Evesham Vale: A "Monty" In The Rain...

Hi all. Today involved a moist driving turn at the 15" gauge Evesham Vale Light Railway in Worcestershire. After a pleasant few weeks of glorious sunshine, my typical luck meant that the August Bank Holiday was pelted with rain and wind. I arrived at the Twyford base of the EVLR around 08:10 and duly met up with owners Adrian & Sandra. Having signed in and caught up on the goss, I walked through the engine shed to find the rostered locomotive: "Monty". Adrian commented; "We thought you'd like the one with the lid". He was quite right too! The Met Men had forecast horrible weather as the day wore on and even now the dark clouds were gathering in the skies above the railway. As is usual practise on mornings like this, the engine was lit up with only the chimney poking out of the door. Sure enough, as soon as the handbrake was applied in her fresh position, it started to spit. I was then left to my preparation tasks and it wasn't long before the embryo fire was lit...

By now the rain was growing more persistent and "Monty" was no doubt glad of the cosy shelter of her shed as the fire began to take hold. The covering of the shed makes preparation a whole lot more pleasant in conditions like this and also allows the brass work and the paint to be buffed up...

With the engine slowly raising steam on the open cast Welsh coal, I wandered into the Mess Room after the call of "Tea Up!" rang down through the shed. Tea supped, all I had to do was complete the greasing and oiling before charging the air reservoir. "Monty": with headlamp burning brightly: was then ready to leave shed. After hissing slowly out into the rain, the engine came to rest at the mouth of the yard in readiness for blowing down. The violent expulsion of water and steam soon followed...

With the injector running, "Monty" steamed slowly backwards onto the waiting 10:30 train. This set was made up of three of the closed coaches...

Here is "Monty" waiting at a very damp Evesham Vale with the 11:00 trip...

As you can guess due to the weather conditions, trade was a little slow today. A few hardy visitors did appear and inspect the engine from time to time but on the whole it was just me, "Monty" and Guard "Yam Yam" (Graham). In fact, the 11:30 train didn't leave at all as there were no passengers to carry and none had alighted (quite rightly) at Evesham Vale. With a calm fire, "Monty" simmered under the cosy covering of the station roof whilst awaiting the next planned departure at 12:00...

On the whole it was an easy day. "Monty" steamed and pulled beautifully as usual, although you'd expect nothing less with such a light train behind this strong engine. The 12:30 trip saw "Monty" feathering at a desolate Evesham Vale...

Looking through the wet spectacle glass towards Twyford...

After a lightly loaded 13:00 train, the engine was watered at the column...

As "right time" was still a good 10 minutes away I decided to back "Monty" under the station roof once again for a few minutes. In the end it turned out to be the right decision as nobody turned up for the 13:30 trip either. To be fair I couldn't blame them: it was a foul day. However, the covering of "Monty"s cab roof provided great cover for me and the warmth of the fire against my knees made the conditions on board quite bearable. It must have been an easy day for the ex-"Markeaton Lady"...

The 14:00 train did go and we hauled that with ease. Later on, for the 15:00 trip, the now traditional Evesham Tea & Cake was delivered to the cosy footplate...

After looping the fields, the engine is pictured at Evesham Vale again...

Slowly but surely I was running "Monty"s fire down. It's always a gamble at Evesham as you're off the regulator more than you're on it. The fire is quiet until the banks where it gets pulled apart on heavier trips before you ask it to quieten down again and the safety's start to sizzle. Therefore, with the water level rising you're always trying to resist the urge to add more coal and return to shed with greater pressure. Here, the red Exmoor waits with the 15:30 working: our penultimate trip...

A steady fire in the firebox ready for the 16:00 working...

The diesel "Cromwell" was awoken from its slumbers to haul the final train at 16:30 and so "Monty" was returned to the shed. The rain had relented briefly but the clouds were already starting to regroup as I ashed the engine out. Having dried her off with the towels I decided to retreat into the shed before the rain came again, which it duly did! By now "Monty" was simmering quietly inside with the chimney capped...

Despite the awful weather, today had been a very pleasant day aboard the Exmoor 0-4-2. My thanks as usual must go to Adrian & Sandra as well as, on this occasion, fellow ex-Shackerstone man "Yam Yam" for his comical company. Thank you all for reading folks, I'm off to dry myself off! Cheers, Sam...

Tyseley: A Date With The Earl...

Hi all. Today was a typical Saturday volunteer day at the centre of Great Western steam excellence of Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham. I spent a very pleasant 7 hours or so working on the beautiful Castle Class 4-6-0 No5043 "Earl of Mount Edgcumbe". It's always a pleasure to work on and around such a fine engine and have a laugh with the lads. Cheers all, Sam...

A Stafford & A Steam Launch...

Hi all. After a 'train free day' yesterday I nipped out for a couple of hours this afternoon to the private 7.25" gauge railway at Pailton. Norfolk's one and only "I didn't know there was a 6 o'clock in the morning" man 'Eddie the Late' was over there running his chunky Stafford saddle tank so I couldn't resist being there to provide some light hearted encouragement from the lineside! The Fairfield railway has featured on this blog a couple of times and I've completed a few driving turns in years past at today's annual car rally with enjoyable memories of those occasions. I arrived at around 13:30 and wandered steadily across the lawn towards the station, passing a few trains on route. Ed was brewing up on the second road in readiness for another lap of the track. He looked disappointed to see me and the lazy needle on his pressure gauge soon revealed why! I was then kindly invited to drive a couple of laps on the big Stafford, much to my delight.

I hadn't driven the engine for a few years and so it took a good half a lap to get used to all the extra goings on when you're driving a miniature loco. Leaving the station, the railway hugs the lakeside before reaching a set of facing points where the driver can set the direction via the flick of a switch. Road set, I dropped down the steep gradient towards Pailton's answer to the Newark flat crossing before pulling up at the water tower. The pressure was still fairly unresponsive - a sure sign of a clinkered fire atop the shallow marine grate. Whilst the engine brewed up, I took on some water...

Returning to the station after skirting the back field, I arrived with the job in a slightly better state of affairs. Ed did say that the engine had been running for a few hours and these days with the arguably poor quality of most steam coals a clinkered fire is inevitable. After another lap on the handle I pulled into the headshunt to allow other trains to pass by whilst I cleaned the fire. Having pulled out some fairly sizeable lumps of clinker and set a fresh fire bed with some good lumps of coal, the Stafford quickly came back to life. The telltale roar from behind the firehole door was joined by some energetic needle movement towards the red line. Soon enough, working pressure was reached and Ed steamed off to haul more passengers...

Ed has gone through three 7.25" engines during his exploration of the gauge but this one - "Archie Mk III" - definitely seems to be the keeper. Station Road Steam's popular saddle tank offers a strong, stable and arguably fast engine capable of most club running situations. I really like the engine; it's very pleasant and responsive to drive with all the adhesive weight you could ever need. SRS even offer larger versions for estate railway applications and these must be monstrous as the 'standard' Stafford alone is a large loco. Cheers Ed for the drive, always a pleasure... 

With Ed continuing to lap the fields amongst the colourful abundance of other steamers and electrics on the track, I wandered over for a ride on the steam launch. I hadn't had a ride on the boat for some years so felt it was time to refresh my memory. Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce "Roundtuit"...

The Pailton 'pond' is basically a small lake and the steam launch offers trips of two laps per time from the small pontoon. She is an absolutely wonderful thing. I believe she is built from a mix of components that the builder sought from various locations. He, like many engineers, is a man of many projects - hence the name "Roundtuit". Boarding the launch, I took a seat alongside the boiler and compound engine...

The short sailing was ably skippered by Emma who it was nice to chat to again after a few years. She explained that the launch is wood fired but goes better on coal, the former fuel being used simply because of the large amount on site. I love a nice steam boat, there's something wonderfully relaxing about the whole experience. The typical Windermere Kettle can be seen bolted to the boiler...

After my pleasant boat ride I went back to Eddie who was just coming off the track ready to dispose. The Stafford had put in a good few more hard working miles...

Following a final chat with my old pal Ed I decided it was time for home at around 15:30. My thanks to the owners of the Fairfield railway for their hospitality and to Ed for allowing me to drive his lovely engine again. Next weekend I have Tyseley and Evesham booked. Roll on. Cheers all, Sam...

Tyseley: Castle Class Engines At Rest...

When people argue about who had the most beautiful steam engines, I'm afraid that for me there is little contest for the Great Western Railway. Their Castle class locomotives in particular are a striking, muscular breed of express passenger engine that would struggle to be rivalled by much else. Today I was at the former 84E at Tyseley Locomotive Works in Birmingham for another volunteer Saturday spent amongst their fine fleet. It was a quieter day today, with only a few of the team in attendance. I was put to work helping with a few little jobs amongst the fine trio of Castle Class 4-6-0s. After spending a little time on 5043, I was moved onto doing a few tasks for 7029 "Clun Castle". Upstairs in the coal stage lives the only single chimney Castle of the trio: No5080 "Defiant". Having last steamed in the 1990s, 5080 is subject to a restoration appeal which I believe interested parties can still donate to. For now she rests upstairs alongside "Kolhapur". Can you help "Defiant" steam again?...

Built at Swindon as "Ogmore Castle" in 1939, 5080 was renamed "Defiant" in 1941. Bought by Tyseley from Barry Scrapyard in 1974 as the 62nd engine to leave, 5080 was originally planned to be a spares donor for 7029. A reprieve came in 1988 when the engine was restored and she had a brief main line return before undertaking a tour of a few preserved railways. I'd love to see this single chimney beauty return to steam. It would be interesting to see just how good a 'normal' Castle could be if work to the standard of 5043 & 7029 was put in. For now though, like so many things steam related, "perchance it is not dead but sleepeth"...

I spent my afternoon on and around 7029 before heading for home just after 16:00. I hope to be back at 84E the weekend after next. Next weekend is going to be a 'train-free' one I believe. Despite thoughts to the contrary, it is possible to get "all train-ed out"! If you wish to see Tyseley's beautiful trio of Great Western thoroughbred's together, I recommend the September open weekend where we'll be celebrating 50 years of Tyseley. The three will no doubt be posed together at that do. Don't miss it - it's going to be a whopper. Until next time, Sam...

A Wet Welland With "Roger" The Wren...

Hi all. Today was our third annual jaunt to Welland Steam Rally, not far from Great Malvern. Each year Statfold sends its popular Erie Steam Shovel and one of the 2ft gauge fleet to be part of the show and the latter is usually crewed by myself & JB on the Sunday. We'd been booked for this job for a few months and in the recent weeks of seemingly unstoppable sunshine it looked like it was going to be a scorcher. How wrong we were! The event was battered by rain throughout Saturday night and it was just as well we took Britt's trusty Land Rover to cope with the muddy conditions. JB was already fuming when he picked me up, having missed the junction on the M6 and descended into a fit of rage blasting out every expletive under the sun (or cloud as it were!). Once on our way we had a good run down to Welland through the persistent rain and arrived a little before 08:00.

I'd lost our passes in the week due to an administration error at home (I think I binned them by mistake!) but thankfully we had a contact. Road Making display organiser Ken had kindly took pity on us and came to our rescue. Next year I won't lose the passes, Ken! Once successfully at our section, we discovered a very damp "Roger" the Wren with a very nice 'block of wood' chimney cap...

As the rain continued to fall it was a pretty miserable morning. The rally organisers did have a think I believe as to whether to continue but in the end the call came - "light the fires!". With any rally ('GMW' included) it's always a shame when such a massive amount of work is potentially ruined by the weather as its the one thing you just can't plan. All you can do is hope for the best...

Lighting "Roger"s fire was the next obstacle for us. There was some slack-ridden coal in the bunker but other non-sodden implements were slightly lacking. I did manage to find some wood which was a tad over-size for the Wren (you could have lit a standard gauge with it!) but needs must. I also managed to beg a lighter from the road making boys as well as the dirty remnants of a tea towel to get me going! Soon enough however, after plenty of effort, a very small but rewarding plume of smoke left the Kerr Stuart's chimney joined by a reassuring crackle from the firebox...

With the engine lit and warming gently, we wandered across to the nearby catering area to catch a Full English. We were one of the few on site that actually had our fire lit! After a stressful morning JB had calmed down at the sight of his snap...

Stomachs replenished, we trudged back through the mud to the engine. All around us there were various engines bogged down and the organisers did declare "no movements" for the bigger stuff until the ground could catch up. By now "Roger" was simmering nicely and the needle was just rising away from the stop. The warmth of the fire was very much appreciated on this bleak morning...

As "Roger" neared working pressure, John began testing the injectors. Unusually, the Kerr Stuart Wren's have the injectors mounted slightly forward of the cab. I can only think that they were designed with spending most of their time stationary in mind. With both injectors having picked up nicely, all was well...

The short 2ft demonstration line runs up through the road making display which is made up of all of the items you'd expect to see in such an area. The section gets busier with interesting exhibits every year and is a credit to Ken and his team. Once we had enough steam to drag our two loaded tipper wagons up the hill, we went for a trundle on "Roger". Without fuss, the little Wren steamed up the track...

After a few trips each on the regulator, JB elected that as the younger member of our duo I should fetch the "kin' tea". I don't know if that's a special brew? Anyway, on my way to the tea bar I couldn't help but stop by and take a look at the standard gauge engine this year: Hunslet Austerity "Wimblebury" of 1956...

I did see a bit of "Wimblebury" last year when I visited it's Foxfield home to oversee "Gomer" put in it's breathless performance at their gala. The Austerity had just returned from a 10-yearly overhaul that weekend but I think since then she's had even more work done. She's only recently been repainted and looked resplendent in her blue livery. She was delivered new to Cannock Wood colliery and I believe she spent her entire working life there before moving into preservation at Foxfield in 1973. The crew aboard "Wimblebury" kindly invited me aboard for a couple of trips on their fine steed. I like the Austerity's: powerful and workable machines that are capable of most of what preservation has to throw at them...

Starting away from the bottom of the bank at Welland with "Wimblebury"...

I really enjoyed my couple of trips on this blue beast. What a nice old thing...

Having thanked the Foxfield chaps for my ride, I quickly grabbed some "kin' tea" before returning to a gasping JB. Tea supped, we were asked to drop one tipper into the side road for unloading. The Welland lads have recently installed a small wagon turntable which allows this move to take place. The provided pickaxe was a bit infuriating to use, with the head sliding down onto your hands every time you swung it!...

Between the hours of 10:00 and 14:00 the rain did subside and a surprising amount of visitors came through the gate. Lucky we steamed up after all...

We later enjoyed a very nice Ice Cream from the nearby van, although JB seemed to have bathed in his rather than ate it! "Roger" meanwhile merrily trundled back and forth with little fuss. This 1918-built 0-4-0 is a very pleasant little thing to operate - unless you're ashing out, that's just awful. Just after 14:00 the heavens opened again and the threatening skies sent down some battering heavy rain. I took this shot from the small tin shed that acts as a tool store as "Roger" simmers in the pouring rain...

The downpour did go over slightly but was followed by persistent light rain and so disposal procedures very quickly began! Having removed the two tippers from the demo line using the wagon turntable, I took "Roger" up the line for one last run light engine. What a nice, if a bit damp, day we'd had...

Once back at the foot of the line we deadened the fire, filled the boiler and emptied that horrendous ashpan (you can't move in there between the frames!) before leaving "Roger" to simmer quietly with the chimney capped. She'll be heading home to Statfold tomorrow and will no doubt be glad of the cosy shelter of the Roundhouse...

By just gone 15:00 we were queuing out of the gate with a variety of other rain-soaked exhibitors before rumbling back along the M5 and M42 homeward...

All in all we'd had a very nice day that nearly didn't happen at all. Welland is always an enjoyable experience and it's always pleasant to crew "Roger" the Wren. Thanks to Statfold for asking us again, thanks to Ken for getting us in and thanks to JB for his usual comical company. I'm off to ring my cap out now, cheers all, Sam...

Tyseley: A Pannier & A Peckett...

Hi all. Today was a busy volunteer Saturday at Tyseley Loco Works in Birmingham. During the morning I was put to work with the lovely Pannier Tank 9600 on a clean out job: firebox and smokebox. After her efforts at the open weekend the other week it was time for a thorough clean out and so, wearing a pair of fresh white disposable overalls and a mask, I headed into the firebox with my lead lamp and brush...

Cleaning out the firebox involves removing each fire bar in turn, making your way across the grate. With the bars out you can clean the carriers before replacing them one by one. Whilst you're in there it's always worth brushing down the plate work and the stay nuts, especially the crown stays. Any accumulated muck on the stay nuts doesn't do them any favours so it's always best to keep them as clean as possible. I was absolutely filthy when I came out and no doubt I'll find myself coughing up smuts for a week - this is the romance of steam!...

Once the firebox was clean it was time to do the same in the smokebox - another filthy job that has to be done. After lunch I was put to work on Peckett No1 - Works number 2004 of 1941. The engine is beginning her 10-yearly overhaul and so I was put to work in the smokebox removing the floor ready for the blast pipe to come out. This is another dirty job and it's fair to say that I went home in a filthy state tonight, although it had been a rewarding day with plenty of good work done on the fine fleet of engines. Another good day at 84E. Until next time, Sam...

An Exmoor Sunday: "St Egwin" of Evesham...

Hi all. In the continuing hot and sunny weather it was a relief this morning to find that my Evesham turn was rostered to the large Exmoor 0-4-0 "St Egwin". I don't think I could have survived a day on "Monty" in this heat! I arrived at the Twyford base of the EVLR at just gone 08:00, in plenty of time for the 08:30 sign on. Having met up with owners Adrian & Sandra, we unlocked the engine shed and rolled the green tender engine outside. With England's recent World Cup defeat, a lot more passengers than originally planned were expected during the afternoon. "Egwin" had been used yesterday and so was still nice and warm...

With the compressed air line attached in readiness, I made all of my usual checks before lighting up some rags on the shovel...

With the rags blazing away on the grate, I added a good pile of dry wood on top before a bed of coal. I then closed the large 'pizza oven' style door and left the engine to get on with it with help from the air line. With an engine as hot as this you only need enough draft to keep the smoke from coming back...

There's always a nice atmosphere on shed at Evesham on sunny mornings like this. The occasional "Good morning" from a passing dog walker is all that breaks the sound of birdsong and the crackling of the fire as you make your way around performing your preparation tasks. As the fire begins to catch, the chimney exhaust briefly turns a lot darker as the open cast Welsh coal starts to take...

With the fire going well it's time to start cleaning: Peek for the brasses, Pledge for the paint. It's a good half hour with the rags to get around the loco...

"Egwin" has a very rigorous cleaning procedure, right down to the little brass padlocks which lock the safety valve adjusters. She always comes up lovely...

With "St Egwin" nearing immaculate condition, Adrian & Sandra appeared with a tray of tea which we enjoyed in the breezy shade of the trees on the picnic bench. Tea supped, I returned to the engine to grease the main bearings and fill the motion oil points and pots. With the lubrication tasks complete all you have to do is charge the air reservoir to full pressure before leaving shed. The engine was shining in the sun as we pulled up at the mouth of the yard to blow down the boiler. The blow-down procedure violently expels steam and water at the foundation ring, hopefully taking with it any harmful deposits which leave the water during evaporation into steam...

Job done, I dropped the engine down the line a little further before assuming reverse and hissing backwards with the drain cocks open. This is really your first proper use of the regulator and any accumulated water in the exhaust passages and blast pipe will leave the chimney any second. If you're going backwards the buffer beam tends to receive the black smuts rather than your nice clean boiler barrel - it doesn't always work but it did today! We then slowly backed down onto the articulated open coaches for the 10:30 departure for Evesham Vale...

Leaving Twyford following a "Right Away" from the Guard, "St Egwin" easily got the weight moving and we had a very nice circuit. This is a very strong engine and the rebuild she received last year has brought her back to as new condition. Here, the 0-4-0 waits for departure from Evesham Vale with the returning 11:00 trip...

Simmering in the sun prior to the departure of the 12:30 train...

The "Road Ahead" at Evesham Vale on the returning 12:30...

"St Egwin" was named after Egwin of Evesham, a Benedictine monk who died in December 717. He founded Evesham Abbey and was at one time the third Bishop of Worcester. The locomotive was built by the Exmoor Steam Railway for owner Steve Bell in 2003 as works number 312 to run at Evesham...

The 14:00 train was a birthday special for Toby. The afternoon workings were strengthened to four coaches and it was advisable to take "Egwin" steady on the banks with the massive abundance of dry grass. A large patch of ash at the foot of Fishers Bank was a tell-tale giveaway to a large lineside fire that took place a few weeks ago. Thankfully we had no fires today despite the hot weather...

 A look at the pleasant workable cab aboard "St Egwin"...

Waiting in the sun at Evesham Vale with the returning 15:30 trip...

A steady fire in the box of "St Egwin". The Welsh coal had provided a constant heat all day long despite being run fairly thin to prevent blowing off...

My last trip with "St Egwin" was the 16:00, with the 16:30 being taken by diesel "Cromwell" to give us a head start on disposal. The Exmoor is off to Fairbourne for a gala next week and so we had a few more jobs to do...

On shed after a pleasant last trip, "St Egwin" had her fire thinned, ashpan emptied, boiler filled, tubes swept, smokebox emptied and coal space cleaned. It was then time for a final buff up of the paint and brasses prior to putting her back in the shed. After a day in this sweltering heat, the tubes nearly finished me off...

Well that's it: another great day at Evesham. Thank you to Adrian & Sandra for their continued hospitality and thanks to Steve for providing me a great engine to drive. My next EVLR turn is August Bank Holiday Sunday. Until next time, Sam...