Monday 30th December the fog has finally gone so a colder but clearer day.

first job was de bag the pigeons and hang them on wires in the wicker pigeon basket

A flock of 6 decoy pigeons off the web so now 6 in the basket suspended on copper wire with a note to get a photo next time.

After a week and a half the trust sign boards were dry  to go back on the fence and needed hooks made,

 better looking with no peeling paint and they can no longer swing in the wind.

it was then source an old period carriage light switch for the line wagon, cable clamping screws were located and the switch cleaned up internally and tested for continuity before polishing the cover and finger grip..

It was then down to the line wagon to install the switch so the workers can light up the inside before entering in the dark.

                                            

One end door mounting has been accessed and the runner lifted so we now have 3 out of 4 doors sliding easily and locking.but the opening windows in the side doors needed removing to be tidied up and get fully working with the leather straps repaired.

That was all for a short monday morning apart from trying to stop a tv going into sleep mode after 3 hours unfortunately with no remote it is easier said than done.

The light switch only turns off the middle and one end light as the switch loom is on the centre so a job for another time but safer for the evening workers

Mike in the photo archiving room reckons there are several years of photos to digitise, find the location  of and upload onto the database and that they have had a couple of new volunteers come forward.

 

 Wednesday 18th December an unseasonably warm day with the wind dying after a stormy night so mostly inside today.

The old original GWR notice board has been glued and thus saved but it needs some blackboard paint on it before mounting in the line side repair wagon

                                                    

As part of the on going reorganisation of the workshop Greg as put dowels in the end wall to store the wooden edge strips and dowels.

                                            

The access flap on the racing pigeon basket from platform one has been damaged with somebody trying to open it so the break has been wired together then the flap wired shut.

                                               

it was then time for more items to be preserved to go into the Foss Cross display which is left to right gardening, wine production/farming then engineering.

First 2 branding irons now with straight handles but in need of a de rust and coating of lanolin

                                    

It was then he turn of the HKP American bolt croppers where each part has a cast label showing left or right and position

                                            Then they were hung up in Foss Cross on display

                                                    

The over night gales had broken the straps holding the information boards up but these needed a repaint so off and into the shed for a rub down, paint and new hanging brackets.

                                                    

A couple of brass items one an industrial pump for blocked pipes  the other a crop sprayer were cleaned up and put in Foss Cross

                                                                                                  

                            

It was then to the museum coach to put small objects like badges and plates in the restored display cabinet and the newly cleaned up German shell detonator in the WW1 display

Finally it was down the railway to do more work on the line wagon the broken leather strap on the end door had been removed for repair so it has been shortened, softened and reinforced with stainless steel wire it is now functional and safe, however the sliding door refuses to move more then an inch it appears to be off the top rollers where the supports have sunk so a job for 2025.

Whilst doing the sand blasting on the German shell detonator this vermin trap got cleaned ready for a paint job and displaying.

Next wednesday is Christmas Day so no work just some fun away from the railway.

 The British Railways watering Can

We were given this, by the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Trust, and sadly there was a hole in the bottom.

I cut a new piece of Galvanised steel,(heavy Gauge) , cut out the bottom, soldered the new base in and cleaned up the oxidised surface  and protected it with a coating of wool oil.

This Season Ticket sign is of GWR 104 vintage and style, and was an original fixture at Toddington Station.

old friend, Bernard Dudfield  rescued it when he found it folded in half covering the end of a pipe, during excavations in preparation of rebuilding platform 2 .

The rusted metal was blast cleaned to grey steel, filled and repainted, it looks good now and I hope to place it into the public area in Broadway booking hall.

 Wednesday 11th December a dry day with a bitterly cold wind.

First job is to cut some tree roots from the last of the 10 planted when the railway was starting out unfortunately a root is lifting the block path and starting to move the buildings so a quick excavation and cut/drill the root to stop it growing it will now die and hopefully things will settle to their original height.

            

                                            

Then it was down in the line wagon to reroute a cable, fit a door lower access panel after cleaning one GWR brass hinge

A period clock was fitted although no longer a clockwork mechanism it now has a battery power unit with radio timing.

                                          

It was then time to address the degradation on the Honeybourne signal box that had been filled earlier in the week so much sanding smooth and more scraping of excess paint off the glass before applying the undercoat.

 Now all primed and ready for painting with top coats it was then time to stop as the cold was getting to us.

 Wednesday 4th December a dry start that turned to drizzle but the that cleared so down the yard.

First task was to get the last two light fittings into the bowls so careful bending and use of a file in the pillar drill we got a lovely tight push fit so they are ready for the wagon.

                                        

A fit of the domes and brass rings threw up another anomaly two fitted one did not so that must be off the light already in the wagon so off down the yard with 2 lights and a selection of tools in the way we nipped into the museum coach to view the watering can and the cabinet with another piece of glass in the Greg had done after my cracking job.

This is the 100 year old line side wagon that carriage and wagon group will use as a workshop/ rest room canteen.

                                

First task was fit the wiring between lights 1 and 2 now we had a long enough piece of wire.

                                            

That is two up and much easier with two people, one to hold it up the other to get the screws in

                                                

Glass domes on and brass polished 1 and 2 were easy as we had tried them but number 3 the brass ring was out of shape and now with the glass bowl fitted it meant easing the alignment hole so the bowl shut and catch engaged.

Time to wire up the transformer which will sit on the strip light and as a temporary job the same wire was used to a 3 pin plug and hey presto we have light.

The door catch has again been tweaked and reprofiled with new wood added to the recess it fit into, it now work and catches securely but needs the glue to set first but no photo of it.

It was then onto Toddingotn platform where the entry gates that had been made 40 years ago needed attention some of the top spears were not perpendicular and some welds needed dressing.

Along tube was used to slide over the spears and pulling it in the right direction the spears were bent into place and paint touched up, no before but these are after photos.

Any visitors with OCD will be happy to see them now

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