What do we get up to at the GWSR during the winter?

During the closed season, when there are no trains running at the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway, I occasionally get asked at work by colleagues... “What do you get up when you go to the railway?”. By day I am a marketer. I sit in front of a computer screen answering emails, updating websites and monitoring social media (a short version). By weekend, and some weekdays, I put on my overalls and head to the Toddington shed to see what jobs need doing. Cleaning tubes, ashing out, painting, helping an owning group maintain their locomotive or just making a round of tea. 

I have been volunteering at the GWSR for three and a half years and have enjoyed every minute. The work is varied and you learn new skills along the way, plus you get to meet some interesting characters and have a laugh. When I first joined, one of the first jobs I got myself involved with was concreting the David Paige Shed floor. 

One of the most rewarding aspects is working towards becoming a fireman. Starting as a cleaner fetching wood, emptying the ashpan and cleaning the locomotive before the day’s duty. I admit, a 5am start is not very appealing, however, after a few hours of hard work you can enjoy a hearty breakfast of bacon and egg cooked on the shovel - Michelin Star stuff! Then if you are lucky enough, the crew may ask you out on the footplate for the day.

So going back to what happens during the closed season, here’s a tiny glimpse, into what happens. The photos in this report were from Saturday 1 February. 

3850’s overhaul is progressing well, if you are a regular reader of the blog you will know the new cast cylinder block and frame extensions have arrived at Toddington. These are being assembled before being fitted to the mainframes. Whilst that is happening, a team is busy painting the rest of 3850 and you can see Roger sanding the cab side ready for primer.

Keith Painting grey primer. 

Roger now applying a coat of primer. 

A large team assembled, including myself, to work on 4270 which needed to have the piston rods removed so that they can have an NDT inspection. The first job was to remove the cylinder cover cladding and undo the nuts holding the cylinder cover.

Paul showing the others how it is done!

The left hand cover removed. 

After taking the cheeky snap of Paul, Andrew and I proceeded to remove the condensing coil, located on the underside of the cab roof. Once removed, we cleaned it through in the parts wash before spraying water through, with a hose, to check the flow. Before refitting, we also cleaned through the pipe connecting it to the lubricator. Here is a picture of Andrew blowing the pipes through with an airline. 

Work is still progressing well with the overhaul of 2807. The team is currently needle gunning the boiler and then painting with protective paint. Bruce and Gilbert had removed the blast pipe and proceeded to remove the jumper ring retainers which proved troublesome. Heat, soot, ash and carbonised oil had made the nuts impossible to undo. In the end, they resorted to splitting the nuts.

Unfortunately I didn’t get much of a chance for a photo of any of the work being carried out on Dinmore Manor. However I have since been given an update from Mike, who told me, the crosshead and coupling rod bearings have been removed for remetalling and the boiler has been prepared for the annual examination. Last Saturday, Mike, Mark and Jamie removed the pistons from the cylinders (seen in the picture below) ready for an NDT inspection of the piston rods and to fit new piston heads. 

Finally, whilst returning tools back to the store, I spotted Jamie wire brushing the threads on the end of the Dinmore’s piston rods. I did try to catch him in action but he must have sensed the camera.  

That’s it from me this week. My work colleagues are going to love hearing all about it!