GEC Miniature Railway "Santa Specials"...
Hi all! Today it was off up to the GEC Model Engineering Society's site at Binley to lend a helping hand to their 2009 "Santa Special" proceedings. Arriving at about 1pm I met up with my friend Dave who was already busy preparing his family's engine, 0-4-0 "Trojan" (mentioned in earlier GEC posts), for the running that would begin at 2pm. The substantially sized 0-4-0 Saddle Tank (with tender) was simmering nicely as I reached the steaming bay and within half an hour the loco was off shed and awaiting duties. "Trojan" was adorning festive lighting and a very nice "Merry Christmas" letter-arrangement around her saddle tank (as seen in the above image). On the other 7.25" gauge Steaming Bay was 0-4-0 Romulus No5 "James". The shining loco, proudly wearing her red & brass livery, was carefully raising steam when the image below was taken...
The running began at 2pm with many (and I mean many!) people turning up for a ride, many of whom had pre-booked. The 7.25" gauge line was running to full capacity with "Trojan", "James" and "Sammy" (0-4-0 Diesel) running a very intensive service at regular intervals. (The drivers had very little time for breaks!). The "Santa" trains on the ground level line made a full lap of the track before visiting Santa himself on a private 'spur' siding. Once Santa had been visited, trains reversed back out onto the main line before returning back to the main station. Meanwhile, the 5" gauge raised track was also running an intensive service with high passenger numbers. As darkness fell, lanterns were lit and the festive decorations became even more prominent in the landscape of the site. It really did look very festive. I was busying myself with helping with "Trojan", sanding the rails at various points, helping with crowd control, moving things around etc. The platform on the ground level line was absolutely packed all afternoon and it was only just after closing time (5pm) that the queue started to decrease in number a little! Meanwhile, tea was the ever-valuble commodity as the 'coming & going' rain did nothing to help the chill in the air! (The Tea Room Ladies were again busying themselves with providing all of us with many cups of this, our form of fuel! Well done again everybody...first rate job as usual!). Below, festively decorated "Trojan" arrives back at the main station in darkness...
The darkness gave me a chance to see how bright my flash was (its not often I shoot in darkness!). Here, 0-4-0 Romulus "James" is being readied for the next departure and is still remarkably clean following her (or is it his??) hard day's work....
Whilst the 7.25" gauge line was busy with the "Santa" trips, the 5" raised track was also extremely busy and three different steam locomotives were providing the service. The locomotive below is a 5" gauge model of one of the Midland Railway 4-4-0 'Compound' locomotives. In standard gauge practise, these locomotives used steam twice; Once in a High Pressure Cylinder and then again, in a Low Pressure Cylinder. (Unlike conventional practise). This model, built to a very high standard, is a GEC regular and performed well all evening, much to the delight of customers(!). The loco is seen here during a break for a quick "running service" before going back onto the track...
The 2nd loco in operation on the raised track was an 0-6-0 15XX Speedy tank, number 1507. These engines were modelled on the outside-cylindered Pannier Tank, the 15XX Class, one of which survives on the Severn Valley Railway (No1501). This particular model, I must admit, was quite striking with, it would seem, a recently applied (or very well looked after!) BR Black livery. This model was seen speeding (excuse the pun!) around the track all afternoon and she is spotted taking a quick break in the station once darkness had fallen...
Last but definately not least was "Sgt Murphy". This engine reminds me of a Kerr Stuart locomotive (correct me if I'm wrong!). This substantial six-legged engine was also seen all afternoon and, during the darkness, carried a very bright headlamp (seen below) which definately seemed to aid the driver in seeing the road ahead! The shining tank engine is seen in the station awaiting the road. "Sgt Murphy" is also a GEC regular and I have spotted her out & about many times before...
Once the final train had gone, we took "Trojan" out to collect the signals and signs around the ground level track. We then returned to the main station and began shunting the stock and packing things away. "James" had already been blown down and "Sammy" (the Diesel) had gone home so there was only "Trojan" left at work! When her work was done, "Trojan" chuffed up onto the steaming bay and was then raked out, blown down and cleaned. Myself and Dave then pushed the loco (out of steam) down to the Loading Ramp where she would be loaded onto her trailer for her journey home. Well, it had been another great day at the GEC, thanks again for the invite everybody! I always have a very nice time when I go up there. Like what you read? Why not go along and visit them! The railway runs, I believe, once a month from May to October and also operates various Special Event days. Want more information? Drop me an email! I'm always happy to try and promote this great little railway. Anyway, many thanks to everybody who made my day another great one today and, special thanks to the 'Tea Room Ladies' for keeping us all watered throughout the afternoon...you did a great job! Thanks for reading everybody, Good Night!...
Hi all! Today it was off up to the GEC Model Engineering Society's site at Binley to lend a helping hand to their 2009 "Santa Special" proceedings. Arriving at about 1pm I met up with my friend Dave who was already busy preparing his family's engine, 0-4-0 "Trojan" (mentioned in earlier GEC posts), for the running that would begin at 2pm. The substantially sized 0-4-0 Saddle Tank (with tender) was simmering nicely as I reached the steaming bay and within half an hour the loco was off shed and awaiting duties. "Trojan" was adorning festive lighting and a very nice "Merry Christmas" letter-arrangement around her saddle tank (as seen in the above image). On the other 7.25" gauge Steaming Bay was 0-4-0 Romulus No5 "James". The shining loco, proudly wearing her red & brass livery, was carefully raising steam when the image below was taken...
The running began at 2pm with many (and I mean many!) people turning up for a ride, many of whom had pre-booked. The 7.25" gauge line was running to full capacity with "Trojan", "James" and "Sammy" (0-4-0 Diesel) running a very intensive service at regular intervals. (The drivers had very little time for breaks!). The "Santa" trains on the ground level line made a full lap of the track before visiting Santa himself on a private 'spur' siding. Once Santa had been visited, trains reversed back out onto the main line before returning back to the main station. Meanwhile, the 5" gauge raised track was also running an intensive service with high passenger numbers. As darkness fell, lanterns were lit and the festive decorations became even more prominent in the landscape of the site. It really did look very festive. I was busying myself with helping with "Trojan", sanding the rails at various points, helping with crowd control, moving things around etc. The platform on the ground level line was absolutely packed all afternoon and it was only just after closing time (5pm) that the queue started to decrease in number a little! Meanwhile, tea was the ever-valuble commodity as the 'coming & going' rain did nothing to help the chill in the air! (The Tea Room Ladies were again busying themselves with providing all of us with many cups of this, our form of fuel! Well done again everybody...first rate job as usual!). Below, festively decorated "Trojan" arrives back at the main station in darkness...
The darkness gave me a chance to see how bright my flash was (its not often I shoot in darkness!). Here, 0-4-0 Romulus "James" is being readied for the next departure and is still remarkably clean following her (or is it his??) hard day's work....
Whilst the 7.25" gauge line was busy with the "Santa" trips, the 5" raised track was also extremely busy and three different steam locomotives were providing the service. The locomotive below is a 5" gauge model of one of the Midland Railway 4-4-0 'Compound' locomotives. In standard gauge practise, these locomotives used steam twice; Once in a High Pressure Cylinder and then again, in a Low Pressure Cylinder. (Unlike conventional practise). This model, built to a very high standard, is a GEC regular and performed well all evening, much to the delight of customers(!). The loco is seen here during a break for a quick "running service" before going back onto the track...
The 2nd loco in operation on the raised track was an 0-6-0 15XX Speedy tank, number 1507. These engines were modelled on the outside-cylindered Pannier Tank, the 15XX Class, one of which survives on the Severn Valley Railway (No1501). This particular model, I must admit, was quite striking with, it would seem, a recently applied (or very well looked after!) BR Black livery. This model was seen speeding (excuse the pun!) around the track all afternoon and she is spotted taking a quick break in the station once darkness had fallen...
Last but definately not least was "Sgt Murphy". This engine reminds me of a Kerr Stuart locomotive (correct me if I'm wrong!). This substantial six-legged engine was also seen all afternoon and, during the darkness, carried a very bright headlamp (seen below) which definately seemed to aid the driver in seeing the road ahead! The shining tank engine is seen in the station awaiting the road. "Sgt Murphy" is also a GEC regular and I have spotted her out & about many times before...
Once the final train had gone, we took "Trojan" out to collect the signals and signs around the ground level track. We then returned to the main station and began shunting the stock and packing things away. "James" had already been blown down and "Sammy" (the Diesel) had gone home so there was only "Trojan" left at work! When her work was done, "Trojan" chuffed up onto the steaming bay and was then raked out, blown down and cleaned. Myself and Dave then pushed the loco (out of steam) down to the Loading Ramp where she would be loaded onto her trailer for her journey home. Well, it had been another great day at the GEC, thanks again for the invite everybody! I always have a very nice time when I go up there. Like what you read? Why not go along and visit them! The railway runs, I believe, once a month from May to October and also operates various Special Event days. Want more information? Drop me an email! I'm always happy to try and promote this great little railway. Anyway, many thanks to everybody who made my day another great one today and, special thanks to the 'Tea Room Ladies' for keeping us all watered throughout the afternoon...you did a great job! Thanks for reading everybody, Good Night!... 
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