Sunday Morning Standard...

Evening all. Just a short one from today to save repeating myself too much. Today I took part in another cleaning turn at Loughborough, with the main subject being visiting Standard Class 4MT No80080. It was a chilly morning on shed, helping with various prep tasks. 80080 carried a wreath today in memory of a founder member of her owning group who passed away recently. That's all folks.

Please note any views or opinions expressed in this blog are merely personal and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person, group or organisation.

The World's Most Famous Steam Engine...

Evening all. This afternoon at work we were treated to the sight of the world's most famous steam locomotive (love it or hate it) No60103 "Flying Scotsman". The engine was hauling her support coach from Castleton to London to work some jobs in the south over the coming weeks for West Coast...

With a gang of us gathered on the lawn outside work to see her, the 1923-built pacific arrived quite typically just as the sun went behind the clouds. Feathering lightly at the valves, the engine coasted casually by before disappearing in the direction of the capital. I've never really been a fan of Eastern engines (except the GNR stuff) but I can definitely appreciate what the A3s and A4s were and in particular "Flying Scotsman". Love it or hate it, it continues to capture the hearts and imaginations of the masses and can only do good for this hobby in my opinion. It never hurts to have positive support. Thank you all for reading once again. Another good spot.

Please note that the above image was taken from land outside of the NR boundary fence.

Achilles Report No77: Testing Times...

Today was quite a momentous day for "Achilles" as it was her first visit to her home track at Ryton Pools since 2016. I arrived at the railway a little after 13:00 and was able to drive straight in thanks to Derek opening the gates. Having unloaded my seemingly never ending mountain of kit from the car, "Achilles" was rolled onto one of the 5" gauge steaming bays ready for her hydraulic test. I'd already changed her fittings over during the week and so there was little to do but wait for the test kit to arrive. Here, boiler tester Derek and witness Eric perform the hydraulic test. Derek is checking the firebox for any leaks whilst Eric works the test kit pump to maintain 135psi...

The engine successfully held its one and a half times working pressure for the specified ten minutes and so the testers went off for a cuppa' whilst I got into steam...

It was a typical February day at Ryton: cold and windy. In fact, even with the electric blower whirling away, the wind was trying to blow the fire out of the ash pan! Here, Derek is testing the safety valves with a good fire and the blower on full to ensure that the excess steam can be cleared without exceeding working pressure...

With both tests passed successfully, I steamed out onto the track with "Achilles" for a few victory laps in the biting wind. There is a spot at the foot of the 1 in 70 Ryton bank that is nice for a quick snap so here is the engine simmering there...

The next hour or so was spent in quiet contemplation, chugging around and around as the solitary engine in steam (nothing new there then)...

Overall the engine ran very well although I'm getting increasingly keen to get the pistons out and change the rings. The current ones, I believe, have been in since the engine was completed in 1986 and so they don't owe anyone anything! I just get the impression that she's now a bit weaker than she should be. It still pulls well, but it should do better and the telltale steady blow up the chimney points to steam passing the pistons. Anyway, I digress, it ran very well today...

With a dozen or so laps under her belt to blow the cobwebs away, "Achilles" was returned to the steaming bays to dispose...

There we go then...we're back in business! For the first time since 2016 "Achilles" has a valid hydraulic and steam test certificate and is ready to take on the world. At least we can now go somewhere if we want to. Thanks to Derek, Eric and the rest of the CMES team who helped in sorting "Achilles" out today. Cheers all, Sam...

Achilles Report No76: The Resurrection...

It's funny how time passes. It's only when you take a minute to look back that you come to realize how long ago something was. For example, I had in my mind that it was this Christmas just gone that I'd steamed "Achilles" last...it wasn't...it was the one before! I can't believe it's 14 months almost since we were outside the workshop steaming on the rollers. I decided based on this knowledge that I really need to sort myself out and get at least one of the engines back into ticket. Therefore, I did the unthinkable: I booked in with Derek for a boiler test (my first since 2015). Last time I steamed the engine it had performed pretty much faultlessly, so much so in fact that I'd kept it in steam for a good few hours. With the boiler test booked for this coming Saturday, I spent this week giving the engine a good check over. I also gave it a rushed steaming at home to check the pumps as you never know when that fickle finger of fate may strike...

Once again, apart from a few little niggles, the engine steamed and ran pretty much faultlessly and seemed content to sit on the red line ticking away on its rollers...

In steam proving run complete, it was back into the workshop for a clean down. I also needed to prepare the tank engine for the hydraulic test (the little engine version of a cold test) which involves blanking the pressure gauge and one of the safety valves. The test kit is then screwed into the remaining safety valve bush using a male-male fitting. The boiler can then be pumped up with water to one and a half times working pressure to perform the shell test. With the hydraulic test complete, you can swap the fittings back and use the water in the boiler to get steam up for the actual steam test...

With the engine all ready to go and her various toolboxes gathered up, all that remained was to give her a good clean. I always like to see the engine go out well presented and so I set to work with my various brass cleaners and the body polish. By the time I'd finished: apart from a few wear marks: I had a very shiny little engine...

You may notice in the final picture that the engine has received her dummy whistle back on the cab spectacle plate. She had that when I got her in 2011 but, having removed it for repainting a few years ago, I never got around to putting it back on. This week I polished it heavily and did a bit of fettling on it to make it fit as it always sat slightly proud of the cab roof. I think it finishes the cab front off nicely, despite being slightly over scale. Here's hoping we pass the boiler test! Cheers all, Sam...

A Wet Morning In Loughborough...

Some mornings you get up and you just think "shall I go back to bed?". Not always, but sometimes. This was one of those mornings! I rose just before 05:00 in readiness to head over to the GCR for another cleaning turn. When I went to bed the weather was fairly calm and so I was shocked upon opening the shutters this morning to see howling wind and rain! It was literally raining sideways. The usual back and forth of shall I or shan't I went on for a few minutes before I decided I'd go for it. In my old age (I've just turned 30 and I'm not dealing with it well!) my motivation for all weather outings is much reduced. Eddie often recounts stories of my previous disregard for weather conditions but not these days, not with these knees! However, when all said and done, we must go to get these turns in. I arrived a little after 06:30 and met up with fellow cleaner Dave before we helped prep Ivatt 46521. It was amazing though how the weather changed. By the time 10:00 came around the sky was blue, the sun was shining and the air was clear. Here, visiting "257 Squadron" (with some connections split ready for homeward transport) stands basking in the unexpected sunshine...

The Ivatt was booked on the normal service train today, with the Sunday lunch diner to be hauled by the 2-10-0 9F No92214. Here she stands over the pit just after I'd fitted "The Elizabethan" headboard. The change in weather was unbelievable...

I had a prior appointment to attend at 12:00 so didn't hang around too long today. Despite the foul weather for the early start it turned into a pleasant few hours on the shed. That's another turn ticked off! Cheers all, Sam...

Please note any views or opinions expressed in this blog are merely personal and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person, group or organisation.