Easter Monday with A Certain B1...
Hi everyone. Well, after a great day on the B1 No1306 "Mayflower" at Shackerstone yesterday, I was rostered on her again today. Arriving at Shack at 5:45am again today, I wandered down the quiet driveway where I found the Railway Cat waiting for her morning feed. She walked with me down to the Signing On room and then on towards the shed where I opened up and then fed her. I then opened the main door and checked around 1306 before carrying out a few little jobs. At 6:30am, the rest of the team turned up, and we got 1306 outside. I broke up some wood and we all passed it up onto the footplate. Usually, 1306 uses 2 pallet's worth of wood when lighting up. Once lit, we all set to cleaning the engine again; as we did so yesterday. Today we worked even quicker and the loco was shining and ready to go off shed by 9:10am; a further 20 minutes earlier than yesterday! I think this is the earliest we've ever gone off shed for an 11:15 train! With the B1 ready, we took her off shed and waited in Platform 1 with her. In the meantime, we all got changed and did various little jobs like tidying up. With so much spare time once again, there was time to take a few more images! The gleaming cab side on 1306...
"Mayflower" in Platform 1, the shining boiler barrel always amazes me...
"Morning at Shackerstone": 1306 rests in Platform 1 as the sun rises over the trees...
During her recent overhaul, 1306 had all of her wheels, including her bogie, turned. As well as this, her rear driving wheels have been fitted with small lubricators. These small graphite cartridges are fitted into a spring-loaded casing and then the tip of the cartridge is pressed against the inside of the wheel flange. The graphite paste lubricates the flange and aids going around corners. The other B1 was fitted with these when she went up onto the Fort William - Mallaig line which has very tight curve for an engine with such big wheels. The Drivers-side graphite lubricator is spotted below... 
Up in the cab, "Mayflower" was reading around 200psi, more than enough to pull a train (full pressure is 225psi). However, with no work for another 90 minutes yet, I continued taking pictures. Below, the Drivers controls. You can just see the regulator poking in from the right-hand side with the braking and reverser controls visible in the centre...
1306 with her equally gleaming tender at Shackerstone...
"The Road Ahead"...shame we can't go down to Coalville or Ashby!...
"The blazing inferno": 1306's fire sits rather quiet as we await departure time at Shackerstone; note the traditional Great Northern-type Flap firehole door...
"The wheels of time"...
Well, at about 10:30am we decided to get "Mayflower" onto the train and couple up and water up too. After these jobs were complete, we waited another 30 minutes before receiving the 'Right Away'; on time; with the 11:15 train. 1306 strolled through the beautiful Leicestershire countryside as the morning sun shone. At Market Bosworth, we picked up my family before taking them to Shenton, and then back to Shackerstone. There, my girlfriends family also joined the train, along with my family; all of which returned to Shenton on the 12:30 train. Before the 12:30 though, we had to add an extra coach to the train, making a 5-coach set; as reports from Shenton indicated a crowd. As expected, the day got busier and busier and seemed very successful with many people using the trains. Many passengers also commented on the shiney nature of the beautiful B1. Well, after all, she probably is the cleanest operational engine in preservation, with Pannier No9466 not far behind! After our 5 round trips, we were ready for home so we disposed "Mayflower" and locked her away in the shed. 3803 is out next weekend whilst 1306 takes a well earned break. The B1 will be next out during our 'Models Weekend' at the end of May. Why not come and see her then? Thank you all. Now, unfortunately, after two 4:30am starts, I need some sleep! Goodnight all...
Hi everyone. Well, after a great day on the B1 No1306 "Mayflower" at Shackerstone yesterday, I was rostered on her again today. Arriving at Shack at 5:45am again today, I wandered down the quiet driveway where I found the Railway Cat waiting for her morning feed. She walked with me down to the Signing On room and then on towards the shed where I opened up and then fed her. I then opened the main door and checked around 1306 before carrying out a few little jobs. At 6:30am, the rest of the team turned up, and we got 1306 outside. I broke up some wood and we all passed it up onto the footplate. Usually, 1306 uses 2 pallet's worth of wood when lighting up. Once lit, we all set to cleaning the engine again; as we did so yesterday. Today we worked even quicker and the loco was shining and ready to go off shed by 9:10am; a further 20 minutes earlier than yesterday! I think this is the earliest we've ever gone off shed for an 11:15 train! With the B1 ready, we took her off shed and waited in Platform 1 with her. In the meantime, we all got changed and did various little jobs like tidying up. With so much spare time once again, there was time to take a few more images! The gleaming cab side on 1306...
"Mayflower" in Platform 1, the shining boiler barrel always amazes me...
"Morning at Shackerstone": 1306 rests in Platform 1 as the sun rises over the trees...
During her recent overhaul, 1306 had all of her wheels, including her bogie, turned. As well as this, her rear driving wheels have been fitted with small lubricators. These small graphite cartridges are fitted into a spring-loaded casing and then the tip of the cartridge is pressed against the inside of the wheel flange. The graphite paste lubricates the flange and aids going around corners. The other B1 was fitted with these when she went up onto the Fort William - Mallaig line which has very tight curve for an engine with such big wheels. The Drivers-side graphite lubricator is spotted below... 
Up in the cab, "Mayflower" was reading around 200psi, more than enough to pull a train (full pressure is 225psi). However, with no work for another 90 minutes yet, I continued taking pictures. Below, the Drivers controls. You can just see the regulator poking in from the right-hand side with the braking and reverser controls visible in the centre...
1306 with her equally gleaming tender at Shackerstone...
"The Road Ahead"...shame we can't go down to Coalville or Ashby!...
"The blazing inferno": 1306's fire sits rather quiet as we await departure time at Shackerstone; note the traditional Great Northern-type Flap firehole door...
"The wheels of time"...
Well, at about 10:30am we decided to get "Mayflower" onto the train and couple up and water up too. After these jobs were complete, we waited another 30 minutes before receiving the 'Right Away'; on time; with the 11:15 train. 1306 strolled through the beautiful Leicestershire countryside as the morning sun shone. At Market Bosworth, we picked up my family before taking them to Shenton, and then back to Shackerstone. There, my girlfriends family also joined the train, along with my family; all of which returned to Shenton on the 12:30 train. Before the 12:30 though, we had to add an extra coach to the train, making a 5-coach set; as reports from Shenton indicated a crowd. As expected, the day got busier and busier and seemed very successful with many people using the trains. Many passengers also commented on the shiney nature of the beautiful B1. Well, after all, she probably is the cleanest operational engine in preservation, with Pannier No9466 not far behind! After our 5 round trips, we were ready for home so we disposed "Mayflower" and locked her away in the shed. 3803 is out next weekend whilst 1306 takes a well earned break. The B1 will be next out during our 'Models Weekend' at the end of May. Why not come and see her then? Thank you all. Now, unfortunately, after two 4:30am starts, I need some sleep! Goodnight all...
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