"Sir Gomer" Steams For Santa...
Hi everybody. Well, what a pleasant day it has been. Today was the first operating day of the Battlefield Line's 2011 "Santa Specials". A wee bit early?: One thinks so too. But, nevertheless, we ran and the passengers came. There were two rostered 'Santa' trains leaving Shackerstone at Midday and 2pm. We normally run four but on the first day we sort of 'break ourselves in gently'. I was rostered on the footplate and the traction on the books was due to be GWR 2-8-0 No3803. However, during her recent boiler washout, a problem was discovered with a front-corner mudhole door on the firebox and therefore the loco was failed pending repair. With no chance of a repair prior to todays running, the railways own 0-6-0 Peckett tank "Sir Gomer" was called out of winterisation and into immediate traffic! We steamed her last Sunday (see post) and everything seemed OK so we had no problems with taking her out today. I arrived at 6am and myself, Pockets and Carl all set to cleaning, oiling, firing and generally making ready the loco, with some help from Chris and Dave too. At 10:30am, we came off shed but not before Mr Bassett took a very vane pic of me in front of the ex-Mountain Ash saddle tank! Cheers Chris! At 11:15am, after much shunting as well as taking on some coal, we left Shack on a quick light-engine jaunt to Carlton and back (about 3 miles in total). She seemed fine. So, without further delay, we coupled up to the 6 waiting coaches and began steam heating. At 12 Midday, the Green Flag was waved and away we went. The regulator was opened and, after a little groaning, "Sir Gomer" went striding away for Shenton! No problem at all. We took her steady so that Santa could see the children in plenty of time but we still had a 10-minute wait at Market Bosworth so he could get the last few through...
A festive "Sir Gomer", adorning a Stanier hooter instead of her normal Peckett whistle, waits at Market Bosworth in the glorious November sun whilst we have a coffee...
Below, Driver Andy Guest takes "Sir Gomer" into Market Bosworth through the woods near the private airport. The Outer Home is always set to the 'Off' position as the box here is under restoration...
A view through the cab roof, with the Hooter on the dome and smoke from the chimney...
At Shenton, "Sir Gomer" ran round and I fired her back. What a forgiving and free-steaming loco she is, and with minimal coal too! This was the first time that I've fired the loco down the line (ever!) and it was very nice indeed. The rocking motion of the train; usually created by big unbalanced outside-cylindered industrials; also seemed reduced. This must be down to the changes to the valve timing that we carried out. After her first successful outing to Shenton and back in over 3 years, "Sir Gomer" dropped back down into Platform 1 and picked up the 6 coaches again (Photo by C.Bassett)...
Waiting with the 2pm train. Who said we couldn't do 6?!...
Festive "Sir Gomer" feathering in Platform 1...
Barking out of Shackerstone on the 2pm with me firing. The newly added coal is just beginning to ignite as we get a good draft on the fire...
At Market Bosworth, as there were more passengers on this trip, there was a 30-minute stop. "Sir Gomer" sat simmering away whilst we had a coffee...
"Sir Gomer" - these transfers have lasted well (they've been on since the PBR gala in September!)...
Fire in the hole...
After the 2nd MB stop, we set off again. Following a brisk run round at Shenton we set off back up the bank with the 6 coaches. "Gomer" was performing very well. It hardly knocked the train and was able to be notched right up with minimal regulator on the 6 coaches. I was very surprised. Its a powerful engine indeed and just needs that little bit of extra coaxing to produce the very best results. When given the chance however, it can be a right powerful beast! ;) . She does however have a smaller firebox than most engines that I have fired in the past. Therefore, when I over-fired on the way back to act against a drop in pressure, she didn't like it. The small box doesn't give enough air to large quantities of coal in one space and therefore you have to fire more 'little and often' than 'alot and only now & again' as we are used to with 3803! Nevertheless, a good rake-through saw her making steam again and we got back without problem. Beautiful machine. My roving Shackerstone photographer friend Dave Hanks has sent in this fab shot of "Sir Gomer" climbing out of Shack on the first train...lovely...
After the 2nd trip we went straight on shed and disposed of the engine. She had done very well and surprised many. Lovely machine and very powerful indeed! I'm next on at Shack next Saturday when myself and Mr Britt are rostered on the 'should be repaired' No3803. If not, then it will be diesel because Sir Gomer is off on her Christmas holidays to the Cholsey railway: a 2.5 mile long branch line near Oxford. There, she will be operating on all six of their Santa Special days. I may join her there on Sunday Dec 11th, but we will see. All in all, a fab day and thank you to everyone involved, and the visitors too. Also thanks to Chris and Dave for sending in pics. Evening all...
Hi everybody. Well, what a pleasant day it has been. Today was the first operating day of the Battlefield Line's 2011 "Santa Specials". A wee bit early?: One thinks so too. But, nevertheless, we ran and the passengers came. There were two rostered 'Santa' trains leaving Shackerstone at Midday and 2pm. We normally run four but on the first day we sort of 'break ourselves in gently'. I was rostered on the footplate and the traction on the books was due to be GWR 2-8-0 No3803. However, during her recent boiler washout, a problem was discovered with a front-corner mudhole door on the firebox and therefore the loco was failed pending repair. With no chance of a repair prior to todays running, the railways own 0-6-0 Peckett tank "Sir Gomer" was called out of winterisation and into immediate traffic! We steamed her last Sunday (see post) and everything seemed OK so we had no problems with taking her out today. I arrived at 6am and myself, Pockets and Carl all set to cleaning, oiling, firing and generally making ready the loco, with some help from Chris and Dave too. At 10:30am, we came off shed but not before Mr Bassett took a very vane pic of me in front of the ex-Mountain Ash saddle tank! Cheers Chris! At 11:15am, after much shunting as well as taking on some coal, we left Shack on a quick light-engine jaunt to Carlton and back (about 3 miles in total). She seemed fine. So, without further delay, we coupled up to the 6 waiting coaches and began steam heating. At 12 Midday, the Green Flag was waved and away we went. The regulator was opened and, after a little groaning, "Sir Gomer" went striding away for Shenton! No problem at all. We took her steady so that Santa could see the children in plenty of time but we still had a 10-minute wait at Market Bosworth so he could get the last few through...
A festive "Sir Gomer", adorning a Stanier hooter instead of her normal Peckett whistle, waits at Market Bosworth in the glorious November sun whilst we have a coffee...
Below, Driver Andy Guest takes "Sir Gomer" into Market Bosworth through the woods near the private airport. The Outer Home is always set to the 'Off' position as the box here is under restoration...
A view through the cab roof, with the Hooter on the dome and smoke from the chimney...
At Shenton, "Sir Gomer" ran round and I fired her back. What a forgiving and free-steaming loco she is, and with minimal coal too! This was the first time that I've fired the loco down the line (ever!) and it was very nice indeed. The rocking motion of the train; usually created by big unbalanced outside-cylindered industrials; also seemed reduced. This must be down to the changes to the valve timing that we carried out. After her first successful outing to Shenton and back in over 3 years, "Sir Gomer" dropped back down into Platform 1 and picked up the 6 coaches again (Photo by C.Bassett)...
Waiting with the 2pm train. Who said we couldn't do 6?!...
Festive "Sir Gomer" feathering in Platform 1...
Barking out of Shackerstone on the 2pm with me firing. The newly added coal is just beginning to ignite as we get a good draft on the fire...
At Market Bosworth, as there were more passengers on this trip, there was a 30-minute stop. "Sir Gomer" sat simmering away whilst we had a coffee...
"Sir Gomer" - these transfers have lasted well (they've been on since the PBR gala in September!)...
Fire in the hole...
After the 2nd MB stop, we set off again. Following a brisk run round at Shenton we set off back up the bank with the 6 coaches. "Gomer" was performing very well. It hardly knocked the train and was able to be notched right up with minimal regulator on the 6 coaches. I was very surprised. Its a powerful engine indeed and just needs that little bit of extra coaxing to produce the very best results. When given the chance however, it can be a right powerful beast! ;) . She does however have a smaller firebox than most engines that I have fired in the past. Therefore, when I over-fired on the way back to act against a drop in pressure, she didn't like it. The small box doesn't give enough air to large quantities of coal in one space and therefore you have to fire more 'little and often' than 'alot and only now & again' as we are used to with 3803! Nevertheless, a good rake-through saw her making steam again and we got back without problem. Beautiful machine. My roving Shackerstone photographer friend Dave Hanks has sent in this fab shot of "Sir Gomer" climbing out of Shack on the first train...lovely...
After the 2nd trip we went straight on shed and disposed of the engine. She had done very well and surprised many. Lovely machine and very powerful indeed! I'm next on at Shack next Saturday when myself and Mr Britt are rostered on the 'should be repaired' No3803. If not, then it will be diesel because Sir Gomer is off on her Christmas holidays to the Cholsey railway: a 2.5 mile long branch line near Oxford. There, she will be operating on all six of their Santa Special days. I may join her there on Sunday Dec 11th, but we will see. All in all, a fab day and thank you to everyone involved, and the visitors too. Also thanks to Chris and Dave for sending in pics. Evening all...
2 comments:
Good to hear the 1st santa specials went well. Hope 3803 is repaired and back into steam before too long. Hope to see you later in December along with 3803.
Pete W
CMES reporter
Thanks Pete was a good day. I also hope 3803 is repaired and that you enjoy your trip on the Santa's on the 18th. I may not be around as am firing down there 3rd and 17th but if I don't see you...Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading ;)
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