Hi all! Today I was off to Shackerstone again but first, I had to catch the simple, hourly train service from my hometown of Bedworth, to Nuneaton, where my friend Danny was waiting to collect me for the rest of the journey. Catching the 9:56am train, running on time I might add, I rode the comfortable yet slightly noisy (loud diesel engines!) Class 153 Unit to Nuneaton, passing various back gardens, factories and woodland areas on route. At Nuneaton, I left the Class 153 in Platform 1 and continued out into the Car Park where I found Danny in his car. After saying "Hello", we set off for Shackerstone, arriving there at about 10:30am. Parking up, we discovered that the whole 'Mayflower Team' (the group of people of help look after the privately owned B1) were on site! For a while we wondered why but, spotting a large Water Pump, many lengths of hose and the Class 02 Diesel ticking over, it became obvious..."Mayflower" was having a boiler washout! This simple practise, carried out to rid the boiler of as much damaging scale as possible, is done on "Mayflower" every 20 steamings or so. The day's P-Way Train, bound for Shenton, departed momentarily, propelled by the BR Blue Class 04. Once she was out of sight, the diminutive 02 Shunter moved into the shed and dragged out the immaculate Thompson 4-6-0...
Straddling the points on the running line through Platform 1 for the rest of the day, "Mayflower" was protected by a "Stop Board" at either end, warning any potential oncoming trains. Throughout the day, 1306 was internally washed with high pressure water over & over again, offering the best possible cleaning. Huge puddles of murky (due to the presence of Water Treatment) water stood beneath the massive engine and many 'lumps' of scale were spotted floating within. The loco's owner did hand me a piece of scale later in the day and, basically, its just like what you get on the inside of your kettle at home! Problem is, if unmoved, this scale can ruin the inside of your boiler. Imagine a boiler tube, the heat of the water proves no problem. However, when the tube is enveloped in scale, the scale takes in the heat. Meanwhile, the tube underneath is not keep moist. As the heat goes through the scale, it can weaken the tube, almost corroding it. The Washout process washes out as much of this potentially hazardous scale as possible, hopefully preserving the life of the entire boiler. The added use of Water Treatment also helps to keep the inside of the boiler clear, as well as the interior of the injector valves & clacks. "Mayflower" is spotted with a hose poking into the open smokebox...
Later on, with the washout done, "Diane" was started up again (by myself) and, after building 'Air', Adrian attempted to use the little 0-4-0 to push the B1 back up the steep hill into the shed. However, due to the spitting rain and greasy rails, the first attempt was unsuccessful as "Diane" slipped to an embarrassing stand. Myself, Adrian & Danny then sprinkled as much Kiln-Dried-Sand as possible onto the rails of the climb before the little diesel backed off down the bottom again for another try. This time, with a little slipping and much engine noise, "Diane" conquered the climb and the beautiful B1 was then 'back in her box' until Easter! "Mayflower" is planned to remain at Shackerstone for 2010 and steaming dates will be announced at http://www.battlefield-line-railway.co.uk/ when they become available. The loco is however planned, hopefully, to be in steam at Easter (all being well)...again, see the railways website for definate details. Elsewhere, myself and Danny had a bonfire burning too, getting rid of even more rubbish and, in the morning, I also cleared the mass of Ash from the inside Inspection Pit (over which 1306 normally stands)...thats hard work!! For your interest, I have included this video of "Mayflower" in action last May...Video courtesy of my friend Danny...After another day done, we left Shackerstone at 5:20pm and, after a quick Pint of Coke in the nearby Rising Sun Pub, we headed for home. (Thanks for the lift back again Danny!). I'll next be at Shackerstone on Sunday March 21st which, coincidentally will be the first Sunday of the new 2010 Operating Season (Trains will be back!). Next Saturday, its off to Nuneaton Station where I'm hoping to film Princess Royal Class No6201 "Princess Elizabeth" as she speeds through on her railtour from Crewe-London and back (operated by Vintage Trains Ltd). Look out for a post on that next weekend! Thanks for Reading Folks. As usual, Evening All...
No comments:
Post a Comment