A Weekend With The "Really Useful" Engine...

Hi all. On seeing this post you may be wondering, "Didn't you have Thomas back in June?". The answer?..."Yes we did!". My standard gauge concern, the Battlefield Line Railway, host their "Day Out With Thomas" events twice per year (once in Spring & once in Autumn). This years Autumn event was held this weekend and will also be held next weekend (October 17th/18th). Additionally, the event will run on Monday October 19th, to coincide with the Leicestershire schools "half term" week. My weekend at Shackerstone began on Friday when I arrived at around 7pm (in darkness!...winter is obviously coming!) to stay on site. After planning the following day's activities we retired, quite late, to the Sleeper Coach before "Day One" began:- After a short and slightly uncomfortable(!) sleep I rose at 5:40am before heading down to the engine sheds. Myself, and colleague Chris, let ourselves into the shed and awaiting the days crews for the three rostered steam locomotives. My Driver, Jan, duly arrived and both of us then proceeded to the South Yard where our noble steed for the day, "Thomas", awaited us. The yard was in darkness and therefore we had to use torches to check the firebox and water gauges. Jan then 'cleaned the grate' whilst I got some 'lighting-up wood' together. Jan soon lit the first layer of wood before climbing down to begin oiling the engine.

I continued to add wood, then coal, to the thriving fire and tended to it until the engine was up to pressure. (The recently-lit fire is seen above). Meanwhile, Jan had been inside the frames oiling the inside-cylindered locomotive as well as tending to the two mechanical lubricators which are fastened to the running boards. The "Thomas" for this event was played by Llangollen Railway-based 0-6-0 18" Hunslet Saddle Tank "Jessie". The very powerful engine used to be red but was converted to a Thomas replica when Llangollen's "usual Thomas", a Jinty, required major boiler repairs. The conversion required the removal of the Saddle Tank, which was replaced with two side tanks. The engine was also, naturally, painted blue and given the "Jinty"s face. The engine also carries the "Jinty"s dome cover, due to its own dome no longer being covered by its redundant saddle tank! Following repairs to the Jinty, "Jessie" should return to her original form early next year. "Jessie" used to be a Steelworks engine and is an emmensely powerful machine. This is confirmed with the owner's 'blanking' of the "main valve" to stop his engine being "thrashed". (A good call in my opinion!). However, even 'notched up' in 'pilot valve', the engine easily climbed out of Shackerstone with 6-coaches behind her. (She is a bit of a beast by all accounts!).

At around 9:30am we came off shed before running into Platform 2 and coupling up to the first train, the 10am. After coupling up I proceeded back to the engine shed "mess room" to change into my smart overalls. I then returned to the engine where Jan, herself changed, was checking the vacuum brakes. (Our fireman, Adrian, was getting changed himself at the time). At 10am, we steamed out of Shackerstone for Shenton. Once at Shenton, almost every passenger left the train to admire the engine as "he" ran round. "Thomas" was soon coupled to the other end of the train and we left, once again, 'on time'. After an enjoyable return run we arrived back at Shackerstone where B1 "Mayflower" was waiting to take over the next 4 main train services. Adrian uncoupled Thomas before we ran off the train and proceeded into Platform 1. For the rest of the day we did many things! We competed in engine races, we played games, we starrred in countless "playlets" and, we took "Daisy the Diesel Railcar" to Hedley's crossing and back 3 times. We were very busy ineed! (As usual, one of my trainee-fireman duties did include getting a soaking in the "water game"...I never escape it!). I was allowed to fire the three Daisy runs, returning from Hedley's with around 150-160psi (full pressure=170psi) on the clock and 4/5 of a glass in the boiler. I was very proud to have achieved this as I have ran out of steam once in the past!

Following the playful activities at Shackerstone, our final duty was a full line journey, the 4:40pm (last train) to Shenton and back. This train was also a "Tea on Thomas" run meaning that some passengers would be enjoying supper in the company of the Fat Controller himself! Adrian was driving this trip so Jan added a few shovel-fulls of coal to the fire just before we left Shackerstone. On leaving the station, I was allowed to fire, with Jan's guidance proving more than helpful! We managed to keep around 150-160psi on the clock with at least 1/3 of a glass of water in the boiler at all times. The run was a relatively easy one with coal being added "little & often" to the frighteningly-hot furnace. Once at Shenton, Adrian uncoupled Thomas before running him round. I then coupled 'him' back up to the stock before we departed again. On leaving the station, I added more coal to the raging fire as we climbed the Shenton Bank. Coal was then, once again, added little & often, as & when. This run seemed more challenging as the engine seemed to be working a little harder and used a little more coal but it was still very enjoyable. We soon arrived back at Shackerstone with 160psi on the clock and 1/2 glass of water in the boiler...not bad! Thanks for the oppotunity Jan! After arrival back at Shackerstone the engine was coaled before we disposed her. Finally, feeling very tired and "hard done to"(!), we all signed off. After staying on site again, with a longer "lie in" in the morning, "Day Two" came all too quickly(!):-

After signing on at 7am I proceeded to the shed where B1 "Mayflower" and Hunslet "Jessie" (Thomas) were being prepared. I made myself a 'cuppa' in the mess room before chatting to Thomas' crew: Jan, Dave & Danny (trainee). Carl, the driver of "Fergus" for the day, also joined us. Myself and Carl then proceeded to "Fergus", who was waited patietly in the lower yard, to light his fire and clean him ready for the days work. Our colleague Kev also helped with the cleaning. After cleaning "Fergus", who was making steam nicely, I took the oppotunity to take the images below and the one above. (Sorry for the poor quality but I only had my phone handy!)...

First, "Fergus" gets a nice polish from Kev & Craig...

With his fire burning brightly, it won't be long until "Fergus" is ready (remember he can move with only 10psi on the clock!)...

Known never to show any sign of muck or dust, B1 "Mayflower" makes an impressive sight outside the locomotive works...
"Mayflower" was clearly happy with the kind comments that Dave (right) had been making about her shining LNER livery...
Jan, spotted in the cab, checks all is well whilst "Thomas" looks forward to his morning run to tranquil Shenton...
Fluttering her eye lashes as usual, "Daisy" heads down into the station before a 'shuttle run'...
Once "Fergus" had gone off shed it wasn't long before Pockets arrived. For the rest of the day, myself, Pockets and Kev, aided by Dave & Chris, cleared alot of rubbish from the South Yard, making it a tidier sight for all. We also changed some rotten sleepers which were supported one of the point-lever frames. They were so rotten in fact that they crumbled into two or three segments when removed! With all jobs completed, we signed off at around 5:30pm. After some socialising with fellowing members regarding an enjoyable weekend, I left at around 6:45pm, happily heading home to my own bed! (Not that it wasn't a fantastic weekend!). Thanks must go to Jan & Adrian for a fantastic day on "Thomas" on Saturday. Remember folks, next weekend is your last chance to see "Thomas" at Shackerstone before he returns home to Sodor...until his 2010 visits of course! See the railway's website, http://www.battlefield-line-railway.co.uk/ for further details. Thank you for reading folks and now, thankfully, its time for me to get some sleep! Thanks for reading folks. Good Night all...