Winter 2020/1
To reduce the amount of storage space we were using, we fitted the seat backs into the compartments.
The seat cushions were not fitted at this time as that would obstruct the space to lay the flooring, however, the oddly
shaped divider which ultimately gridges the gap between the cushion and the back was also fitted. Considerable force was
required to get it to the right height so the cashion would slide right back to the correct position.
Part of further preparations for the laying of the flooring involved getting as many "drippy" jobs out of the way
so as not to desicrate new flooring. So gold sizing and varnishing were vigourously attacked in the compartments,
vestibules and corridor.
Some repairs were required to the boarding in the corridor and also the vestibules had to be clad in (mostly) reclaimed boards where missing. Fitting the horizontal curved pieces for the vestibules was quite tricky as the formed curve didn't quite agree with the radius of the carriage end. However, with the aid of lots of glue and several long poles jammed against the paritions the pieces stayed in their final resting place.
Before the flooring could be laid, the outside door threshold plates had to be in place. Brian manufactured these, then they were painted and screwed into place. There were a couple of plates in the carriage, but no two were the same, so we decided just to replace the lot. Brian also made the draught excluder strips which are screwed into the door opening just below floor level and locate with a horizontal check in the door to discourage wind entering the compartment from below the doors.
Another job which had to be done before the new flooring could be laid was to make sure both toilets
were free of obstructions. One such was the basin and stand in the west toilet. The basin was to be replaced anyway as it
was cracked. After removal the replacement basins were offered up to the basin stand. Nowhere near the right size! By great
good fortune, we were able to "borrow" two basins from the Gresley sleeper out of cabins which are
to be locked off anyway. These were almost exactly the right size, so the existing stand was modified slightly to accept the
sleeper basin and a new stand for the east toilet made as a copy of the west one.
During the continuing period of Covid-19 lockdown, work continued in various areas off site.
Brian Williams made the rain strips which go above the doors and also punched the holes and sewed the folded end of the
new droplight straps.
Don painted the rain strips, made a new wash basin cabinet for the east toilet, and made 6 new droplights for the
doors where they were either missing or beyond sensible repair.
Please don't forget the Gresley TK appeal
