The "Easter Eggspress" With A Glorious Greyhound...

"A Leicestershire Greyhound" (Pic - C.Yapp)

Hi all. During the sunny yet blustery weather of today, there was little that could disturb the rural charm of the Leicestershire countryside but the roar of the LSWR T9 stomping back & forth along the Battlefield Line. Today myself and David were rostered to crew the 1899-built 4-4-0 and the weather men had promised clear but chilly conditions for our outing. Originally JB was to be my fellow engineman but unfortunately he had to call in sick at the last moment and T9 fan David kindly stepped into the breach. We arrived at the gates of Shackerstone at 6:30am before making our way along the oh so familiar dust ridden driveway to reach the station. Having signed in and read the notices, we stumbled down to the engine shed, discovering "Sir Gomer" standing right behind the door. The T9 was at the front of the shed again, ready for preparations to begin. Opening the gauge glasses revealed a "full pot" and, having cleaned the grate and checked the firebox, it was time to light the embryo fire using a well soaked pile of old rags...

With a bed of coal 1-lump thick across the grate, the blazing rags were soon covered with some good, dry pallet wood. The telltale crackling that follows is always a good sign. I allowed the flames to take hold around the freshly added wood before opening the firehole door to check progress. The tender was full to bursting with a new delivery of coal which looked like 'good stuff' from a distance. However, adding a mere half a dozen shovelfuls to the back of the box near enough choked the flames down to a pathetic orange glow. More damper would give the required primary air but with no steam to provide to the blower this would be a bit of a waiting game. The coal had no trouble lighting but was very smoky stuff of almost house coal consistency, providing an almost green smoke. Meanwhile, David had started oiling the Greyhound...

With the fire providing all the heat of a tealight on the mantle, I decided to head off in search of a diesel shunter to drag the T9 outside. The 04 was discovered in the North End and as Jason had just pulled up, we travelled to the shed together aboard the diesel. The T9 was soon outside, simmering away in the chilly morning air on her first breaths of steam. The engine had been well warmed yesterday as usual but the new coal was proving less than ideal. It had no trouble burning but without the correct draft it pretty much refused to provide the necessary temperatures required for adequate steam raising. Once the needle had reluctantly shifted to register some pressure, the blower was cracked and the coal began to do its work. The screams of local farmers wives running to their washing lines to save their crisp linen from coal smuts could be heard from miles around as the chimney provided an emission of carbon black...

As the engine neared the realms of working pressure, Jason had restarted the 04 ready to effect a shunt. He wanted to take "Sir Gomer" and "Cumbria" down for coal and so the T9 was duly shunted over onto Platform 1 road to clear the way. From here, David could complete his oiling tasks within the belly of the Greyhound...

"Pots & Spindles"

With the 04 having disappeared with its two industrial forefathers in tow, David instructed me to take the T9 back over into the shed. Vac created, the T9 slipped backwards behind No11 point. Road set, we chugged up into the shed with the drain cocks hissing away and firing reams of condensation into the air. The wall of fog cleared to reveal the pit just in front of the Southern machine and she was duly stopped over the top of it. It was then my pleasure to empty the ash pan. This is a real "romance of steam" job. The glistening oils from the motion above gently drop down all over you, providing a welcome surface to attract the clouds of dust which engulf the area no matter how much hosepipe you give it! Some people would pay good money for such rare skin treatments! Pan done, the engine steamed back out of the shed and over onto Platform 2 road via the signalbox. The large tender was then replenished to full water capacity before dropping back down onto the waiting 4-coach stock.

We then decided it was time to get changed in readiness for our imminent 11:15am departure to Shenton. Departing 2 minutes down, the T9 was now happy with her pressure needle nudging the red line and water well up the glass - but not too high! The "Easter Eggspress" was well on its way. We had an easy run to Shenton. By now I was learning the new coal. The engine needed more of it than the last stuff we had and the smoke effects were ghastly to say the least. However, with the regulator open to provide the draft through the bed the needle would sit at full working pressure without any issue. Interestingly, as soon as you shut off steam the needle would either stick like a limpet or drop like a stone, depending on the application of the injector(s). Then, once again, with the regulator open the pressure would rise, nudging full pressure once more. It was strange stuff but it did the job, of sorts...

"Preparing To Depart Shenton With The 11:50 to Shackerstone"

Returning to Shackerstone with ease, myself & David were happy in our work. The run-round at Shackerstone allowed us to claw back a little bit of time lost by the many passengers joining us at Market Bosworth. A fifth coach was definitely needed for today's numbers and Jason duly summoned the 04 once more for another shunting task. Meanwhile, we were off again with 30120. This time I was on the regulator with David flinging the shovel around. Once again, the T9 is beautiful to drive. Its just lovely. The phrase "the old un's are the best un's" is so apt with this engine...

"Driving Into Market Bosworth" (Pic - S.Sterland)

The Dreadnought vacuum ejector is fantastic in operation and is a pleasure to use. A gent came up to us today and said that he recorded a BR working behind a Greyhound in the 50's and it topped out at 82mph...I can well believe it!...

"In The Sun At Shenton - 13:05 Trip"

David had kindly ordered us breakfast from the Shenton Cafe on the previous trip. This was kindly delivered to the footplate and was just what the doctor ordered. My mouth is watering just looking at this picture...

Steaming back to Shackerstone, David had the old gal' singing to him. After another brisk run-round, the T9 had the road for the 13:45 departure...

Steaming out of Shackerstone with a dark grey tint to the exhaust, the T9 barked out into the fields. The Spring weather was glorious as the old engine steamed southward past the rapeseed fields of Hedleys, just after Congerstone...

The sun was shining as the T9 prepared to accelerate away from the slack currently imposed on the section through Hedleys...

Driver David prepares to open the regulator of the T9 to accelerate back up to the permitted line-speed of 25mph for the remaining section to Market Bosworth. Cut-off is currently full-forward (or 75%) for coasting...

The T9 runs gracefully through the fields and if you shut off steam at the woods on the approach to Bosworth she'll coast in easily. As JB would say "she rolls for England". Here we are approaching Market Bosworth International Airport...

"Airport Bridge" (Pic - C.Yapp)

During the short stop at MB I hopped down quickly to grab a shot of the T9 under the blue skies. Unfortunately we had ended up carrying the incorrect headlamp code - "a parcels, newspaper or perishables train made up of coaching stock". Upon reflection, I'm unsure why we carried the headboard on that bracket...maybe because it was there when we came in early this morning. We lose a point for that...

Leaving Market Bosworth over the "Dead Slow" slack across the new point, the T9 was soon on the move again bound for Shenton. Its a bit rough down the extension now but the Greyhound copes admirably with her 6ft 7" wheels rolling steadily around beneath her. Soon enough we were uncoupled from the train at Shenton and David was backing the 4-4-0 back into the loop so I could set the road back ready for the next run. The headlamp code was back to normal now - "light engine"...

The T9 was soon hooked up and ready for the 14:20 departure...

There certainly were plenty of people about today. The strengthened five coach rake was still well loaded even on the 15:00 working from Shackerstone. I drove this trip whilst David continued piling the coal in...

"A Greyhound Leaving Shackerstone" (Pic - S.Sterland)

The engine was running very nicely and proving no trouble. The steaming capability was still a bit odd on the new coal but we had learnt to live with it by now. The engine is captured ready to go back again...

Rolling into Shackerstone, we surrendered the token before running round...

"Running Round at Shackerstone" (Pic - A.Williamson)

We decided to check the water in the tender ready for the final train of the day: the 16:15. There was still plenty in there, more than enough to do the rest of today with a lot to spare but we decided to fill it ready for tomorrow. The final train of the day left Shack with myself on the handle once again. You can't help but sit on the Drivers side of this engine leaning out and just listening to the square beats as she accelerates away. Its just a lovely thing to be on and I've really enjoyed these last 4 turns with her...

"Last Drive of the T9" (Pic - A.Williamson)

At Shenton, we ran round one last time before coupling up ready for the final homeward run. David was now on the handle once again whilst I tended to the fire. The engine was happily steaming homeward as we dawdled through Hedleys...

Arriving back at Shack with the last train of the day, 30120 was uncoupled and taken onto Platform 1 road. The fire was pretty dead by now and wouldn't take too much bashing with the irons to thin it nicely ready for overnight stabling. Up at the loco shed, "Sir Gomer" and "Cumbria" were blocking the road and so the T9 was disposed alongside them. "Cumbria" was being warmed ready for a test steaming...

The big end brasses for "Cumbria" are currently away at Tyseley for machining as they have been knocking since the engine arrived in 2015. Hopefully this maintenance work will improve matters. Whilst "Cumbria" is out of action, the railways own Peckett "Sir Gomer" will hopefully be filling the void as the T9 finishes at Shack after Easter Mondays services. The Peckett hasn't moved since October 2015 and so it will be interesting to see how she performs. The old gal' is an old friend and it was certainly a pleasure to see her out in the fresh air once again after so long out of use. Aside from being an 'ignorant industrial', she is a powerful old thing and quite handsome in her lines. Hopefully she'll be OK. The T9 meanwhile is off on holiday again to Quainton before returning to her Cornish residence at Bodmin. Its been a pleasure to crew this national treasure again...

After another great day out myself & David left the railway at around 6:30pm. I must thank David for a most enjoyable outing once again and thank Jason for his help today shunting the coaching stock. Finally I need to thank the various photographers who have once again sent in images for use in this post - they wouldn't be possible without you! Many thanks all, until the next time, Sam...

Sunny Spring "Scotsman": A Famous Engine...

Hi all. After work today I was in two minds as to whether to go out and see the passing of a steamer on the nearby West Coast Main Line. The engine was none other than "Flying Scotsman". The NRM's A3 Pacific was on a positioning move with her support coach from Keighley to East Grinstead, ready for a star turn at the Bluebell Railway over Easter. The engine was due to pass Nuneaton's Platform 5 at 15:21 and so I headed down to a spot on Marston Lane, not too far from our house. A gallery of around a dozen photographers had gathered to see "the Worlds most famous engine" fly by and no doubt Nuneaton Station itself was rammed. The local press had done all they could to advertise this movement which for most other engines would be pretty low key!

Running a minute or two early, 60103 passed us by with her support coach, providing a back drop to the yellow colours of the rapeseed in the field. She wasn't in sight for many seconds before she disappeared in the direction of Rugby. We had "Flying Scotsman" at Tyseley last September and it was nice to see her motoring along at speed. Although I've never really understood the indescribable level of love and affection that the public have for the engine, it is lovely to see such popularity following an important piece of our hobby. Everyone becomes a steam fan when it involves "Flying Scotsman"! Cheers all, Sam...

Tyseley: The Real Thing - A Castle To Salisbury...

"A Castle On The Great Western Main Line" (Pic - D.Chandler)

Steam hauled excursion trains on the National Network are arguably the closest one can get to experiencing the bygone age of steam on Britain's railways. The sights and sounds of an express passenger locomotive thrashing along with its great snaking train of hurrying coaches trailing along behind is something to behold. The noise, the excitement, the waving arms from the side lines, the broken peace as she sails through the countryside throwing white steam over her shoulder. Today, Tyseley's immaculate Castle Class 4-6-0 No5043 was off to Salisbury and I would be joining her as part of the 84E Support Crew. I rose well before dawn and found myself arriving at a dimly lit Tyseley at around 5:30am. The hearty breakfast I had picked up on route was all I could use to summon some strength after this early morning start...

The telltale cloud of white steam rising steadily skyward immediately revealed 5043's position. She was now at the head of the waiting stock, simmering away on the middle road. She looked a real picture as first light came...

As usual with Tyseley trips, almost all of the preparation was carried out on the Friday and so there was little to do but board the Support Coach in readiness for departure. At 6:15am, 5043 burst into life, expelling reams of condensation forwards from her drain cocks. The upgrade push out of the yard gave the Castle something to think about on the damp rails. Propelling a lengthy 11-coach (10+GUV) load up the stiff bank to the signalbox is no mean feat! Once up at the box the road was then given for the Castle to drop down through the loop adjacent to the Tyseley site before climbing out onto the main line. 5043 then got into her stride on route to our first passenger pick-up at Solihull. It was unusual today to leave Tyseley in this direction, hence the lack of a Tyseley Warwick Road pick-up stop. Aboard the Support Coach, we were supping tea over a nice sausage sandwich as the Castle tore onward through the morning mist. Having picked up at Solihull there were further stops at Dorridge and Warwick Parkway before continuing southward towards Leamington Spa... 

"Approaching Leamington" (Pic - D.Chandler)

A short operational stop in the middle road at Leamington was followed by a brisk run towards Banbury. David Chandler was chasing the train...

"On Route To Banbury" (Pic - D.Chandler)

At Banbury us Support Crew members wandered down the platform to reach the leading brake coach (the BFK) in readiness for the Oxford water stop. The passengers would be enjoying their morning out and in the Pullmans the diners would be eating breakfast and so its always better to walk outside the coaches if you can! At Oxford, the Castle was checked over but water ended up being taken at Didcot...

"Kennington - A Final Sprint To The Didcot Stop" (Pic - D.Chandler)

We had a 1-hour booked stop at Didcot to allow the passengers to explore the adjacent Railway Centre and so 5043 ended up watering at one of their water columns. Didcot Railway Centre is adjacent to the main line station, nestling in a triangle of running lines. It is the home of the Great Western Society and their impressive collection of all things Western. Sadly, though its lovely to see them, most of the members of the fleet are out of use. The Churchward Mogul No5322 is seen here basking in the Spring sunlight at the shed doors alongside Small Prairie No5572...

I had a quick wander around the shed, amongst several of our passengers. Didcot has a great and varied fleet that includes Panniers, Prairies, Halls, a Castle, a Manor and even a King. The blue liveried 6023 "King Edward II" was sitting on the middle road. I saw this engine during her running in period at the GCR some years ago and was most impressed with the sight of her in action. She has since been cut-down to bring her into gauge for main line use but there are no signs of her venturing out just yet, despite being several years into her ticket. Its amazing just how big the Kings are. Though smaller in the wheel than the Castle, the King is a frightfully powerful machine...

"Didcot's Caged Lion - 6023 King Edward II"

Back outside, 5043 was brought in from the main line. Once stabled she had the coal trimmed and the tender replenished from the water column. The weather couldn't have been better as the Castle simmered away under beautiful blue skies...

"The 'Earl of Mount Edgcumbe' Simmers At Didcot"

The Didcot men certainly seemed pleased to see a Castle feathering outside their engine shed once more. Their own Castle - No5051 "Earl Bathurst" - is currently out of ticket. Once ready, our "Earl" moved back out onto Network Rail metals to reassume her place at the head of the train. The passengers then trotted back across and reboarded ready for departure. From Didcot we had a fast run along the Great Western main line to Reading. The main line from Didcot is now under the wires with little trace of the clear views that used to be - I guess times change...

"Under The Wires To Reading" (Pic - D.Chandler)

After Reading we took the Basingstoke route to Salisbury, arriving there not long after midday. With the passengers having alighted for their sunny afternoon in the city, 5043 propelled the stock backwards into a loop for stabling. The engine meanwhile was on a platform, allowing the coal in the GUV to be quickly brought forward by the Support Crew and loaded into the tender. It was hot, sweaty and very dusty work on a day like today I can tell you...so much for summer...

With the GUV now empty of coal, 5043 departed Salisbury for a short turning move. Those of us remaining with the train took the opportunity to have a wash and a nice can of Coke. 5043 was watered by a tanker during the turning move and, as well as the tender, the GUV was replenished ready for the return run. The GUV allows us longer distances between water stops as it provides a far greater water capacity than the tender alone. After a sunny afternoon in the sidings watching the countless Class 158 units pass us by, 5043 propelled the stock back over into the station at around 4pm. Our departure was planned for 4:26pm and during this waiting time we decided to grab an ice cream from the cafe. The cooling taste was most welcome indeed in this warm weather: everyone else was in shorts whilst we had work boots and full overalls!

Right on time, the 1936-built 4-6-0 left Salisbury and began the return to Tyseley via the outward route. The nattering aboard the Support Coach included the usual mixture of putting the world to rights and a cross examination of various locomotive performances. Our next stop was Didcot where we were held for a few minutes before we got the road to continue to Oxford. There the engine was watered again before the final slog homeward. The sun was going down as we passed Kings Sutton...

"A Kings Sutton Castle" (Pic - D.Chandler)

Banbury would see a 15-minute or so stop too, allowing the passengers to leave the train and view the engine once more...

From Banbury the engine was climbing towards Leamington before commencing the climb up Hatton Bank. The Warwick Parkway stop resulted in an upgrade restart, with the 11-coach load hanging back like dead weight. However, the double chimney Castle soon got the train moving again and accelerated admirably towards Birmingham. The noise was something to behold as the Castle tore into the climb. Its amazing how much an engine moves about at high speed. I'd never realised before how much stress and strain is put on the various components when a heavy load is being dragged along at 70mph+. Its a completely different experience to preserved railway practise and is as near as you're ever going to get to "the real thing". Amazing...

"Roaring Through Hatton Station" (Pic - D.Chandler)

After further passenger set-down stops at Dorridge and Solihull, the Castle continued to Tyseley with the returning ECS. Just as this morning, the Castle crossed over into the yard before propelling the stock backwards into the museum site. Once the stock had been stabled safely, the Castle hissed gently over into the shed after another most successful day out. As they say, "its a long way to Salisbury!"...

"10pm - A Castle At Rest"

Its quite poetic really watching the 81-year old Castle simmering away in the shed after a long run like this. Back in the day this was all she would have known, day in, day out. These days steam engines have become celebrities in their own right. The amount of people that came out to see her today was staggering...they were everywhere. One guy was even spotted on the roof of his house taking a picture as we passed! Steam still has a massive draw and in particular main line steam where you can see them at work in their home setting. Its great...just, great. Thank you all for reading, thank you to David Chandler who once again sent in images for use in this post and thank you to Tyseley for another grand experience. To give you all an idea of the run today, click here for a video from Youtube. Cheers all, Sam...

CMES: Sunshine And Electric Things...

Hi all. After a very nice day on the NRM's T9 yesterday at Shack, today was a much more relaxed affair. Despite me not having ran my engines since early Summer last year, I am still a member of Coventry MES and therefore twice a year I am rostered to help on their Sunday afternoon running days for the public at their Ryton Pools base. I went to work this morning before heading to Ryton just after Midday. Ron had already got most of the stuff out as well as the stock marshalled for the two-train working that is now a common sight on the 5" gauge metals of the RPMR. The traction for today's services would be the two trusty electric engines: the Class 31 & 37 machines. It was the RPMR's first running day of the 2017 season and the public were out in force thanks to the sunny Spring weather. Services began running at around 12:45pm and ran until 4pm...

"The 31 In Action In Fair Weather On A Passenger Run"

We all mucked in for a mixture of Guarding, Ticket Clipping and Driving duties. Passenger numbers were very strong. When I started with CMES in 2004 at age 12, the full 2000ft circuit had only just opened. Back then almost all services were operated with the 0-4-0 Sweet Pea "John H Owen" and many a Driver was to be found on a Sunday afternoon practically begging it to summon some steam. Those Pea's worked their hearts out in those days until the petrol hydraulic appeared the following season. 100 passengers was like a lottery win back then but today we carried 395 in the same time. The battery engines came along as passenger numbers grew and now two of them are a permanent fixture on services. You would have struggled to have kept today's queue down with steamers I'm afraid to say. In my youth I would have crawled over broken glass to pull a train with the Sweet Pea but these days its easier to let the battery boxes take the strain. They are certainly powerful and reliable in service on RPMR trains...

"Driving The Class 31 Co-Co (Not A1A) Battery Electric"

I had a good 10 laps or so driving both the 37 and 31 respectively during the afternoon. The 31 in particular has some real guts. It is no longer a true 31 though as the A1A configuration that the type had has been lost with the addition of some extra motors. The model is now powered on all axles I believe, making for a powerful engine indeed. Both loco's certainly put in some good work today, travelling just over 12 miles each. Services finished at 4pm after a pleasant afternoons running and RPMR trains will continue to run on Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays until the end of September. The railways website is here. The electrics will no doubt be the mainstay of the 2017 season but there are three Steam Days planned once again so you can experience the sights & sounds of the coal-fired models. You never know, maybe "Achilles" will get a run out...but no promises! Cheers all for reading once again, Sam...

Shackerstone: Spring Time With The Greyhound...

"Getting Away from Shackerstone" (Pic - M.Creese)

Hi all. The National Railway Museum's beautiful LSWR T9 4-4-0 has created quite a stir during its recent visit to Shackerstone. It has brought several enthusiasts and photographers to the Leicestershire line with the promise of antique Southern steam. I think it is therefore our privilege to have the opportunity to crew this express passenger engine during her holiday away from her Cornish base at Bodmin. Today myself & JB had been booked to man the engine on the Battlefield Line's first Green Timetable (5 trips) running day of the 2017 season. I arrived at the gates of Shackerstone at around 6:20am, with the birds singing loudly as if to warn each other of my presence. Having meandered down to the loco yard with my ever growing variety of kit in hand, I stumbled through the door into the gloom of the shed. As the lights came up, the T9 came into view in front of "Cumbria". I opened the roller door first, letting in a little more light...

Driver JB soon arrived and we started our day with the most important of tasks: making the tea. With a cuppa' in hand, I climbed up onto the engine to check the state of affairs. Opening the gauge glass cocks revealed a healthy 3/4 of a glass and the pressure gauge read 20psi. The warming fire had done its work and its remaining embers were easily scraped through the gaps in the firebars with the long iron. I then laid a bed of coal around the box before breaking up some pallet wood. JB threw the wood into the box at the back end before I lit some oily rags up on the shovel...

"The Ignition Rags"

The engine had been cleaned and ashed out yesterday and so all we had to do was raise steam, oil her up and then buff her up with some clean rags. As the pit was blocked by "Cumbria" anyway, we saw little sense in keeping 30120 indoors. I wandered off down to the North End in search of a diesel shunter with which to draw out the T9. In the yard I found 04110: the railways Class 04 0-6-0. After checking the oil and the status of the thing, I pressed the go-go button and the diesel roared into life, firing smoke up into the air. The 04 certainly woke the sheep up in the field over the way at 7:30am! The shunter then made up adequate air with which to work the controls and brakes before I selected gear and drove away. The T9 was neatly drawn outside before being screwed down and scotched. I returned the 04 to the North End before heading back to 30120 to help Britt oil up. As the "young lad" (of the two of us!) I was sent inside...

"Anatomy of a Greyhound"

It takes the mind of a future contortionist to slide effortlessly into the motion of an inside cylindered locomotive. Compared to a Pannier the T9 is fairly roomy but you still have to find the right areas in which to fit your body parts. The 4-4-0 employs the typical Stephenson's valve gear arrangement with two hefty cranks and four eccentrics making up the crank axle. At the smokebox end sit the expansion links, slide bars, crossheads etc. I wouldn't mind seeing a video of this lot thrashing round at 60+...

Whilst I finished the oiling up, JB was dusting off the already polished paintwork. The engine looked smart as she simmered nicely outside the shed. The fire had brought the engine around fairly quickly, though she was pretty hot from her warming fire already. Our first train was scheduled for 11:15am...

"Ready For Duty On Shackerstone Shed"

At around 10:45am we got the road through No11 points to proceed out into Platform 1. The engine then steamed over the cross-over to reach Platform 2 road. The large tender of the T9 needed replenishing before we backed down onto the waiting 4-coach train. It holds 4000 gallons of water but the bag on the Shackerstone water column now has so many holes in it it looks like it was the victim of a shoot-out with John Wayne. As much goes over you as into the tank and so watering took more time than we thought. Once the tender was full, we backed down onto the stock and prepared for departure...

The T9 got away from Shackerstone smartly. Once the chimney got warm and the steam circuit had expelled its morning condensation, the exhaust became crisper and the engine sounded beautiful. One thing I will say about this old engine is that her voice is something to behold. Its lovely. John worked the T9 gently on this first run, allowing everything to warm up at its own pace. Onlookers are often surprised when we explain that though an engine may have 160psi on the clock she is still 'cold' on the first run of the day. The Greyhound was having no trouble making steam, blissfully nudging the needle towards the red line all the way. We were soon running round at Shenton ready for the homeward trip. The day was going very well so far: very pleasant indeed...

The second run saw us a little late off Shackerstone for a variety of reasons beyond our control. All things were however well with the T9 as John got her on the move away from the Hedleys Crossing 10mph slack on the 12:30 trip to Shenton...

The Greyhound was roaming easily through Leicestershire...

During the 12:42 passenger stop at Market Bosworth I climbed down from the T9 to grab a shot of her at the head of the train. She is an attractive machine...

Market Bosworth Station has undergone some heavy engineering over the winter closed period. The track has been lifted and damaged sections of drainage replaced. This section has long suffered with hanging water and so the new drainage will hopefully improve matters. A new point has also been installed as the embryonic beginnings of a future passing loop. The engineering work has resulted in a "Dead Slow" slack being imposed on the section whilst it settles in. The T9 worked steadily over the new point throughout the day as we arrived and departed Market Bosworth...

During the first trip JB had ordered some breakfast from the Shenton cafe and this arrived on the footplate upon our arrival. Very tasty it was too...

Having run round and coupled back up, the T9 simmered away as we ate our breakfast and awaited departure with the 1:05pm trip to Shackerstone...

"JB Tucks In"

Stomachs replenished, we headed back to Shackerstone on our Southern steed. Built in 1899, this old 4-4-0 still has bags of life left in her. Granted we were only pulling a 4-coach rake but you can feel the power beneath your feet. A 175psi boiler feeding 19" cylinders connected to 6ft 7" wheels produces a tractive effort of 17,670 lbs - not bad for an old un'! The engine is a pleasure to be on...

The 1:45pm departure would see a 'Footplate Pass' guest on board...

"The 'Beast of Bodmin' With The 1:45pm Train"

No doubt I chewed the poor fella's ear off all the way to Shenton with ridiculous ramblings about the beauty of the T9 and its various antiquated quirks...sorry about that! It wasn't long before the 2:20pm trip to Shackerstone was upon us...

Thankfully our gentleman enjoyed his ride aboard the sole surviving Greyhound and went off happy. We then ran the engine round again in readiness for the 3pm departure. JB kindly said I could drive the remaining two round trips whilst he had a go at firing. I quote - "Out of my way then, let the dog see the rabbit!"...

"The Road Ahead From Shackerstone"

I was thankful, despite only having four coaches, to get the T9 "on the move" without slipping as this would have resulted in several cracks from JB! The 4-4-0 moved gracefully out of Shackerstone with pressure nearing the red line and the water up at 3/4 of a glass. Once under Barton Bridge you can get the engine underway and she sounds a treat. Its surprising how little regulator produces such an intoxicating beat at the chimney. You can then easily adjust the valve settings with a pull or push on the steam reverser. One of my favourite things about driving the T9 is its Gresham vacuum ejector - its great. These ejectors, to my mind, are some of the best ever fitted to steam engines and are fantastic in operation when they're set up right. Its a pleasure to drive this machine.

Having run round at Shenton and returned to Shack, we were soon on the front of the train again ready for our final departure of the day...

The weather for the day had been mostly sunny but there were a few fairly heavy rain showers which came and went. JB had had a lovely day...

Pulling gently out of Shackerstone it created much amusement for JB when I edged the regulator over that tiny bit too far and produced a 1/4 of a wheel slip. "First of the day, first of the day" he taunted through breathlessness created by mocking laughter. My excuse sticks with the rain shower we departed in! Once on the move the T9 was away. I'd love to see this engine with six or seven on...I bet she's a treat...

"The NRM's T9 Arrives At Shenton On The 4:15pm Train" (Pic - M.Creese)

I'm not sure what is happening here as JB works the points at Shenton...

Having run round, Martin Creese caught me driving the T9 in to buffer up...

"Driving The T9" (Pic - M.Creese)

Once on the stock, I coupled up for the final departure homeward. The sky had returned to its pretty shade of blue as the T9 feathered beneath...

The sun was shining as we departed Shenton on the last trip of the day. We did run into a little rainstorm as we left Market Bosworth but this cleared to reveal a colourful rainbow as we drew near to Hedleys. Arrival at Shackerstone was right on time and once the T9 was uncoupled we drew back behind No7 disc signal to await the road. With the dolly 'off' I drove 30120 up through Platform 1 road and through No11 points to reach the shed, coming to a stop just in front of "Cumbria" where we found the T9 this morning. It was then time to begin the disposal procedure. The fire was fairly dead but there was a little clinker to remove. The T9 has no rocking grate and the firebars are quite close together meaning that any broken clinker tends not to fall through. Thinking of the crew the next morning, we decided to paddle out any clinker. Paddling is by far the last thing you want to do after a full day on an engine but it needs to be done. The ashes are lifted out of the firebox and tipped into a barrow alongside the engine. Its heavy, sweaty and dusty work...

"JB Snaps Me Paddling The Fire"

With the boiler well filled, the fire deadened, the clinker removed and all of the necessary items isolated, we left the T9 to simmer away to herself for the night. It had been a very enjoyable day on the old Greyhound and I must thank JB for his company aboard the 1899-built veteran. It was a most enjoyable experience. This engine is lovely and I am thankful for the days I have done on her footplate. Shes a beautiful old gal'. Click here for a video by Nick Short of today. Thanks all, Sam...