You wait years and years for big things to happen, and then two come along within 6 months!
Okay, so technically this is an extension of one that has happened already… The opening of the Goods Shed has meant that our stalwart mess coach ‘Tina’ has been lying dormant for nigh on four months. As happens anywhere, rumours have been flying as to what its fate would be. The good news is that it’s been sold and will be restored again, although I’ve heard differing stories as to what - to be confirmed. The bad news is it meant that it needed to be dug out of road 2, where it has lived for the last….. again, stories differ as to when it arrived and became the mess coach, so I’m going to err on the side of caution and say 16+ years! No doubt a stalwart of the steam dept who lurks in the comments section will inform me.
Anyone who has visited the GWSR will know Tina is not alone on Road 2, so Steve, Mark and Mark got their heads together to organise a “super shunt” and rearrange everything in the yard. Keith spotted that their planning meeting on the mezzanine looked rather familiar to a scene from the ‘Lion King’, and with some encouragement from me (who didn’t have a camera handy) snapped a few shots.
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| Everything the light touches, etc etc... cue the music |
Despite the persistent drizzle, the team got to work and made a start moving the DMU stock and wagons out of the way. Shunting is not easy as there is a lot to think about, and things weren’t being moved one at a time, so both Mark H and Steve were on ground whilst Mark Y drove the shunter.
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| Pulling the DMU back |
I nipped off to check on 35006 who was being filled with water, and by the time I came back, the road looked a lot different than it normally does!
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| An empty road 2! |
The next thing to do was to get ready and see what would happen when they tried to move the mess coach. “Getting ready” happened on two accounts; the shunting team did all the necessary work, meanwhile a conveniently timed tea break meant the viewing gallery suddenly filled up - I believe it was deemed ‘a Guard of Honour’ was needed so of course everyone needed to be present.
There had been some speculation about whether or not the wheels would move, having not moved in 16+ years, but when Mark H and Steve gave the signal, move they did!
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| Toddington, we have movement! |
Tina herself was present, watching from the two windows in the middle whilst in a training session
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| The guard of honour had significantly decreased once the initial excitement wore away |
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| One long shunt for mess coach... |
Bob very kindly let me join him in the signal box to capture the best view - thanks Bob!
A full video has been captured, I’ve just got to figure out the best way to share it! The coach was moved into the parlour road, awaiting movement to Winchcombe to visit Carriage and Wagon - no doubt it’ll appear on their blog when it visits.
I did neglect to get any more pictures as I was rostered out in the afternoon to chaperone some footplate passengers; an emotional afternoon as the dept said a ‘last hurrah’ goodbye to one of our own, who passed away December ‘19.
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| Picture credit - Jack Boskett |
We also have some more new firemen! Fellow blogger Tom passed his assessment in late July, and was swiftly followed by Steve and Roger. Congratulations all!
Engineering and bank holiday content is coming! Perhaps I can convince our former blogger to come out of retirement for a post.... Stay tuned!
Bryony
Thanks Bryony, we were wondering what had happened to this department due to the lack of reports,good to hear all is well. Much appreciated these reports for those of us still covid confined! Some great pictures, thanks again.
ReplyDeleteKindest Regards
Paul & Marion
I second what Paul and Marion had said.
ReplyDeletegreat to see the area cleared out , do hope the Scottish DMU has been moved , a dreadful sight to see as one leaves Toddington south .
ReplyDeleteIs Tina opening her own carriage Cafe somewhere nice , Dawlish Warren perhaps !
Will you have a sign up for the Goods Shed on the wall above any rolling stock ?
How about some fireworks for the Gala on 6th November ? Nice to see the blog back up again john M.
The mess coach must have come in in the mid to late 1990s. We had to have a home before we took down the cabin in the workshop and the floor coming out. I can remember placing the signal box stairs, which we used to get to our stores on top of the cabin, under the coach for safe keeping.It was around about the same time that we got 3 phase electricity, via the pole run, to the workshop and not having to rely on old diesel generators. A luxury then.
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