Driving A Polly At Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition...
Hi all. Every year, in mid-October, the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre (Fosseway) hosts the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition. My 5" gauge concern, Coventry Model Engineering Society, contributes a display of models to the show and also offers train rides on their 5" gauge Portable Track. The passenger cars for the track are also provided by CMES but the steam locomotive is borrowed from the well-known manufacturer "Polly Models". The use of this locomotive gives both good performance and good advertising for Polly Models. Today, as I am every year, I was rostered to drive the afternoon turn on the Portable Track. I arrived at the centre at around 9:35am and used my pass to go in through the back entrance. The exhibition doesn't open until 10am so it was still very quiet inside! I made my way to the club stand, situated near the cafe area, to drop off my things. The morning crew soon arrived and we set about lifting the engine onto the outdoor portable track. The track is usually around 200ft long and offers an interesting, if relatively short, train ride to visitors, free of charge I might add! We then steamed the engine before I headed off for a look around the fantastic display of models and projects in the exhibition halls. After chatting to various people and admiring many, many items(!) I went back to the track just before my shift began at 1:30pm.
The morning crew reported that the engine was steaming well, if slipping a little on the gradient, and, with this in mind myself, and my fellow driver, Emma, took over for the rest of the day. Since the last time I drove the engine last year, she has undergone many mechanical changes. These have included a new manifold, two new injectors, removal of the axle-pump, a new whistle and a new "weir-pump". We chose not to use the weir-pump (located on the running board) today and relied on the two injectors and the handpump. (The weir-pump is pictured above but is not use).
The new whistle, a Polly product, is pictured above and is a Chime Whistle. I must admit, I do like it alot better than the old one...this one actually makes a noise rather than just blasting steam to no avail!
The locomotive is a "Polly V" and is the company's Demonstration Locomotive. This engine is the 2nd largest in the Polly range and is only dwarfed by the slightly-larger "Polly VI" which includes a 2-axle tender rather than side tanks. This Polly V has been left in brass rather than being painted, as can be seen. 
The 90psi locomotive is seen below as the end of her shift (and ours!) approaches...
The "Polly V" cab is seen below but, unlike last year, the engine no longer has the standard Polly backhead! The manifold can be clearly seen with the controls from left to right being:- Left Injector Steam valve, Blanked valve, Weir-pump Steam feed, Right Injector Steam Valve and Whistle valve. The pressure gauge can be clearly seen as can the water sight glass and handbrake column. The regulator can be seen clearly in the centre of the backhead with the Blower Valve being seen just to the right. The small cylinder in the bottom-right hand corner is the oil-resevoir for the weir-pump whilst the two valves on the left-hand side of the cab are the bypass and water valves for the pump. The small lever poking through the cab floor controls the cylinder drain cocks. The substantial firehole door can be seen clearly as well. All in all, a relatively easy to access but somewhat unusual cab layout!...
A close up of the fire with the two bottom rows of tubes being visible. Just below the firehole can be seen the two injector clacks, one either side...
At the end of her shift at around 4:30pm, "Polly V" had to be disposed and was removed from the passenger car(s) in preparation for this...
Emma is seen checking the engine's status before dropping the fire-grate. The rag on the front bufferbeam is there in preparation of ashing out the smokebox...
With the fire dropped, Emma began clearing the smokebox whilst I used the right-hand injector to the fill the boiler to the 'top-nut'. This would ensure a good supply of water in the boiler ready for the next days crew. Once this was done, there was only around 5psi on the clock and this would soon reduce to zero. Once Emma had cleared the smokebox I swept the boiler tubes before closing and tightening the door. Emma then replaced the fire-grate before we lifted the engine back onto her trolley and back into her box. After putting away the tools we then got ready for home. All in all it had been a very enjoyable day with many happy passengers being taken for a run up and down the track. The exhibition will continue up to & including this Tuesday (October 20th) with, no doubt, many more budding engineers passing through its doors. Thanks to Emma, Brian & Hilary for a good day at MMEE 2009 with "Polly V". Thanks for reading folks. Good Evening...
Hi all. Every year, in mid-October, the Warwickshire Exhibition Centre (Fosseway) hosts the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition. My 5" gauge concern, Coventry Model Engineering Society, contributes a display of models to the show and also offers train rides on their 5" gauge Portable Track. The passenger cars for the track are also provided by CMES but the steam locomotive is borrowed from the well-known manufacturer "Polly Models". The use of this locomotive gives both good performance and good advertising for Polly Models. Today, as I am every year, I was rostered to drive the afternoon turn on the Portable Track. I arrived at the centre at around 9:35am and used my pass to go in through the back entrance. The exhibition doesn't open until 10am so it was still very quiet inside! I made my way to the club stand, situated near the cafe area, to drop off my things. The morning crew soon arrived and we set about lifting the engine onto the outdoor portable track. The track is usually around 200ft long and offers an interesting, if relatively short, train ride to visitors, free of charge I might add! We then steamed the engine before I headed off for a look around the fantastic display of models and projects in the exhibition halls. After chatting to various people and admiring many, many items(!) I went back to the track just before my shift began at 1:30pm.
The morning crew reported that the engine was steaming well, if slipping a little on the gradient, and, with this in mind myself, and my fellow driver, Emma, took over for the rest of the day. Since the last time I drove the engine last year, she has undergone many mechanical changes. These have included a new manifold, two new injectors, removal of the axle-pump, a new whistle and a new "weir-pump". We chose not to use the weir-pump (located on the running board) today and relied on the two injectors and the handpump. (The weir-pump is pictured above but is not use).
The new whistle, a Polly product, is pictured above and is a Chime Whistle. I must admit, I do like it alot better than the old one...this one actually makes a noise rather than just blasting steam to no avail!
The locomotive is a "Polly V" and is the company's Demonstration Locomotive. This engine is the 2nd largest in the Polly range and is only dwarfed by the slightly-larger "Polly VI" which includes a 2-axle tender rather than side tanks. This Polly V has been left in brass rather than being painted, as can be seen. 
The 90psi locomotive is seen below as the end of her shift (and ours!) approaches...
The "Polly V" cab is seen below but, unlike last year, the engine no longer has the standard Polly backhead! The manifold can be clearly seen with the controls from left to right being:- Left Injector Steam valve, Blanked valve, Weir-pump Steam feed, Right Injector Steam Valve and Whistle valve. The pressure gauge can be clearly seen as can the water sight glass and handbrake column. The regulator can be seen clearly in the centre of the backhead with the Blower Valve being seen just to the right. The small cylinder in the bottom-right hand corner is the oil-resevoir for the weir-pump whilst the two valves on the left-hand side of the cab are the bypass and water valves for the pump. The small lever poking through the cab floor controls the cylinder drain cocks. The substantial firehole door can be seen clearly as well. All in all, a relatively easy to access but somewhat unusual cab layout!...
A close up of the fire with the two bottom rows of tubes being visible. Just below the firehole can be seen the two injector clacks, one either side...
At the end of her shift at around 4:30pm, "Polly V" had to be disposed and was removed from the passenger car(s) in preparation for this...
Emma is seen checking the engine's status before dropping the fire-grate. The rag on the front bufferbeam is there in preparation of ashing out the smokebox...
With the fire dropped, Emma began clearing the smokebox whilst I used the right-hand injector to the fill the boiler to the 'top-nut'. This would ensure a good supply of water in the boiler ready for the next days crew. Once this was done, there was only around 5psi on the clock and this would soon reduce to zero. Once Emma had cleared the smokebox I swept the boiler tubes before closing and tightening the door. Emma then replaced the fire-grate before we lifted the engine back onto her trolley and back into her box. After putting away the tools we then got ready for home. All in all it had been a very enjoyable day with many happy passengers being taken for a run up and down the track. The exhibition will continue up to & including this Tuesday (October 20th) with, no doubt, many more budding engineers passing through its doors. Thanks to Emma, Brian & Hilary for a good day at MMEE 2009 with "Polly V". Thanks for reading folks. Good Evening...
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