Firstly, its not what it sounds like! Or is it? LNER Thompson B1 Class 4-6-0 No1306 "Mayflower" is definately an Eastern Lady! Built in 1947 by what was then the London & North Eastern Railway, she was one of a class of 410 mixed-traffic locomotives that came under the name of "B1". It was a simple, two cylinder design which employed Walschaerts valve gear and a boiler with a 225psi 'blow-off' pressure. 1306 (or 61306 under BR) was retired in September 1967 and is now privately-owned and currently based at Shackerstone. She carries an LNER livery which shows how she might have looked when delivered brand new. (Another B1, No61264, has also been preserved and is currently under repair). Anyway, this weekend, 1306 was due to steam on normal service trains at Shackerstone with an extra evening "Special" on Saturday Night. DAY ONE: I arrived at Shackerstone at just before 6:30am and prepared 1306 with my crew and her owner. The first train was at 11:45am (the usual on "Timetable B") and therefore the 4-6-0 went "off shed" at around 11:25am. I wasn't on the footplate for the 1st trip as we giving a ride to a special 'Work Experience' guest.
When 1306 returned from her 10 mile run I was changed into my 'smart overalls' and ready to go. I then went up onto the footplate before we ran round the next departure. At 1:20pm we were off to Shenton. 1306 barked up the cutting out of Shackerstone and then out into the open countryside. We completed this run and the following one without problems. On returning to Shackerstone, with the 3rd trip, we had to take water and therefore pulled up at the column with the coaches standing way out of the platform. (This is necessary due to the 6-coach rake blocking the water tower when parked in the platform). Once we had replenished the 4500-gallon tender it was time to 'set-back' into the station so that passengers could alight. On the other platform were many very enthusiastic photographers who were with the 5:20pm "Special". (The Special was operated for the Sutton Coldfield Railway Club). However, the participants also rode on the 4pm public train (last train of the day).After operating the 4pm train and returning the final public passengers to Shackerstone, we ran round ready for the "Special". 1306 was now wearing a very nice "SCRS SPECIAL" headboard! (This had actually been carried before on 2 previous occasions at 2 different railways by 1306 herself!). With the many happy passengers on the train we left for Shenton with a "raffle winner" on the footplate enjoying a ride (what a prize!). The train arrived on time at Shenton before 1306 was uncoupled. However, she didn't move off the stock for photographs and, believe me, there were lots of photographs! (I was even asked to pose for a few of them!...celebrity now!). With the photos all taken we ran round and re-coupled to the other end of the train. We then left before enjoying a spirited run back to Shackerstone with another "raffle winner" enjoying a footplate ride. (Sounds worth entering a raffle like that doesn't it?!). At Shackerstone, 1306 was the subject of many more photographs and so were we (the crew). We had to pose on the bufferbeam with the headboard for many photos! We then received many thanks and even a round of applause before we took 1306 off to bed, finally leaving her after disposal at 8:30pm.
DAY TWO: After sleeping on site I signed on at 6:30am again and headed off to the shed to let myself in. 1306 was simmering nicely with 50psi still on the clock. Adrian then arrived and began raking the last bits of ash in the firebox. The locomotive's owner then arrived before he & myself broke up some pallet's for the engine's new fire. Pockets (the fireman) then arrived and myself & he then oiled the engine's inner parts (i.e. bogie axles etc). 02 Shunter "Diane" was then used to drag 1306 out into the morning sun. The fire was then lit before we all enjoyed a morning 'cuppa' (to wake us up properly!). After the tea, it was time to begin the cleaning ritual! I was concentrating on the 'bottom-end'. This is cleaned using a mixture of loco oil & parrafin so that the parts end up clean as well as shiney. At 10:55am the loco was moved off shed for her days work. (The main train was down the line, hauled by 31 130, making up the "Sunday Early Train" which now leaves Shackerstone at 10:35am). After coming off shed, 1306 took water before moving back into Platform 1 to await the Class 31. I wasn't on the footplate for the first trip (11:45am) as our new collegue Dave was enjoying a ride. 
With 1306 now down the line, I cleaned myself up and once again changed into my 'smart overalls'. When she returned, I swapped with Dave and remained on the footplate for the rest of the day. It was, to say the least, very hot with the sometimes lacking breeze and hot outbursts of sunshine. We completed the rest of the days trips with out any problems. The railway seems very nice at this time of the year with the views over the Leicestershire countryside being spectacular in some area's. (My favourite locations are the Shenton Bank & Hedley's Crossing as the views are so distant and varied). We took water after the 3rd trip but, unlike the day before, the train was taken into Platform 1 so that 1306 could cross to the now free Platform 2 for water. After watering we operated the last trip without problems. On returning to Shackerstone again we headed into the shed for disposal. 1306's boiler was then filled, grate cleaned, ashpan emptied, tools put away and footplate doors locked. We then left 1306 (now with less than 100psi on the clock) to cool down by herself in the company of shedmates "Sir Gomer" & "Blue Circle". We then headed to the staff room to wash-up and sign off. The view below shows Shackerstone Station (Platform 1) just as was going home when almost everyone else had left:- 
All in all it was a fantastic weekend with the 62-year old Eastern Lady! The video below shows us arriving at Shackerstone into Platform 1 with "Mayflower" before taking water. I can be spotted a couple of times in the video, most notably getting wet from the water tower! (Video Copyright C. Simmons).Thanks very much to the owner, the crews and the locomotive herself. I'll next be at Shackerstone next Sunday for, yes you've guessed it(!), more work on "Sir Gomer"! Thanks for reading. More posts coming soon!
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