Track Work & More At CMES...

Hey guys. Today I was at CMES for one of their "Full Day Working" parties. I arrived at 9:45am and met up with a few of the guys that were already there. Work today concentrated on slabbing more of the Steaming Bay area, tidying up the Station ready for public running (to begin on April 1st) and also lowering some track that had naturally risen in an awkward position. I spent the morning helping Eddie, Dave & Gary attempt to lower two of the concrete pillars on the Carriage Shed section. For some reason, one of them had naturally risen, whilst the other had sank. The first task was to dig away the ground around the base and then jack up the track, thus taking the pillar & supporting slab up with it. This created one hell of a ski-jump!...
The first pillar had earth pulled out from underneath and could then be lowered back down, whilst the second pillar had to be raised slightly by placing more earth beneath it. Movement was measured using a tape rule and lasers (supported on tri-pods). The first pillar in particular looked much better than it had done originally, once it had been lowered back down. The weather was very warm and so water was a high priority, as was food. Luckily, the "All Day Working" parties see the club provide Bacon Butties for all, with Eric as Head Chef..."Yum"...
After lunch, work resumed. The slabbing of the steaming bay area saw two full rows of slabs being laid, which I thought was great progress indeed. The levelling of the track section was also continuing well. I opted to take a bucket, some water, some polish, a brush & a rag up to the Station and polish up some of the signs and also brush down the white fencing. The park seemed very busy indeed...just our luck really when we aren't running! After tidying up the station a bit I eventually left at 3:30pm as I had a few jobs to do at home this afternoon too. I must admit though it had been a very productive day for CMES. I will next be up at Ryton in two weeks time for the Members Running on April 7th, with "Achilles" in tow. The 0-6-0T will also be in steam for public running on April 22nd, when it is planned to double-head her with the club's 'Sweet Pea' "John Owen"...just for fun! It will look very odd but it will be unusual to say the least. Look out for posts on those days as they happen. Thanks for reading all...Sam...

A Sunny & Steamy Day: Firing 3803...

Hello everyone. This morning at 7am; after a brisk visit to McDonalds; I unlocked the railway gates at Shackerstone and drove inside. As I roared up the drive in the Saxo towards the station, I remember thinking "I hope this rain gives in": remembering my very wet turn on 3803 two weeks back. Anyway, after unloading my car I staggered (bags in hand) along Platform 2. The place is always silent at this time in the morning, until you get to where the water column is. At that point the birds you have just rudely awoken begin calling out, as if an intruder has just walked blindly into their midst. Either that or they think that I've got the Station Cat with me! Entering the works through the little blue door, "Sir Gomer" was directly in front of me, still on the pit. The 38' was at the front of the shed: warm and raring to go. She had 10psi on the clock, having been steam tested yesterday so I knew that it wouldn't take long to get her into steam. After checking around the box and backhead, I began raking through the remaining embers before tipping the dead fire out through the rocking grate. I then began the process of lighting the engine, with the usual bed of coal plus wood, plus oily rags. Soon enough, the Western was lit and sat 'singing' near the main door. Driver Adrian & his brother Austin; who would be joining us for the day; duly arrived and we set to oiling & cleaning the locomotive.

By 11am; when we left shed; the loco had been cleaned throughly. We had done the barrel and cab in polish, with the bottom end done in parrafin-oil mix, the smokebox coated in steam oil and the running boards in white spirit. Steam department regular Dave Hanks had shined up all of the brass the day before which complemented the engine very nicely. We departed 5 minutes down on our first run to Shenton, with 4 coaches in tow. By now, the sun was shining and it was very pleasant indeed. Below, 3803 pulls into Shackerstone with the "Cambrian Coast Express" (obviously severely diverted!!)...
I can be seen leaning out from the cab as the 38' pulls in...
Whilst we were out on our jollies hauling the five service trains, Carl & Pockets were busy in the yard steam-testing "Sir Gomer". The ex-Mountain Ash Peckett is on trial following some winter repairs and will receive another steam test next week before being declared (hopefully) 'fit to run'. This will no doubt see her out & about at other railways on hire, earning us some cash in industrial style...
Back to us on 3803, our first 3 trips went very well. The loco steamed and operated brilliantly, handling the 4-coach train as if it were a light engine move! Passenger numbers also seemed favourable for a Saturday. We were mindful to operate 3803 today instead of the usual diesel due to the movement of the Steam Gala, which would have been this weekend. The Steam Gala will now take place in September with four engines (three of which will have tenders!) in steam. After the 3rd trip, we steamed into Shackerstone, uncoupled and began running round. We halted in Platform 2 for a very quick break. Fireman Sam Brandist and Trainee Austin Lock discuss Stephenson Valve Gear on 3803...
On the 4th trip, I was handed the regulator as I am now of course training to drive as well as being a passed out fireman. To me, its just like driving any size/scale of locomotive, just bigger! On the 5th trip, myself & Austin shared the firing and we are seen departing Shackerstone on time...
After our successful 5th trip we arrived back just about on time and then disposed. It had been a fantastic day and I must thank Adrian & Austin for a very enjoyable time. 3803 had performed faultlessly. Also thanks to Dave for sending in all 5 of the pics used in this post. Cheers guys. Sam...

Poorly 3803...

Hi everyone. Just a short one from today. I spent the day at Shackerstone, doing a bit of welding on my college project and also helping with shunting. 3803 was rostered for todays services but during the 1st trip of the day she was failed with a leaking steam joint in the cab. The Class 73 substituted for the rest of the day. 3803 will hopefully be repaired for next weekend when she is rostered for both days. I will be firing her on Saturday, all being well. Thanks guys. Sam...

Passed as a Fireman...Job Done...

Hi guys. Well, we're here, at last. Today, after 4 years in training, I was passed by the Footplate Inspector at Shackerstone, as a Fireman. Suffice to say it has been a pretty long road. I started at the Battlefield Line as a Cleaner in early 2007, at age 15. I wasn't of course old enough to travel on the footplate then, so I just cleaned engines then, when they went out, I worked in the shed. On Easter Sunday 2008 I got my first turn, on the Peckett "Sir Gomer". I must admit, it was very odd to be out on the engine after 12 months waiting: the line seemed much longer back then too! Throughout 2008 I began gaining route knowledge and of course experience on other engines besides "Sir Gomer". I had Coventry No1, Pannier 9466, the Hawthorn 0-4-0, Hunslet "Jessie" and even the B1 "Mayflower" that first year. Below, a 16-year old Sam is spotted on the footplate of "Sir Gomer" during some Station Pilot duties. God I thought I was everybody back then and I couldn't fire a starting pistol! (Photo courtesy of R.Eborall)...
2009 was also loaded with loco turns, including another go on "Jessie" and many outings on the B1 "Mayflower". It was a pleasure to work on a tendered engine as I never thought I would, especially one so grand and beautiful...
In 2010 I think my firing finally made me feel 'pretty confident'. I had Prairie 5542 and Pannier 5786 a few times this year, and of course "Blue Circle", "Mayflower" and a Blue Jinty (as Thomas). (Photo courtesy of D.Hanks)...
2011 allowed me to get to grips with two different tender engines (visitor 3803 and good old "Mayflower"). They were however both very different. 3803 is typical Western, whereas 1306 was a main-line express 4-6-0, and she had a flap-door! In 2011 I had my first firing exam, on 3803 in December. (Photo courtesy of D.Hanks)...
On January 2nd 2012, I had another Firing Exam, on the lovely 38xx (Photo courtesy of J.Ford)...
Finally, today, the experience acquired over the last 4 years came together and allowed me to pass my final exam, under the watchful eye of assessor John Brittain. Its a great feeling and I'm so glad that I'm done. I'm now allowed out as Fireman on the footplate of any Shackerstone engine with any driver. I'm sure that I will continue learning through, forever more. You never really stop learning do you?! (Photo courtesy of D.Hanks)...
I just briefly want to say thanks to John, for passing me, and to all of the drivers & firemen who I've been on with over the years. Now that I'm passed I can at least look back and say it was all very much worth it. I've made many mistakes but I've learnt from them. I believe they call that experience in some circles! I am very pleased with this achievement...I just can't believe its been 4 years already! (Photo courtesy of D.Hanks)...
Anyway, today, I arrived at Shackerstone at 6:30am, as did John. We proceeded to the loco works and found 3803 inside, simmering away with 40psi on the clock and, to my eye-rubbing amazement, wood CUT(!) and STACKED NEATLY(!) on the footplate! After taking in the initial shock of seeing the wood, I checked the boiler water level (spotted at 3/4 of a glass) and the firegrate, stays, fusibles and brick arch. All looked well and after raking the remaining embers of the warming fire out I made preparations to light the engine. I laid a bed of coal (1 lump thick) across the entire grate and then lit a well-soaked parrafin rag on the end of a plank of wood. Holding the rag in the box with the wood rested on the firehole ring allows the rag to 'take' properly before I thrust it in to about 1/3 of the way down the box (the top of the slope normally). I then stack many planks of wood on top, in opposite crossing shapes to allow the wood to breathe. Me being me, I generally throw 1 or 2 more parrafin rags in to ensure that alot of the wood gets going at once. Then I shut the doors. With the wood having taken hold you can throw a few more shovelfull's of coal on top and this should give a good fire soon enough. Once the back half of the fire is burning away then you can often use the long iron to push some of the burning embers towards the front of the box, getting that half going in the process. It all works out in the end!

With the fire burning well, myself and John set to oiling and then cleaning the engine, with the help of Dave, Mic and Jamie. Mic also put on the weather sheet for us as it was raining well and was showing no signs of stopping! The loco was ready at 10:45am so we chugged out of the yard and across to Platform 2 where we took water. The first of the four trains was at 11:15am and we left on time. I kept a level, covering fire and 3803 responded by holding 200-220psi throughout the journey. At Hedleys I would check the box, probably adding 4-5 shovelfull's, and then the same at Market Bosworth Station & Far Coton (Three Bridges). So we're probably averaging about 5 shovelfull's a mile at this point. I would also add water at all of these locations, shutting off the injector at Shenton after the latter, allowing the loco to maintain about 3/4 of a glass and 190psi. She would then remake steam whilst we ran round, allowing us to leave Shenton with 220psi and a pretty full boiler. Keeping the fire level on the return run, I fired just before John shut-off between the 2nd & 3rd bridges at Far Coton, allowing the new coal to get going at Deer Park slack, where I would have the injector running. I then fired at Market Bosworth and on the approach to Hedleys. We went over Hedley's with 3/4 of a glass and 210psi, allowing 3803 to bark around the corner and then drop down to Shackerstone with doors cracked, dampers shut and injector running, pulling in with 200psi and 2/3 of a glass down the bank. All of our trips were pretty much like that, except the last one in where I pulled her down to 180psi with less fire, ready to go in the shed for disposal.

The loco was very free-steaming, as normal, and kept us to time well. We also managed to stay pretty dry under the weather sheet, except when I had to go out to couple/uncouple! After disposing I left Shackerstone at 5:15pm. It had been a very worthwhile and enjoyable day on the GW 2-8-0 and I can now honestly say that I am a Fireman at last. Thanks for reading folks. Sam...

Achilles Report No10: Sunny & Steamy at RPMR...

Hello everyone. Today we were off to CMES again, my 5" gauge club. It was another Members Running Day and, though the morning had seen persistant heavy rain, the afternoon's weather was very favourable indeed. The sun shone all afternoon and I even felt quite warm if I tried to keep out of the wind! As it was a members day I did of course take my 5" loco "Achilles" along with me. Last time I ran her 4 weeks ago (see post) it was very, very cold and, though she was running well, I just couldn't stand it so came off after only a few laps. Today however the weather was much more pleasant and by 1:30pm we were unloaded and on a steaming bay preparing the engine in the sun. I checked and cleaned her yesterday so all that needed to be done was the filling of the boiler, the oiling and of course lighting the fire. By 2pm, the loco was in steam and ready. She hissed off our bay and onto the traverser before we pushed the loco across to the 'run up rail'. The engine then sidled down to the Carriage sheds where we picked up a riding truck & a passenger car. After loading, we prepared to move backwards up the track to the main-line. This section is quite steep indeed on the way back up and, as the loco still had alot of water in the system, I took her up gradually. We stopped at the top to regain a bit of steam before continuing track. The loco is later seen at Ryton Halt after taking water at the column...
The loco went very well today but things were a little unusual. Some laps she would steam brilliantly but seemed a little sluggish on the pulling side, but then other laps she would steam not so well but would take off like a greyhound! Mind you, thats steam engines; always different. A few members of my family came up today too, and had rides behind the loco. She seems to go much better with a load on. Four of us behind her made her blow-off climbing the bank but with just me I had to fight to make her steam. Very odd! However, overall, it had been another good performance from the locomotive. For her age she is still going quite well. Naturally, she has alot of knocks and bangs but this should definately be expected after all the mileage she has put in. As I've said before, after this season she is being taken out of service for rebushing which, I hope, will improve the running quality quite a bit. Before that however, we've got many more runs planned this year for the loco, all of which will no doubt be documented on this blog. We next plan to run her on the next CMES Members day (April 7th). Below, my brother brings the loco, with brass dome shining, up the bank under blue skies...
Passing the camera, "Achilles" is very nearly at the top of the climb...
After around 2 & 1/2 hours of running, we disposed of the locomotive and headed home. It been another very enjoyable afternoon at CMES and another good day for "Achilles". I've got a few jobs to do on her before her next run but nothing too complicated. One of the drain cocks has stuck open so that needs cleaning out, and the lubricator is over-oiling so that needs addressing too. Thanks for reading folks. Sam...

1 Week Left Until Steam Returns to the Battle of Bosworth...

Hi all. Only a very short one from today. This morning I arrived at Shackerstone at 9:30am for a day working in the loco shed. Next week, trains begin running to the famous Battle of Bosworth fields again. We will providing the service (our department will anyway) on Sunday, in the form of GWR 2-8-0 No3803, with the Saturday being a Railcar service I believe. I am booked on next Sunday, with Driver John Brittain so it should be good. I hope the weather is as nice as today was anyway...but I doubt it! There were various jobs going on today, including work on "Blue Circle", "Sir Gomer" and 3803. Furthermore, the Drewy 04 (seen on test in last weeks post) was moved into the shed today for painting (into BR Green with Wasp Stripes). After some shunting around to let the 04 in, she was duly shut-down and painting began. "Sir Gomer" on the other hand was having her eccentrics shimmed and refitted. Myself and Eddie meanwhile were straining to get the cumbersome grate back into the 38'. The bars are quite warped so you need to get them into some sort of order, otherwise the grate looks like a mountain range. But, after 20 minutes or so of struggling, we were done. Outside the shed today was this rather unusual load...You tell me, I do not know!...
Later in the day, with "Sir Gomer" 'mended', the little 02 was drafted in to pull her about a bit. I rode on the footplate of the Peckett whilst Carl drove the 02. Back and forth we went, down into the platform, back up into the shed, down again - simply trying to force the shim out of the eccentrics. Thankfully, all seemed well and the loco was declared fit to run (bottom-end wise anyway). The boiler is still awaiting washout and re-boxing. The 38' meanwhile is now ready apart from needing a steam test; which will be done this week. After another interesting day in the shed, I left at 4:30pm. Cheers all. Sam...

Alot of Work at Shackerstone...

"Firebox Work" (by C.Simmons)

Hello all. This morning at 9:30am in the bright sunshine I drove down the muddy driveway towards Shackerstone station. After parking up I signed on before heading down to the loco works, discovering 3803, "Sir Gomer" & "Blue Circle" inside. It was very chilly so, as I was first in, I lit two of the three shed stoves. The rest of the team arrived over the course of the next hour and work soon got going. After helping Mic with "Blue Circle" for a while, I joined Adrian on the slumbering 3803. The main job today on her was to clear out the tender coalspace, brush it, wash it and then repaint it black...just a simple tidy-up job really. By 3:30pm, we had finished. BEFORE...
AFTER...
The tender did look much tidier: nice and clean. The fact that we are going to drop about 4-ton of coal on it next week did seem a bit of a shame though! Whilst we worked on 3803, work was continuing on the other two engines. "Blue Circle" was having another shaft removed for gear trimming before final refitting and, hopefully, a return to service. "Sir Gomer" was meanwhile having her two eccentric sheaths removed for checking. Regular readers will remember that when she returned from Cholsey her two drivers-side eccentrics were loose on the sheath. This could not only affect the valve timing but could also bend the straps or ruin the faces. When removed (luckily) there was no damage spotted so we think that they can be refitted as they are, but with a shim added to make them run true. The loco will hopefully be running again within a month or two, as and when. I popped into the Peckett's firebox as well today, measuring up for the new brich arch bars & blocks. From atop the tender of 3803, we can see blue skies overhead and Reas toiling away doing the D-Veg on the right...
Elsewhere on the site, the Lambert family's Class 04 had burst into life again and was off out down the line on one of its first test runs. It was very nice to see it move under its own power as its always been broken since I've been there! The tests on the Drewry 04 were successful and she returned to the yard with smiling faces beaming from the cab. (All they have to do now is paint it!)...
After lots of tea, lots of laughs and lots of jobs done, I left the site at 4:40pm for home. I'll be back down again next Sunday for more work on the engines. We reopen for trains again on the first weekend in March, with the plan being to run Diesel saturday and Steam sunday. Maybe we'll see you then?! On a sad note, the Steam Gala that was to feature a visiting Black 5 has been postponed until September due to circumstances beyond the railways control. HOWEVER, the September gala is now planned to be even bigger with (hopefully) TWO visiting engines. More on that as it happens. Cheers all...Sam...

Short, Cold Visit to Shackerstone...

Hi all. A very quiet one today really. Popped over to Shackerstone for a few hours and, after signing on, made my way down to the Loco Works where I found Dave, Eddie and Pockets waiting. It was very cold. Pockets duly left as he had a few jobs to do at home so the three of us lit the trio of shed stoves to try and get as much heat inside as possible. More heat means less chance of freezing on 3803 and less 'sweating' on Sir Gomer and Blue Circle. With the three stoves banked up, Eddie did a few bits inside Sir G's firebox before we retired. It was far too cold & damp in the works, even with the stoves lit: it was actually warmer outside! So, after around 3 hours, we all left for our much warmer homes. I'll be back at Shackerstone next Sunday for more work on our lovely little locomotive collection. Sam...

A LEGO Outing...

Hi everybody. Today was another very rare outing for my LEGO Model Railway layout. The 9ft x 4ft display had not been exhibited since March last year when, interestingly, we took the booking for today's show! The venue was a large Church Hall in Hobs Meadow (Solihull) and, after a brisk run up the A45 in the frosty conditions, we made it there for around 8:30am. With the 1-day show not opening for another 2 hours we had plenty of time to set up, starting with the track and then moving onto buildings, figures and finally the wiring and of course the stock. I took the film below over the course of the day...

There were two rooms: the Hall itself and a Scout Hut next door. The event was organised by the West Midlands devision of the G Scale Society (45mm gauge) to raise funds. I think I counted about 9 layouts of various sizes from N Gauge up to 45mm, with a few traders thrown in for good measure. The turnout (so I thought) was very good and we had plenty of interest and questions. The Hall itself got very full towards Lunchtime as people continued to gladly hand over a very reasonable £3 per adult for entry to the show. There was also a Cafe area where various hot & cold snacks could be purchased as well as various drinks. The organisers kept us exhibitors well supplied with cuppa' after cuppa' as well as providing expenses and even a packed lunch for each of us; very nice! I had a little snoop around the show myself, including the Scout Hut next door. I must admit, it was well worth £3 of anybodies money, maybe even £5 for an adult at that. The show closed after a busy day at 4:30pm and we were back on the A45 by 5pm; fully loaded and homeward bound! Funny really; the layout takes 2 hours to set up and around 15 minutes to take down again! All in all, a very enjoyable day and I must thank the organisers for their hospitality and for having us. It was nice to see the LEGO out and running again. It doesn't get as many outings as it used to but we still have the 2013 Warley show (in 18 months!) to look forward to. Thanks all. Sam...

Achilles Report No9: Very, Very Cold!...

Hi everyone. Only a short post from today but a very worthwhile one. I arrived at the RPMR track site with "Achilles" in tow at about 12:45pm. The engine was duly unloaded onto the frosty steaming bays. The ground was very hard and this did not raise my expectations of finding a non-frozen water supply! Sure enough, everything was frozen. Eventually; using hot water; I managed to defrost the mains supply near the station, allowing me to fill my boiler and light the fire. As the engine began to warm up in the chilly breeze, I oiled the axleboxes and the motion. Soon enough, she was ready. 0-4-0 electric "Benella" had already done a few laps and her owner (Peter) had reported to me that it was not too bad going south, but terrible going north! The frosty wind really was biting as "Achilles" made her way onto the track. However, though it was very cold, she ran very well indeed. The pressure remained strong, the fire burnt brightly and the water pump didn't act up at all. Admittedly, as it was freezing cold, I only did 5 or 6 laps but it was very enjoyable. In the end I gave up because it started to snow! Below, "Achilles" is blown-down on the bay as quickly as possible...
I did take a short video of around 1/2 of the track during my short running session. "Achilles" is spotted performing well on the 1 in 70 bank and then heading through a quiet Ryton Halt after a stop for water at the stand-pipe (sorry for the poor quality; its off my phone!)...

Though the run was short-lived "Achilles" performed faultlessly. In fact, I wish it had been a summer's day as I could have ran for ages with her performing that well. You watch now, she'll fail the next hot day we have...but thats just the way of steam locomotives isn't it?! The next 'penned' running for the loco is the first Saturday of next month, if I'm free then; I expect we'll have to see. I do have many running days planned in 2012 at CMES though, and I also plan to take the engine to both GEC and Rugby MES if invites permit later in the year (Watch this space!). Following a hopefully successful season, the loco will be retired for winter again during mid-November: thats the plan. The loco will then be stripped from the running boards down for rebushing and some minor valve gear and lubricator attention. In 2013, I hope she will be a much more economical and perhaps an even more powerful engine to boot. Cheers guys...Sam...