Preparations At Statfold...

Hi all. This morning, having finished work at 11am, I was in the car and on my way over to Statfold Barn. Tomorrow will see the SBR's final Enthusiasts Day of 2016 take place and 16 locomotives would be in steam, providing a very intensive service for the visitors. I arrived at the SBR headquarters at just before Midday and, having changed into my overalls, wandered through the running shed and out onto the frontage. A handful of engines were already there being readied for action. Down at the new carriage shed, I found our steed for tomorrow: Quarry Hunslet "Jack Lane". The green 0-4-0 is fresh back into service after her speedy 10-year overhaul. The engine didn't need that much doing as she wasn't that bad to start with, having been completed brand new at Statfold in 2006. Unlike slightly older sister "Statfold", "Jack Lane" has enjoyed less frequent use and has been kept in pretty much 'as new' condition. Also at the new carriage shed were the Corpet and the Penrhyn pair: "Sybil Mary" & "Marchlyn". We'll be coupled up to the Corpet tomorrow for our double headed outing. The Corpet is to be crewed by JB and Alex whilst the Quarry is looked after by myself and well known late arriving steam enthusiast 'Eddie The Late'. JB spent most of his time commenting on how everything he said may end up on the internet. He may well be right...

"Alex & JB In Good Spirits With The Corpet"

Throughout the early part of the afternoon the Corpet and "Jack Lane" were gradually prepared for tomorrows duties. I lit a wood fire in the engine and then set to polishing the paintwork before buffing up the brasses. The forecast for tomorrow isn't that promising, probably due to the fact that we're rostered on a cabless engine. If we'd have had an armoured Simplex it would have been a heatwave! Nevertheless I'm sure we'll have a good day no matter what the weather brings...

We have since dubbed the new carriage shed "Statfold 2B" (2B was of course the old Nuneaton shed on the Midland region). It was quite pleasant down there amongst the trees, away from the hustle and bustle of the loco shed. I don't think you'd get a much bigger locomotive than those here up there mind as the sharp curve on the approach would probably commit large engines to the ballast! I eventually left the SBR at around 4pm with "Jack Lane" simmering away happily with a dead fire on the grate and 20psi on the clock. The warming up exercise had been completed and we're now all set for tomorrow. Cheers all, Sam...