"Sir Gomer" & "Blue Circle" Are On Their Way Back

Today once again saw the frames of 0-6-0ST "Sir Gomer" (1859 of 1932) emerge from Shackerstone Shed behind 0-4-0 Class 02 Shunter "Diane". The inner frames were to be cleaned with a wirebrush tool, followed by the application of primer. This, after another coat or two, would then allow for a final coat, finishing the inside framing off quite nicely. The engine is seen just after emerging from the shed, basking in the late-morning sunlight. The reverser "reach-rod" was also fitted during the day, allowing the checking of the valve gear in both forward, reverse and mid-gear settings. With the fresh primer slowly beginning to dry, "Sir Gomer" was pushed back into the shed at around 5pm. Next time more primer will be applied as we get ever closer to the return of the engine's boiler. It will then be a job of refitting the tank & cab before "piping up" commences. The engine should then be ready for test steaming. When will that be?...We'll see.

Elsewhere in the shed, "Blue Circle" is also slowly coming back together, following essential winter maintainance. The engine is seen jacked up off its front axle to allow for the repaiting of the horn guides. The little 2-2-0 Aveiling & Porter will be outshopped around late April, resplendant in her shining Blue & Red livery, complimented by brass & copper. The locomotive is a very welcome member of the steam locomotive fleet and can be seen many times a year chugging around the site, mostly with a Brake Van in tow, giving rides to the public. It is also the only full size replica of the Thomas character, "Fergus". The Southern Railway Brake Van, seen behind "Blue Circle", is also under restoration and will also be outshopped this year, in a livery comparitively similar to "Blue Circle"s!

Outside the confines of Shackerstone shed, B1 4-6-0 "Mayflower" is still off on her spring jollies! She starred at the North Norfolk Railway's steam gala and there is still a chance to see the eye catching engine at the Llangollen Railway's "Steel, Steam & Stars" gala in April. She will then be returning to her home at Shackerstone shed. Next post coming soon folks, and I'll be back at Shack hopefully on the 28th. Thanks for reading.

Its Funny What You Find...

Today, whilst visiting Coventry Transport Museum, I found this very nice 1938 Aveiling Barford Roller hiding between two of the double-decker buses. I've never seen a "steamer" in the museum (besides the 3" Showmans Engine in the display case on the top floor) so this came as a spot of interest. The engine is No151 and apparently worked on Coventry's roads right from its delivery (as new) until its retirement. She is now in proud private ownership (and working retirement!) and is steamed at least 12 times a year, according to the information standing next to her. The fact that the engine has a boiler ticket surprised me as it was just so clean! The brass whistle, valves & boiler bands were all shining, as was the green paintwork. I was actually lucky to find the engine when I did as it was advertised as "leaving in Spring". Its leaving was due to it needing to fulfil its 2009 rally list! She is always transported by lorry (except when in steam of course), according to the info, and I was very pleased to see her hiding away behind the more modern vehicles.

On another note, Coventry Transport Museum is well worth a visit with a massive collection of cars, buses, models, motorcycles, petrol engines and bicycles as well as plenty of memoribilia, and, its FREE entry! That should be more than enough to persuade you! More posts coming soon, Thanks for reading.

Another Day In The Garden...

Today's weather started sunny but even though it went a little unsettled later on, I decided to go and "play" in the garden for a while. The imagine above shows our 2-road engine shed, which we have just extended with a 2nd Hornby "loco shed" kit. The locomotives seen are Black 5 No45156 "Ayrshire Yeomanry", King No6009 "King Charles II" & 4-4-0 City Class "Mauritus". The tender is from our Streamlined Duchess Pacific. The shed is mainly for display as it can only fit 3 or 4 locomotives (or 5/6 small ones!) in at once. However, it is afterall an piece of extra interest. The line in the far background is the main line from Chilvers as it returns to the Main Shed to complete the circuit. The line on which the tender stands allows trains to complete a very very small circuit, calling at Sutherland Station only. (That section is mostly used for storage now however). Anyway, today I ran a few trains up and down the garden, with 2 train rakes out. (There seemed no need to shunt the 30 or so freight wagons to make a managable train so I just used coaches).

I just thought that I would include the above shot to give you an idea of our railway's general layout. The main shed can be clearly seen and Sutherland Station is just to the right of the Windmill on the top wall. Trains then continue down the left hand side of the side-wall, passing Grantham & Ashford Halt's, before rounding the turntable in the bottom-left hand corner of the image. The trains then make their way up the other side of the side wall, passing Chilvers Coton Station and the passing loop. Trains then continue into the shed completing the circuit. Inside the shed we have 3 passing roads (for stabling trains) as well as a short siding which includes a Goods Shed. This allows for wagons to be stored or single locomotives respectively. Thanks for reading! More posts coming soon!

"Sir Gomer" Sees The Light...And The Pressure Washer!

Shackerstone's 0-6-0 Saddle Tank No1859 of 1932 "Sir Gomer" stepped another place forward in her overhaul today. The locomotive's boiler was taken away to the Llangollen Railway's boiler shop on Monday, leaving only the wheels and frames at Shackerstone. The bottom end work will be left to us (the steam department) and will be carried out at Shackerstone. Today, was our first chance at gaining full access to the bottom end, now that the boiler was removed. When I arrived "Sir G" was over the indoor pit and we soon began cleaning the frames with de-greasing fluid. However, as it was a nice sunny day we decided to drag the frames outside and work on them in the outdoors. Therefore, the 02 Shunter "Diane" was soon brought to life and beginning to make air.

Once air pressure was made, "Diane" dragged "Sir Gomer" outside. Mic soon had the pressure washer connected up and ready to go. He then began washing down the frames. Once he'd removed as much grime as possible, we set to cleaning the frames with the fluid once again. We also used scrapers to remove trapped oil and ash from such places as the "axleboxes". The fluid helped immensely in removing any stains of dirt and oil from the frames. Once we'd done this job, Mic set to with the pressure washer again to wash away the grime that we had removed. The frames were then left to dry. It was now 3pm and "Diane" was restarted to move "Sir Gomer" on "half a wheel revolution". This would allow us to the clean the bottom sides of the eccentrics as well as the opposite halves of the axles. Myself, Jamie & Carl then got to work once again with the scrapers, brushes and the fluid for once last go at removing more grime.

Once this process had been completed for a 3rd time, Carl turned the pressure back on for a final time and set to cleaning away the final areas of grime. The result was quite impressive. (Carl is seen above pressure washing the frames on the 3rd stint. The full length of the frames can be appreciated from the photograph). Once Carl had finished pressure washing, it was time to clear away the bits and pieces. "Diane" was then restarted before pushing 1859's frames back into the shed. We positioned her directly over the indoor pit before I "screwed her down". She was also chocked around the centre axles for safety reasons. "Diane" was then uncoupled before dropping back towards the shed doors. The 0-4-0 was then switched off after its short but useful operations of the day. Meanwhile, Pockets had been working away on his SR Brake Van, which he is gradually restoring to its former glory.

The above picture once again shows Carl washing the frames for the final time. The image shows that only the sandboxes, reverser, vacuum brake & handbrake remain of the engine's upper half. Meanwhile, the bottom half remains completely in tact! The result following the cleaning of the inner frames was very impressive. The axles, axleboxes, di-blocks, rods, spindles, stretchers and frame sides were all an awful lot cleaner! This process will probably need to be carried a couple more times before we have finished the "full cleaning". However, for now, we have made good progress. Meanwhile, the locomotive's Saddle Tank & Cab/Bunker still remain in the car park awaiting refitment once general piping up is completed, following the return of the boiler. "Sir Gomer" then lay dormant in the shed until next week when checks to the valve gear will be carried out, mainly revolving around the working of the reverser & "reach-rod".

I think it will unfortunately be a few weeks before I head to Shackerstone again now but hopefully not too long! My next job is to find a locker(!)...a handy place to keep all my bits and bobs that I have to keep fetching and carrying to and from the railway each time I go! I seem to have found one but we still have to salvage it from behind "Lamport No3"! Oh well, until next time. Thank you for reading. We hope to have "Sir Gomer" back in steam, and "almost as good as new", for late Spring time, so why not come down and have a ride behind her?

60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" Visits Nuneaton

Today, February 28th, ex-LNER 4-6-2 Gresley A4 Pacific No60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" visited Nuneaton Station whilst hauling the return of Vintage Trains Ltd's "York Excursion". The railtour, which began at Birmingham, was hauled to York by Tyseley's Class 47 (773). At York, once passengers had had a look around, 60007 & her support coach took up the front of the train. At around 1pm the train started back towards Birmingham. At around 5:40pm-ish the BR Blue Pacific approached Nuneaton...where I was waiting with other fellow enthusiasts to capture her on film! The engine rolled into Nuneaton's Platform 6 to set down passengers who had boarded there in the morning. 60007 then set off upgrade to pass over the Nuneaton flyover, cautiously starting her 10-coach (+ diesel) load). Once over the Flyover, off she went towards Birmingham. The A4 was to move from York to Bescot Yard, from which the Class 47 would haul the train for the remainder of its journey back into Birmingham.

The A4, now hauling just her support coach, would then continue to Kidderminster before crossing over onto Severn Valley Railway metals, where she will remain for now (on a visit). Named "Sir Nigel Gresley", after her designer (who also designed the A3s, V2s, N2s etc), 60007 was the 100th Gresley Pacific to be built, part of a 35-strong class of A4s. Wearing BR Blue livery with no 'skirts', the engine still retains its Corridor Tender, enabling a crew change on the move. Formerly No4498, the Pacific is normally based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway but, as mentioned earlier, this trip was part of a "positioning movement" for the engine to the SVR.This was very necessary on the non-stop Kings Cross to Edinburgh journeys.60007 looked in fine form and this was the first time I had ever seen her. She looked at home on the 10-coach load and easily barked up and over the Flyover with no need for assistance from the '47' at the rear of the train! Glad we made the effort to go out and see her! I've included the video that I took of her above for your enjoyment! Thanks for reading.

"Sir Gomer" Awaits Boiler Movement

Today, Peckett 0-6-0ST No1859 of 1932 "Sir Gomer" was awaiting the movement of her boiler. As can be seen above, the boiler and firebox were sitting above the frames, resting on a selection of sleepers. The saddle tank, cab & bunker is of course removed and the locomotive looks generally stripped! Tomorrow, "Sir G"s boiler will leave the railway, by low loader, for the Llangollen Railway's boiler shop, leaving only the locomotive's frames, wheels & rods on site. No P-way was being undertaken today, leaving the Class 04 & 33 diesel locomotives standing dormant in the stations Platform 1. B1 "Mayflower" has now departed for the NNR at Sheringham where she will remain until the Llangollen Railway's Gala in April...afterwards returning to Shackerstone. Anyway, "Sir Gomer"s overhaul is now well under the way and we are on track for a hopeful late Spring steaming! Thanks for reading!

Wilesco Steam Up...A Video

Just a quick video taken today of my Wilesco D405 Traction Engine in steam with its Forest Classics Living Van in tow. Thanks for reading!

Steaming The Wilesco...

Most people who enjoy steam engines will own a "Steam Toy", as I do. My engine is a Wilesco D405 Class Traction Engine. However, one of Britain's best known steam toy manufactures is Mamod. They offer small locomotives using miniature boilers and basic valve gear. Power to drive the locomotive is then transferred from the flywheel to the road wheels using a metal band. However, Wilesco, a German make, offers engines with drive via cogs, positioned on back axle, the firebox side and the flywheel rod. Mine is one such engine. Modelled on the traditional road locomotive, the loco offers:-A solid fuel-fired boiler, cog-driven drive, working whistle, chain steering and a working safety valve. The valve gear is quite conventional, offering forward and reverse gear down to quite a slow speed. The cylinder includes a removal screw-cap for oiling purposes. Firing wise...Wilesco recommends "Esbit" tablets, however, I use "MSS" (Mamod) fuel as you seem to get twice as much for your money (as they are a bit thicker), and the smell isn't as strong for indoor use. You can get 3 in the burner tray and they last for 20 minutes or so, depending on the conditions which you are running in. Today, I used my Wilesco locomotive for the first time since Christmas. It was steamed with its new living van and road tyres, both specially manufactured by Forest Classics. The engine happily ticks over with the safety valve feathering, as the full boiler pressure (15psi) can be maintained quite easily with a "good fire". With the drive engaged, the engine can happily move along the ground with its living van towed behind. At Christmas, the engine did a "miniature road run" when it took 25 minutes to run 60 metres! It also took 8 tablets and 2 oilings, whilst still moving(!), to keep it running homeward. There was no need to refill the boiler however. After its 25 minute "epic journey", the engine had just a little bit of water left in the glass, and ticked over until the pressure had completely diminished. To dispose of the engine, I remove the safety valve, open the whistle, and then turn the engine upside down. As long as it is still relatively hot, most of the water will easily drain out. This reduces the limescale risk. The burner tray is left to cool and the safety valve replaced. The whistle can then be shut and the cylinder oiled.

Once oiled, the flywheel can be turned 3 or 4 times to make sure the oil is "worked" into the various parts. The engine is then cleaned a little and placed back on my shelf with its wooden living van behind! "Steam Toy"s are good fun and, Wilesco's especially, look quite realistic. I'm sure it'll be out steaming again soon!

"Yvonne" Leaves Shackerstone (Another Working Day!)

Hello everyone. Today I spent another working day at Shackerstone, mainly cleaning the bottom half of LNER 4-6-0 B1 Class No1306 "Mayflower". I signed on at 10:45am and the shed was already in full swing. Work was continuing on Peckett "Sir Gomer", Aveiling & Porter "Blue Circle", B1 "Mayflower", Cockerill "Yvonne" and the Riding Van at the back of the shed. The Southern Railway Brake Van (under restoration) was also having some needle-gunning work carried out. B1 "Mayflower" was being prepared for her departure (this Thursday) to the North Norfolk Railway at Sheringham for their February Gala whilst "Blue Circle"s winter maintainance was being slowly finished off. The Peckett's boiler was having its final preparations for departure (to a boiler repair shop) carried out. Meanwhile, Cockerill "Yvonne" was being prepared for a final departure from Shackerstone to a potential new home. The whistle was removed as 02 Shunter "Diane" prepared to shunt her out of the shed.

After shifting the Lowmac Wagon, the 2-car DMU, 0-4-0 "Hercules", 0-6-0 "Richard III" & the 04 Shunter, "Yvonne" was carefully dragged into the outdoors after her winter slumber. She was then shunted down to the 'Loading Ramp' ready for her transport (tomorrow) to another home. She has been a good engine whilst at Shackerstone and I've enjoyed two "trainee" turns on her footplate over the last 10 months. Maybe we'll see her there again one day?? Who knows. I finished my day cleaning "Mayflower"s connecting rods before signing off at 4:20pm. Thanks for reading.

Great Central Railway Winter Steam Gala 2009!

Hello everyone. Today I made my annual outing to the Great Central Railway's Winter Steam Gala 2009. Every year I go, along with a few thousand other enthusiasts(!), to savour the atmosphere of real main line steam. As the years pass, the gala's seem to get better and better, as was proven today! This years gala was held from Friday January 30th-Sunday February 1st with no less than 7 steam locomotives in steam & running! Trains of course began from Loughborough Station with Passenger, Freight, Mineral, Parcels & Postal Trains all running in a mixed fashion! There were also some light engine moves and much shunting at both Rothley & Loughborough Stations. If you forgot where you were you could be led to believe you were in 1968...not 2009! I will give a brief section of information about each locomotive that took part as well as a few assorted pics of the event and of course a description of my day. I left home at 7:10am to head to my local station, Bedworth, to catch the 7:25am to Nuneaton. At Nuneaton I had to change to the 7:53am to Leicester before changing again at Leicester onto the 8:30am to Loughborough! After the 10-minute or so walk from the main line station to the GCR and a 10-minute queue for my Day Rover Ticket, I caught the day's first train, the 9:15am, behind No70013 "Oliver Cromwell". I took this train all the way to the end of the line before returning to Quorn, also behind 70013. I then decided to hang around and watch the action at Quorn for a while. Now I will begin with the locomotive descriptions. The locomotive that topped the gala's bill was LNER 0-8-0 Q6 No63395 which is normally based at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and is owned by the North Eastern Locomotive Preservation Group. This engine was built in 1918 at Darlington Works. For the first 25 years of her life her home shed was Blaydon. She did however grace other locations including Selby & Hull. By 1967, 63395 was of only two Q6's remaining at work. 63395 was withdrawn on 9/9/1967 and went into storage before a new life in preservation was found. Following her 2nd overhaul in preservation, the 0-8-0 returned to service in 2007 on the NYMR and was turned out in her BR Black livery. During the gala she was seen many times on Mineral trains but I managed to get about 4 miles of passenger haulage in behind her. A very attractive and powerful lady! LMS 8F 2-8-0 No48305 is one of the bigger GCR residents that took part. Privately owned, 48305 was built in November 1943. After a hard life working heavy freight trains the 8F was withdrawn in January 1968, only 7 months before the end of main line steam in Britain. However her fate seemed sealed as by September that year she had joined many of her classmates in the large scrapyard at Barry. But, even at Barry 48305 had a claim to fame: the words "please don't let me die" were written on the smokebox door with a "crying face". It was bought for preservation from Barry in 1985 and after a few different moves between GCR and other railway's she returned to Loughborough in 2006. During the gala she was seen many times hauling many different types of trains. She was renumbered 48773 (the SVR's out-of-ticket 8F) for the event. This was done to remember 48773 which ran until the last day of steam on BR. 48773's fireman on that day in 1968 was riding on the footplate at the event! What a fitting way to remember the end of BR steam! The engine also wore a wreath at different times during the event with the headboard "Goodbye To Rose Grove Steam".

GCR Class 8K/LNER 04 2-8-0 No63601 is my favourite GCR based locomotive and, happily, was operating at the event! Built in 1911 at Gorton Works, 63601 worked with other 8K's on freight work. The 8K's later became the main MOD engine for the first world world, being built under the Railway Operating Department, giving them the nickname "ROD"s. After the war, most engines returned to Britain and were distributed between the "Big Four" companies. Modifications by the LNER made the Class 8K a Class 04. Owned by the National Railway Musuem, a full restoration of the locomotive by Craig Stinchcombe and his team took place at Loughborough. After many years of faithful service, 63601 has now entered the final year of its boiler ticket and is due to be retired this autumn. 63601 was another of the big engines featured in the gala. She increased the number of heavy freight engines in use to "3"! What a gala! Not just for big engines, the gala's 4th engine was BR Standard Class 2 Mogul No78019. One of the GCR's regularly used workhorses, 78019 was built in 1954 and was withdrawn at Crewe in 1966. She then moved to Barry in 1967. Not yet life expired, 78019 was purchased for preservation and is owned by the Loughborough Standard Locomotive Group.
GWR 41XX 2-6-2 Large Prairie No4141 was also in steam but was advertised not to be pulling services as she was to be station pilot at Loughborough. However, there seemed to have been some changes as the full timetable saw her doing one round trip per day. Saturday saw her hauling a 3-coach "Local" rake (shown above at Rothley) whilst Sunday saw her hauling the Dining Train. For the rest of the time however she remained at Rothley. This locomotive is owned by Dr John Kennedy, who also owns Tyseley-based Hall Class 4-6-0 No4953 "Pitchford Hall". She is one of the Large Prairie types, designed for suburban passenger work and able to start and stop regularly with quick acceleration in between. 4141 has been a regular GCR workhorse and she will be withdrawn following expiry of her boiler ticket in March. (Correct me if I'm wrong). Even though the 5305 Association's Black 5 No45305 is still out of service, the group still turned out the lovely N15 Class 4-6-0 No30777 "Sir Lamiel". 30777 is currently main line certified and is of course an NRM engine. She worked many services back & forth between Loughborough & Leicester during the gala but I also filmed her on the 4:22pm Postal at Quorn on the Saturday. I've placed the video below this text for your enjoyment! The bark is fantastic. I didn't film the drop but you can see the mail bags drop out from the train on the approach.

BR Standard Class 7 Britannia No70013 "Oliver Cromwell" completed the 7 locomotive line-up in style. She is, without doubt, massive! I rode behind her for 14 miles or so on the 9:15am Loughborough-Leicester & the 10:00am Leicester-Loughborough (I got off at Quorn). She did however run without nameplates, probably something to do with the 1968 theme as, afterall, 70013 did run until the end of BR steam and was involved in the infamous "15 Guinea Special". She is a joy to see running and the bark that she can put out is fantastic! Seeing her and 30777 pass on the double track is an inspiring sight but also gives a feeling of sorrow as we realise that we may never see it's like on the real main line ever again. Anyway, not to lower the tone to a dissapointed one, the gala was fantastic. The freight engines did most of the freight work (obviously!) but 70013 was also seen on the occasional rake of minerals...And why not?!. 70013 was withdrawn in 1968 and was preserved at another location. However her steaming days in early preservation were short lived and she was soon back in store. Happily the engine was moved to Loughborough where restoration took place, being completed in Spring 2008. She is now a fully main line certified locomotive and you will no doubt see her rushing up along Britain's main line metals at 75mph some time in the near future!

An engine that was to perform during the gala but didn't quite make it in the end was LMS Fairburn 2-6-4 Tank No42085. I went to see her in the locomotive shed at Loughborough and she does look almost finished! The new tanks are fitted and the engine seems to be awaiting painting. What a hansome engine she is. 42085 is one of only two Fairburn Tanks left in the world. The other one, sister No42073, shares the same home as "85", the Lakeside & Havertwaite Railway near Windemere. The engine is due to steam at Easter alongside the railway's N2 Class 0-6-2 which is also nearing completion. At Quorn were engine's a little more my size(!): 0-6-0 Side Tank "Gothernburg" (as "Thomas"), 0-4-0 "Toby the Tram" (diesel) & 0-6-0 NCB Austerity "Robert" (awaiting restoration).

In conclusion, the event was very very enjoyable AND, as usual, I will definately be back again next year! Can they make it any better? Well they usually do!! Can't wait! Well done once again GCR and thank you to all the loco crews for an enjoyable performance. For any GCR information their website is http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/ ! If you want that extra special doubletrack main line experience then you have to go! And, without doubt, the best event, is the Winter Gala! Cheers everyone! New post coming soon!