Since the last update there has been a fair amount of work, all in preparation for our museum opening on the 2nd June.

To begin, although we would have liked to, there is not enough time to refresh the private owner opens at Peterborough in readiness for the 2nd June, so we came up with a simple yet prototypical plan. Matt applied BR style details, representative of these types of wagon when they were absorbed into BR ownership in 1948.

Tim continued with fitting out the museum. No images of this as we don’t want to spoil it before the 2nd June.

Off site, Tim’s Trailer has received lights, reflectors, number plate holder and speed restriction sign. The lights has been wired , but final snagging is required.

On to the Coronation weekend, Tim, Phil, Colin, Jason, Matt, Alan and Mark with a warm welcome to new volunteer Ed, who as keen welder started marking out material for cutting so a start can be made with the hot glue next session.

For the rest of the gang work continues on B780952 with Matt and Jason tending to the South East door, pretty much the same as last session.

Door removed, reskinned with a spot of wood repair and prime as required.

Colin and Tim tended to the van sides,
With Tim replacing 1 and a half rotten planks, followed by prime and top coat by Colin and Jason, including the area that was outstanding after last sessions primer shortage.

Once refitted the door was also treated to prime and topcoat.

The main push for the day was on DB992358 this has carried an inaccurate Bauxite livery for quite some time, so Phil, Alan and Mark with wire brushes and scrappers in hand made a start preparing the vehicle for paint.

Tim wanted to have a go so with chairs set up for the rest of the group to spectate we let him crack on.

After a quick sweep down, it was out with the underfame black, as this is a bituminous based paint, priming is not as critical. So in the warm sunshine the whole group had a hand in applying the soon to be engineers black livery.

Once again however the supply department can’t keep up as we ran out of underframe black, although it’s likely our own fault as we are completing the task list quite quickly.

With that, another successful session, 2 opens “complete” a van ready for sign-writing and a hopper with a small amount of paint required before it’s sign-writing.