Mirror, mirror

It’s been a while (and why do most of the entries in this blog for the last year or more start like that?) but I managed a day out at Clarabelle yesterday pottering around in the bathroom installing an original QR mirror. That is all!

 

Wider view with sink closed

Close up, you can see the QR logo in the mirror. Can't wait to have a shave now!

More painting and a pull down sink

After over nighting on board with Chester last Friday night, I got up and into Clarabelle early on Saturday. I was intending to start with some painting and set about sorting out the finishing touches to the gutter on the northern side.

She probably hasn't looked this good since 1980!

But then the weather turned a bit iffy so I went inside and worked there for a while as the weather made up its mind and cleared up. Then it was back outside to topcoat the western end. A quickish job with the spray gun.

Note the white tap handle on the air valve - a detail I picked up on last week in Ipswich

Working inside for most of the morning and early afternoon I installed the first of two pull down sinks. I actually purchased this one in Dorrigo NSW not long after I brought Clarabelle in 2005. It comes off a NSW car but these were standard fittings and I know this type was used in Queensland because I've seen them on display in the Ipswich Workshops Rail Museum. The second, identical sink I purchased at a sale at the National Rail Museum here in Adelaide so it probably came off a SA or even Commonwealth carriage!

The newly installed pull down sink

Yet to be plumbed in, I know it works because I gave it a test run, emptying into a bucket underneath.The bowl doesn't have a drain at the bottom. When you've finished washing your hands (or whatever), you simply close the whole unit and the water drains out the back.

When opened, the interior is dazzling!

The Easter Weekend

It’s been a while! Mind you I have been overseas and otherwise occupied with the new house so Clarabelle has been missing out on the care and attention she deserves!

The bathroom wall; lots of filling and sanding here before a coat of PSU!

Last weekend, being a long weekend, I finally managed to get stuck in and make some progress. I actually camped in the carriage staying three nights so that I could devote every waking hour to working on the old girl. 

The aisle wall, sanded and painted

And the nights were also useful times to get things done inside the carriage. I was able to fill, sand and undercoat one of the walls in the bathroom and the opposing wall in what will be an aisle leading to the main bedroom. Much of that sort of work can be done by the light of a halogen lamp.

Selfie with the end sanded off (most of which ended up on my face!)

But most daylight hours were spent stripping back the western end, filling and sanding then repainting in undercoat. This took much longer than planned but I decided it best to work at a pace that got the job done properly rather than rush it. As it was the painting on the last day was in a strong and gusty wind which threatened to blow me off the ladder on several occasions! Definitely not the right conditions to put on a top coat. So that will have to wait for another day!

Primer/Sealer/Undercoat on and looking good!

An oblique view with a western end that seems to glow!

Another coat

This weekend, the first of two top coats on the bathroom ceiling. While I can reach the whole ceiling without a ladder, this work is literally a pain in the neck!

Same shot as last week but with the first top coat on.

Selfie with ceiling in the background. One more coat and that mottling should disappear.

2014

It’s not that I’ve been slack over the last few months, just not working on Clarabelle. I have been moving into a new home and setting that all up is taking quite some effort. Then there’s the whole Xmas/New Year thing and not much time for working on carriages!

But I did get out to her on the weekend and began slapping a bit of paint around. This is the ceiling of the bathroom area where I’ve replaced the original light fitting with a vent from an old NSWGR carriage. That actually vents to the outside – I thought that will be a useful feature in an area that will occasionally be wet and steamy. This is only the undercoat with sealing of old joints and cracks. There’s at least 2 coats of gloss white topcoat to go on yet but already a lot of the former beauty of the original pressed tin ceilings is shining through. 

The ceiling of what will be the bathroom

And this will be the year to put the effort in and get her into shape. October this year will be her 90^th birthday and I plan a big BBQ to celebrate with anyone who is interested. Would you like to come along?

Otherwise busy

Recently I've bought a new house and have been preoccupied with sorting out bits and pieces prior to moving in. That's my excuse for not giving Clarabelle her usual amount of attention over the last few weeks - a situation that is unlikely to change for the next month or more. But I have managed to get out to her and potter around doing odd small jobs and painting. A few weeks back I had both my mate Ben McHenry and Steve Salisbury visit and help out. Ben's a local but Steve is from Brisbane and I particularly appreciate him making the time to come and play trains.

Steve proved a dabbed hand with the spray gun!