Hi all. Well, today is the first of the 5 days of the Battlefield Line Railway's spring "Day Out with Thomas" event 2010. The event runs every year and, in this case, it has ended up taking place on the last weekend in April and the first weekend in May, the 1st of May being particularly special due to the fact that it is the "65th Anniversary Party with Thomas", celebrating the world's favourite Blue Tank Engine's grand old age of 65!...though he seems to show no signs of retiring just yet! I was awoken by my alarm today at 4:30am. I lept out of bed (just to make sure I didn't drop back to sleep!) before enjoying a nice hot cuppa' to bring me back into the 'land of the living'. At 5am my dad arrived to give me a lift to Shackerstone, arriving there at 5:30am. I "signed on" before proceeding down to the shed where my charge for the day, LNER B1 No1306 "Mayflower", was lying in wait. The day's crew, Driver Neil and Fireman Steve, were already there and were making preparations for moving the loco. After fetching some wood the fire was built up ready for lighting. Soon afterwards, the noisy Class 02 shunter moved into the shed and dragged the "Eastern Lady" out into the crisp morning air. The fire was lit as soon as she was clear of the shed. It was then time for a coffee! Meanwhile, "Thomas" and "The Blue Circle" (aka "Fergus") were bring prepared on the 'Pit Road' in the South Yard.
After coffee were returned to "Mayflower" who was now boiling happily. The Thompson 4-6-0, due to the Thomas event, was however addorning a cheerful (though slightly male-looking compared with her name) face. The face was coupled with the Apple Green livery and some rather crude name-boards to create a fair representation of Thomas & Friends No3..."Henry the Green Engine". The first train, sheduled for 9:40am, was made up of the 2-car DMU set, playing it's usual part of "Daisy the Diesel Railcar" (though in this case she has evolved into a 2-car unit rather than a Bubblecar!). Sure enough, at 9:30am, "Fergus" and "Thomas" slowly rolled down into the North End of Platform 1, leaving the South End of the Platform clear for "Daisy" to pull in. A few minutes later, spotted from the footplate of "Henry", "Daisy" proceeded past with a good few early passengers on board, bound for 'Farmer McColls Farm', aka Hedley's (about a mile away). In the meantime, "Thomas" was shunted around onto the front of the 5-coach Main Train and awaited the return of "Daisy". (A garunteed connection is offered between "Daisy" and the Main Train to ensure that nobody is left behind). Soon enough, the DMU returned and the 
passengers transferred onto the Jinty's train before she departed, a few minutes down, for Shenton. With "Thomas" gone, "Daisy" returned to her siding, allowing "Henry" (with us on board!) to leave the Shed Road for Platform 1. Once off shed, "Mayflower" ('oh sorry', "Henry"!) was admired by many arriving passengers (and staff!). In the meantime, "Fergus" was giving Brake Van Ride's up and down Platform 2. "Thomas" soon returned after a good run and "Henry" took up his place on the train for the next 2 trips. I shared the firing with Steve and had a good few goes. It was however very, very hot on the footplate due to the cloudless skies and baking sun! (Nice to see Spring in action though!). Once back at Shackerstone, after our 2nd run, we were timetabled a 105-minute layover, the next train being hauled by "Boco" (the Class 25). This layover was done to allow "Henry" to take part in some of the games and, more interestingly, some races! It was very interesting racing the Jinty ("Thomas") through Shackerstone Station. I must admit, on the 3rd race, with Neil "on the handle", we certainly did beat "Thomas", hands down!...well done "Henry"! (The bark from the B1 was amazing!). With the return of Boco, we were off to Shenton again, with me on the shovel. After a spirted journey, we pulled into a relatively busy Shenton, where, once we'd stopped, I jumped off the loco to uncouple...
On the way into Shenton, I had also been captured leaning from "Henry"s fireman's side to check that the foot crossing was clear!...
After chatting away to my collegue, Dave, for a few minutes at Shenton, we departed and attacked Shenton Bank, tender-first, in some style! Steve fired this run and, with "Mayflower" running like 'a well oiled sewing machine' as usual, we were soon back at Shackerstone, whistling as we came down through the Cutting. Once halted, I uncoupled the loco again as "Thomas" took up his place at the other end, ready for the 4:40pm "Tea on Thomas" departure (the last train of the day). A little late, the 3F departed, taking the 5-coach train up the bank, and beyond, in a cloud of steam. We then took "Mayflower" through the now-empty Platform 2 and took water at the column. Once this was done, 1306 crossed the points and backed down to the ground frame, where I was waited to 'set the road'. On my hand-signals, the beautiful B1 moved steadily up into the shed. Once she had passed, I "locked her in" and proceeded to the shed to help with disposal proceedings. Working as quickly but as well as possible, we were soon finished, already having "signed off" by the time "Thomas" returned from Shenton! (Now thats practise!). Well, after having a good wash we were off to McDonalds before returning for a night sleeping on site. Thank you very much to Neil, Steve and "Henry" for a very good day. Evening All...All photographs by Mr D.Hanks. Thank You!
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