repainted, hopefully to be completed this week. John Davis has been working on some of the wooden beading.
The replacement veneer has also been ordered and John Davis and Phil are seen here planning its installation – or it could just be another “seats of the week” photo?!
Keith has again been busy working on Wootton Hall‘s tender, seen here with Ron Crowe attempting to remove a stubborn nut from one of the spring hanger bolts.
There has been further progress with the repairs to Wootton Hall’s tender tank with Ian Massey welding in a new front plate last Tuesday.
Matt Crabtree has also continued his welding work on the tank, seen here last Friday using a magnet to hold a new piece of metal in place prior to tacking it in place with weld.
Fluff’s new cab roof is now well and truly in place with Phil Bell drilling some fixing holes.
He has also been replacing some missing step boards with wood from old church pews supplied by Fred. (Note the suitable kneeling position…!)
Over at Embsay, Andy Booth has been cutting out Cumbria‘s old tubes in readiness for a boiler examination last Thursday. Matt Anderson had removed the blast pipe, blower and brick arch in readiness for the re-tubing. The photo by Mike Rigg’s son last Wednesday shows the old tubes propped up against the front buffer beam.
The new tubes were transported across to Embsay last Friday, with Matt Crabtreee on hand to perform the tricky exercise of extricating them from the FRT shed at Preston with the fork lift truck.