38' Day...

Hi everyone. Another Shackerstone working party today, this time working with GWR 3803. The locomotive is just starting her winter maintenance program and is also having some other bits done. More on that as we progress. Best Regards, Sam...

Miniature Traction Engine Weekend 2015 Plug...

"Saturday Line Up" (M.Ranieri)

Hi everyone. So, here we are, the annual plug for Miniature Traction Engine Weekend! The event will take place over April 25th/26th at Market Bosworth Station on the Battlefield Line. Join us for a steam filled weekend with around 50 miniature traction engines and steam lorries in steam. Engines range through 1.5" - 6" scales and from manufacturers such as Fowler, Burrell, Foster, Savage and many others. The engines will be steaming around freely on the old Goods Yard at Market Bosworth and the event will be open from 10am until 5pm both days. I have been particularly lucky this year with the amount of exhibitors that have asked for a space and thus the huge number of 50 engines arose! 2015 will be the events third year and in this short time it has grown to be one of the largest gatherings of miniature steam in the area and even has a bigger attendance than some large rallies. I am so pleased that the event has been so well received and long may it continue. I have just included a few shots on this post of last years event to give you an idea of what goes on. Its a great atmosphere down at Market Bosworth...

"Four Inch" (M.Ranieri)

As well as the miniatures, we also have a notable full size invasion over the weekend. The big engines are brought along in order to show a comparison between full size and miniature, as well as showing off the history of road steam in their own way. Having been offered a few big engines for this years event, I've managed to cap it at three. The three big engines include a wonderfully kept pair of Aveling & Porter Steam Roller's and a beautiful elderly Allchin General Purpose Traction Engine of 1903 vintage. Last year the big traction engines were represented by Statfold's immaculate "Mary Marshall"...

"Mary Marshall" (M.Ranieri)

As well as the miniatures we have a 5" gauge miniature railway, awning displays, a traditional organ and a miniature working area including wood sawing and flour milling. Also in the working area we will have one or two petrol stationary engines in action. In the historic Goods Shed we will have displays of toy steam, model engineering, 16mm live steam and of course the trusty refreshment stand. Here, a wonderful pair of Burrell single cranks return to Bosworth having been up into the village... 

"Perfect Pair" (M.Ranieri)

One of the awning displays present includes Mr Seaton's wonderful Meccano Engines: well worth a look and a chat...

Steaming up in the damp on Saturday morning...

"Gathering" (M.Ranieri)

To get the most from your experience why not join us at 2pm where you can see as many of the engines together at once and whistling loudly against our full size railway engine. Talking of the railway engine, in 2015 it is likely to be the huge GWR 2-8-0 No3803. Fares are FROZEN at the norm for the weekend so why not travel to the event by steam and see the event for FREE?! There is no better day to visit the Battlefield Line than on a normal fare event day! For more information see our website www.battlefieldline.co.uk or pick up one of our leaflets. I hope to see some of you there for what promises to be a great weekend. All the very best, Sam...

Diesels In The Shed...

Hi all. A short post from Shackerstone today. I was there from 11am until 3:30pm working with Richard and team on the Class 02 diesel shunter. The 02 is having a full service at present and is having some repainting done. A pleasant and simple day. All the best, Sam...

Garden Railway Running...

Hi everyone. A quiet afternoon today doing a few little jobs in the garden including wiring and a bit of track work. With the tasks complete I decided to have a bit of a run with some of the engines from the collection. My Hornby "Derwent Grange" is seen pulling out of the shed with the Great Western stock, crossing over the access path. Below, on one of its very rare outings, my Autotank (1436) drops down towards the house with its Autocoach...

The trains were running up and down in all sorts of weather, from sun to sleet. The new track has bedded in well now and the trains are running smoothly. There is still a lot more wiring to do but I'm just doing little bits at a time. Here, the Austerity tank drops down the bank with one of the freight train rakes...

Here, Great Western 0-6-2 No6600 pulls a rake of LMS coaches around onto the formation for the 2006 extension...

The locomotives ran around the garden for an hour or two in various different combinations until I decided to pack up. When the weather gets a little warmer I can start running some of the older stock and begin finishing up the wiring. Maybe we'll even see some buildings and scenery back out in the garden again! All the best guys, Sam...

Diesel Domain at Shackerstone...

Hi everyone. Having carried out a site visit to Market Bosworth this morning on behalf of my MTEW event, I headed up to Shackerstone for around 11:30am. I only had a couple of hours to hand as we had a family do in the afternoon. Even so I was soon put to work on the Class 02 diesel hydraulic, which is currently in the shed for a tidy up and service. I was drilling out the rusty bolts which carry its lamp holders. Having exhausted half a box of drills the job was done, and I began angle grinding in the cab, cleaning the panels. Meanwhile, "Sir Gomer" stands cold and quiet in the single road area...

I left the railway at just before 3pm after a quiet but enjoyable day. I'll be back there next Sunday for more shed jobs. All the best, Sam...

Garden Railway: A Late Revival...

Hi everyone. This week I've been on afternoons again and with little to do in the workshop have found myself finally reviving the garden railway. Started in 2005, the 00 gauge tracks have been snaking their way around the garden for almost 10 years; celebrating its 10th Anniversary this coming June. The railway was the brainchild of myself and my late grandfather in late 2004, when the prospect of building an indoor layout on which to run my 00 gauge collection proved almost impossible: we just didn't have the room. After checking out several options we built an oval of track which we began operating trains over in 2005. Using a simple wood base as the trackbed, we drilled and plugged our way along the main garden wall. The track would thus leave the shed via a portal, cross an alley whilst curving right, climb along the wall above the flowerbed then turn right again over another bridge back into the shed. This basic set-up did allow for the collection of locomotives to run, though it soon got fairly boring. One of the main loco's at the time was LNER B12 No8578, seen here heading through the station at Sutherland (above the flowerbeds) in June 2005 when the line first began operations. Ps - the quality is poor!...

In 2006 the railway was further extended which, unlike during the first stage, would require some major earthworks. Slabs had to be dug up and removed, walls had to be built in Cotswold stone (to match the other garden wall) and more track bases and track had to be put down. Over the course of a few weeks we had built a brand new route to my own design and it did work in fairness. However, in the early days of the extension it wasn't that refined shall we say: all this came later. Later additions included a turntable spur, run round loop and shed roads; arriving in around 2007. Since then the line has operated on regular occasions and has been featured on both this blog and on Youtube. In recent years however it has fell into a little disrepair as lack of maintenance has caused damage to both wiring and trackwork. However, this week, with the materials to hand, all that was about to change. This was the scene on Monday just after I'd ripped all of the wires out...

On Thursday I began track renewals. The section crossing the flowerbed on the curve near the old Sutherland North Jnc is seen here with brand new track..

Starting at the turntable spur which now includes a brand new express point, the track has been 80% renewed all the way up to the shed. The 2006 extension's main straight is seen here fully renewed...

Below is the site of track renewal at the location of which the above video was shot in 2005. The track here was well worn, having been languishing here for nearly 10 years. Over the last decade we have been spot renewing track panels during maintenance but this section has always been left out as it was always a popular section and ran well. However, with new track to hand this week, I decided it deserved replacing...

The curve and straight is seen below with all brand new track fitted. The straight is seen heading up the bank along the wall through another brand new point and then curving around the North Jnc curve (also all new)...

Today I continued replacing track. The 180 degree curve near the house was replaced with brand new track and the two brand new express points for the run round loop at Chilvers were also swapped. The track was then cleaned heavily to remove probably two years or so of associated garden grime. Now it was time to start wiring up. As the weather was beginning to turn and I was running out of light, I decided that I would just rig up 2 or 3 feed points so that I could run a train to test the new track. Wires fitted, the first train along the old Sutherland Steam Railway metals rattled up the bank behind my Bachmann GWR 0-6-2 No6600. The loco was pulling my stalwart set of four LNER Teak-style coaches...

"The First Train in 2 Years" - GWR 6600

The trains ran: though not smoothly as the wiring isn't 100% yet: for an hour or so, with one of my Pannier's and Prairie 4560 making their way outside too. The new track is settling nicely and the run is fairly smooth. Naturally there are still a few modifications to make and several improvements but that's all as & when. At least the railway is now operational again and hopefully in June we can celebrate 10 years. I can't believe it was 10 years ago that it all began as one of those 'spare time' affairs. Long may it continue. All the best, Sam...

Return to Shackerstone...

Hi all. This morning I got up and didn't look out of the window before I left the house at 10:30am. I wish I had of done as I probably would have stayed in! Brrr! It was freezing this morning as I made my way over to Shackerstone in the BMW; an excursion which swiftly turned into a scene from Bambi on Ice once the rear wheel drive of the car was mixed with the layer of frost along the Fen Lanes. However, taking it easy, we made it to Shackerstone for 11am. Down in the loco shed it was, as usual, even colder. The car had registered -3 degrees on the trip over and it certainly wasn't going to get any warmer. Upon arrival I found the rest of todays mad party huddled round the stove clenching hot cups of tea...and I didn't blame them! We are now in the closed season where the Battlefield Line goes into hibernation for the winter. However, contrary to popular belief the trains do not simply go back into their boxes until the spring; there is still plenty to do! Today was the usual 'breaking us in' day where we are met with the realisation that we are in for a cold, hard working winter. The engines were huddled together inside the shed, cold but dry.

The first item on the agenda was to shunt some things around. The two Graham's had asked for the box van they've been restoring to be fished out of the cutting siding and shunted in for finishing off, so we naturally obliged. Jason manned the grunting Class 47 whilst the little 02 ticked over on the main. We then shunted the various items from the DMU siding (as it is known) and fished out the van. I then took the 02 over the cross-over and picked off the van from the 47's consist. The 02 then scurried back over the cross-over with the van whilst the 47 propelled the stock back up the cutting for stabling. While the 02 waited, the 47 then dropped back to No11 point in order to gain access to the shed road. It was then time to move the cold bulks of "Sir Gomer" and 3803...

Grunting and moaning, 3803 and "Sir Gomer" were removed from their frost free sanctuary and dragged out into the freezing fog. As they were dragged past the 02, you could imagine that they were under protest! Even Thomas the Tank would be uttering verbal abuse in this weather...

With the steamers clear, No11 was reset and we dropped back with the 02 and the van. Richard then pulled No11 again to allow us into the shed so, after a toot on the horn, away we went. The little diesel hydraulic trundled up into the shed easily, towing the box van behind her. With the box van over and clear of the pit we stopped, braked the van and split off. The 02 was then moved clear and stopped, secured and shut-down. The no doubt judgmental gazes of "Dunlop No7" and "Richard III" are seen here not anticipating diesels in their domain...

So, what else is happening? Dunlop No7: Richard & Brian (owners of No7) have kindly allowed me to do a little update on the progress with their engine. The engine is Peckett & Sons No2130, built at their famous works in Bristol in 1949. Its a 14" type Class W7 0-4-0 and has been based at Shackerstone since 1974. I guess by the name you will know its origins: Fort Dunlop in Birmingham: though her early years were spent with a sister W7 at the Irlam Soap Works, East Lancs. The engine has seen use in preservation but not for long, as firebox problems put an early end to its last 10-year ticket during the 1980s. Since then she has languished in the North End sidings but was unearthed, as seen on this blog, in July 2012, click here for a pic of her then! Anyway, since then the locomotive has changed significantly and I wouldn't be surprised if it steamed within the next few months. The chassis has been overhauled, painted and lined, as has the tank...

The Peckett boiler has been to Loughborough to have a brand new inner firebox fitted. It has since returned to Shackerstone and has been fitted with a brand new smokebox. The boiler is currently sat on a trolley in the loco shed with the holes having been drilled and tapped ready to take just over 300 stays!...

A view inside the brand new inner firebox...

Inside the firebox we can see the holes for the tubes ready to eventually go in...

The progress on Dunlop No7 is quite encouraging as if she steams by July then she'll have been restored from dilapidated condition within three years. When you consider that almost all of the work has been carried out by the two owners and that they've been restoring a Class 04, Class 08, a Steam Crane and a Southern Region Brake Van over the same period its quite amazing really. I look forward to seeing No7 in steam: I like Pecketts. Moving on from No7 we have GWR 3803. The 38' is now out of work until the new season, having run reliably during 2014. The 2-8-0 has been drained and we have quite a few tasks to undertake over the winter but only maintenance bits & bobs. She is seen here relaxing in the shed after coming back in...

In front of 3803 is "Sir Gomer". Our pride & joy I guess as Peckett followers, the OX1 is now also out of service until at least March as there are no trains to pull or passengers to see. No1859 is currently being checked over and sort of FTR'd in order to ascertain what work we have to undertake on her this winter. Now that her axleboxes have been sorted and she's been painted into blue, an assessment is being made to see what needs doing next. Meanwhile her whistle valve has been serviced & repaired and is now looking very smart...

After a good few hours shunting, chatting and drinking tea it was time for home at around 3:30pm. The cold was really biting by then and the only place you could keep warm was by the fire...

All in all a quiet first day back at Shackerstone but one that has a view of more to do. Hopefully the weather will turn just slightly milder by next weekend as working in the shed in the minus' is quite a challenge sometimes. Well guys, that's all for Week 1. All the best, Sam...

Achilles Report No66: Bringing In The New Year...

Good evening all. Today saw the first Members Running Day of 2015 take place at my home club of Coventry Model Engineering Society. The club's RPMR track plays host to members engines on the first Saturday of each month but for some reason it always rains every time I even think about taking a loco. The fickle finger of fate?...perhaps. As 'Maisie' the C1 is still in dispose, not to mention the tank engines requirement for a steam test, "Achilles" was the loco of choice today. Naturally, as "Achilles" was already clean and ready to go, I awoke this morning to the clattering of rain on the window. The wind was howling and the garden was saturated but, allas, the steam test was still required! The Met Office's chief of Coventry weather 'Eddie the Late' had already predicted a clearance of rain by 2pm and so, with that in mind, "Achilles" was loaded into the BMW. Upon arrival at Ryton at just before 1:30pm, the heavy rain of the morning had been reduced to light spitting. So, with no time like the present, "Achilles" was unloaded, filled with water and duly lit up...

Comments were made about the engines tendency to create smoke, much to my surprise. However, later inspection revealed that I'd accidently mixed some old Daw Mill coal into my new smokeless bag, thus creating a green tinge at the chimney top. I mentioned that the engine needed a steam test, usually undertaken every 14 months. However, the blue tank only has 5 months left on her hydraulic test. Therefore, she can only have a steam test for 5 months. In honesty, if the steam ticket had run out in July rather than December, I'd have probably done both at the same time 5 months early but at this time of year the wet procedure of doing a hydraulic did not take my fancy. Having passed her steam test today, the locomotive is now certified until early June, at which time she'll have to have her 4-yearly hydraulic test and another 14-month steam test straight after. For now though, if she is required at least she's all certified and insured if we fancy a run out. The end of the hydraulic ticket in June will also signal four years of ownership of the tank engine: how time flies! Having completed her steam test I did about 7 or 8 laps with the engine just to blow away a few cobwebs. The loco is spotted here on nothing more than a photo stop!...

Owing to the weather, yes you've guessed it, "Achilles" was the only locomotive brave enough (or is it mad enough?) to come out and play. She is seen here at a very quiet Ryton Halt, simmering away...

Here is a small capture of the loco's first fire of 2015: hopefully there will be many more...

During the run "Achilles" steamed very well with her Ron-inspired spark arrestor chimney cap and the water pumps gave no trouble. We steamed round and round without hindrance and 3 laps none stop proved no trouble. To be fair, if it wasn't for stopping to fill the water tanks up again you could have just gone and gone. We've just about got her to the point now where, with 1/2 a glass of water, she'll steam around the track filling the boiler happily, and killing the pressure to 50psi. Knock the feed off at that and she'll do about 1/2 a lap before she's blowing off again by which time you've already put the feed back on, thus constantly refilling the boiler against the steam used: brilliant. After about the 8th lap I could no longer feel my feet for cold so I decided to give up after an enjoyable run. A project for this winter is the driving truck if I get time to mess with it: it creeks and knocks and drags and generally looks tired now so it'll have to get the "Achilles" treatment in the near future. The thinking at the minute is to paint it blue like the loco...

"Days End After A Successful Run"

Thank you all very much for reading and continuing to support this blog and the locomotives featured within it. At present, only 3 days into 2015, I don't have many plans for the two engines, other than to try and run them as much as possible. The next RPMR outing will probably be the next first Saturday do, and will probably feature "Maisie" rather than "Achilles" if all goes to plan. I do hope though that "Achilles" will be able to show her might in the summer when RPMR operates their very successful 'Steam Days', with the quieter days spent with the Atlantic. We'll see. It would be nice to get out to a few different clubs this year but its all time! Best wishes to everyone, Sam...

New Year Steam...

"A Capture of 3803 at Shenton" (M.Heseltine)

Good evening everyone and a Happy New Year to you all. That's it, 2014 is long gone and 2015 has begun. For now we have the glum months: some rain, some frost and definitely not a lot of steam! But never fear, steam will return when the season begins in March. For now we must content ourselves with the maintenance work that inevitably comes with steam locomotives: the scraping, the cleaning, the painting: but not before we had one last day in steam today. New Years Day is a traditionally steam hauled day on most railways and the Battlefield Line is no exception. Today I was rostered to drive GWR 3803: the 1939-built 2884 Class 2-8-0. I arrived at Shackerstone following the usual McDonalds stop at around 6:30am. Dear me McDonalds looked like the A & E waiting room, with many examples of sleep deprived party goers slumped in the eco chairs trying to force down a greasy hash brown. Having traversed the killer paths of darkness on the route to the loco shed, I fell into the shed carrying my hoards of kit. Fireman Jason was already there and had checked the 38' over before continuing the still burning warming fire. 3803 was sitting pretty with 3/4 of a glass of water and 40psi on the clock. My my steam has joined me early in 2015...

With 3803 already making steam, we had a chat and a cuppa' (always welcome) before Jason started cleaning and I started oiling. I've rambled on in previous posts about the amount of oiling points on a healthy Great Western 2-8-0 so I won't bore you with that again, but needless to say it took the usual hour to oil her round. Meanwhile Jason was cleaning the boiler barrel and shining up the smokebox. With the locomotive oiled we had another cuppa' before taking her outside. The usual checks were carried out before 3803 backed cautiously out of the loco shed...

"3803 Outside Shack Loco" (O.Hodgkinson)

Our first departure from Shackerstone on todays 4-train roster was the 11am, followed by three more outings at 90-minute intervals. With a clean, oiled and feathering locomotive we left shed at 10:15am and steamed towards the cross-over clearing the condensate from the cylinders and steam circuit...

"Steam Scene" (O.Hodgkinson)

Soon enough 3803 was at the head of the 11am train. The two first class compartment coaches, hired in for Christmas from their home on the GCR, have been very popular over the Santa season and would be once again today. They do look smart on top of the rake behind the 2-8-0...

"3803 & Train" (O.Hodgkinson)

With the loco secure and heating the stock, Jason kindly took the baton of chef for our first cooking relay. His weapon of choice: bacon...

Having eaten our bacon & egg cobs we made a brake, did the brake test and departed pretty much on time. The first trip was most enjoyable and 3803 performed well. Its amazing how fast the day goes once you get out of the shed and get started. It wasn't long before we were back at Shackerstone...

3803 is seen here heading up the 12:30 departure from Shackerstone...

Jason drove the 12:30 trip whilst I did the firing. Even on this chilly day I found myself firing without my coat or driving jacket as it was just too warm! Jason uses a very nice BR Eastern Lucas shovel and this felt very nice when flinging the coal. The Lucas types don't carry as much coal but do cut through the air easier and I find them very pleasant to use. There you go, you didn't know there was such a thing as shovel science did you?! After the enjoyable 12:30 we were out again at 2pm. 3803 is seen here arriving at Market Bosworth on time at 2:12pm...

"3803 at Market Bosworth" (O.Hodgkinson)

As the day wore on our lamps were lit and my BR (W) gauge frame lamp was pressed into action. I bought this lamp off a chap at work a year or two ago and its very rare that it gets an outing so it was nice to have it lit up and doing its job today...

After our third trip we enjoyed about our 4th round of mince pies: they're trying to get rid of them now: before Jason began making up the fire for the final trip...

The 3:30pm departure was undertaken in dim light and we arrived back at Shackerstone in almost darkness. It was most enjoyable and 3803 performed very well once again. I'd had a very pleasant day with Jason and it was nice to be doing the first trains of 2015 on the railway. Many visitors commented on our apparent youth, as we are the youngest Battlefield Line crew with a combined age of 45! Mind you, we have been doing it for years ourselves! With todays first trains however came the current last. The railway will now be closed until March time. Over winter there are many on-going projects including the usual suspects of P-Way and hedge cutting as well as many shed tasks. We always miss the footplate during these few months off but we've all done quite a lot of turns lately so it may be a little break. Life is different on the footplate: we see the changing seasons, we see the sun rise and the sun set, we see the engines through thick and thin, operational and broken. We do all of this for our steam engines that unfortunately, though we hate to admit it, we love so much. They are the closest things to living machines that man ever created and it has always been my pleasure to work with them. All the best guys, until next time, Sam...

Another Year Over: 2014 Review...

"Bluebell at the Battlefield Line" (R.Eborall)

Hi all. So, here we are, 2014 is all but over and we must do a little review. I've changed the format slightly for this years review. This time, to try and make it more tolerable, I've just chopped it into sections and highlighted a few points. So, firstly, Shackerstone. Its been a good year on the Battlefield Line for steam. Services began in March and in April we welcomed two visitors for our Steam Gala: old favourite GWR 5542 and SECR 'P' Class 0-6-0 No323 "Bluebell". The Bluebell Railway-based six-wheeler proved a punchy and popular performer and was in charge of trains across about six steaming days with us. Over the gala weekend I was rostered on both 323 and 5542 and had a great weekend. I was lucky enough to get out on 323 on another occasion a few weeks later, just before she returned to her famous home. For the rest of the year it has been GWR 3803 that has flown the flag for steam on Battlefield Line metals, though we do miss 5542 on occasions: it was just so good...

3803 has however been reliable and popular this last year, and I've had some great days out with her. On December 7th I finally passed my test to become a qualified Steam Engine Driver for the railway: a very proud day. It has been a long road and I've been crewing our engines since early 2008, as well as working with them for over a year before that as a humble underage cleaner. I've managed to amass some very valuable experience here at the Battlefield Line and still love being involved. 3803 is captured here at Market Bosworth with a Santa train on December 7th...

Also in December, "Sir Gomer" returned home having been to Burton for axlebox work. I was rostered out on the loco twice in December and had two great days with my old favourite. Moving swiftly on now to my engines: The Miniatures...

Having steamed in January, "Achilles": my 0-6-0 tank engine: was stripped down and repainted. The repaint did not go entirely to plan as boiler trouble involving a cracked main steam pipe halted running as soon as she was initially complete. Repairs were made and the loco languished in the workshop for a few months before my enthusiasm returned. She has since steamed on a few occasions and done me proud. In October, a new addition to the stable arrived: "Maisie". Dolled up as LNER No4436 of the famous Ivatt C1 4-4-2 Atlantics, my new engine has since been steamed and proved herself reliable. She is currently laid up in dock but will hopefully return to work in the coming weeks so I can finally see what she can really do. 4436 is seen here, prior to my first steaming with her, on the Coventry MES stand at the 2014 Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition...

Also on the miniature front, I've attended RPMR for my crew days in 2014. I had a very enjoyable afternoon at the August Steam Day for example, driving the clubs beautiful 0-4-0 Sweet Pea "Diane". As I write this post the sun in the picture is a distant memory as the frost thickens outside!...

"Diane In Action" (D.Strapps)

From the miniatures we change course from volunteering to leisure. We've had two excursions on the Main Line this year. In September we steamed from Bristol to Kingswear behind an immaculate "Bittern"; a member of Gresley's famous LNER A4 Pacific Class. Luckily the rain held off and the wind followed the train, allowing the A4 to make Kingswear pulling that full tender, ay Eddie? The shining A4 is spotted here at the outward Taunton water stop...

My my that "Torbay Express" outing with "Bittern" was a lovely day. In December we treated ourselves to a second main line outing, this time to Lincoln for the Lindum Christmas Fayre. Traction for this trip was Tyseley's wonderful 4900 Hall Class No4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" which put in some fabulous performances along the route. Those 49's really do bark...

"4965 Rood Ashton Hall at Barwell" (S.Lathlane)

Moving on from main line stuff we come back down to Narrow Gauge. Again, another great year for this section. We made three trips to Bala in 2014 and I must admit that the relentless "Three Course Challenges" laid down by 'Eddie the Late' did cause me some bother during the later visits. We have always been made so welcome at the BLR and have had some great times there. Its been our 'Holiday Railway'. In perfect sunshine: known to the locals as 'Alice Weather': 0-4-0 "Alice" stands in the loop at Bala Station in May...

In August, on our third visit, the famous Fireman David of Shackerstone joined us for a day out with "Maid Marian". We think he enjoyed his excursion to 2ft gauge and he captured this image of myself and 'Eddie the Late' with "Marian" awaiting departure from Bala...

"Odd Duo" (D.Hanks)

Lately, as well as Bala, we've also been invited to the fabulous Statfold Barn Railway. In 2014 I've made four visits there: three for Open Days and one for our Footplate Exams. In March myself and John had the Corpet and the duo were caught in action again with "Trangkil No4" in June. In September I was lucky enough to spend a day driving the Avonside "Marchlyn": a wonderful engine that has been beautifully restored. I am captured here along with 'Eddie the Late' at Statfold's March Open Day...

"Me And Ed at Statfold" (K.Eyre)

Having bored you all with railways we can now move on to road steam and my MTEW event. Learning from my experiences of organising the 2013 event, my Miniature Traction Engine Weekend returned to Market Bosworth in April. Well over 30 examples of the traction engine in 1.5" - 6" scales attended and the event was once again very well received. I have been working on the 2015 show since August time and anticipate well over 40 (more like 50) examples to attend this time. This event has been hard work to organise over the last three years but its always worth it and I've had some lovely comments and support from friends and railway members. Long may it continue...

"Saturday MTEW Line Up" (M.Ranieri)

The final section we come to is Days Out. In 2014 we've been all over the place. I've just chosen a few highlights to keep in with the review theme. In January the annual outing was made to the GCR for their Winter Gala, where GNR N2 Tank No1744 is spotted on the Quorn turntable...

In June, as part of the secret plot to visit and look over what would later become No4436, myself and 'Eddie the Late' visited the Kirklees Light Railway at Clayton West. This quaint 15" gauge line runs for around 4 miles with pretty little engines built by an experimental engineer. We were lucky enough to catch a footplate ride on the little red 0-6-2 "Fox"...

July saw another excursion to 15" gauge with a visit to the seaside railway at Cleethorpes. The CCLR was operating an American based locomotive: No24...

In August during our Bala visit, myself & Eddie did the 'Round Trip' of the Ffestiniog Railway and the Welsh Highland Railway, via main line to Bangor and bus to Caernarfon. It was a grand day out featuring two railways I'd never been to. First, the Ffestiniog with a historic Double Fairlie...

Having managed to do the round trip to Caernarfon in time we were treated to a run behind one of South Africa's Garrett's through amazing scenery in perfect weather. I was really taken with the WHR; a truly awe-inspiring achievement...

In September myself and Maisie were away again and caught a round trip behind a huge 9F 2-10-0 at the North Norfolk Railway. The BR black liveried No92203 "Black Prince" barely even thought about breaking a sweat...

October saw another day out, this time to Tyseley Locomotive Works where we were treated to the delights of some of the Great Western's finest creations...

Well that's it, I won't bore you anymore folks. Naturally there are more visits to talk about: Severn Valley, Welland and GEC to name but a few but that'll continue to bore you. All in all its been another great year and with 111 posts on the blog I think its all been worth it once again. Hopefully 2015 will bring more outings, more experience and more steam engines! Thanks for reading folks and thanks for your continued support. All the best, Sam...