Each year Tyseley Locomotive Works holds two open weekends: one in the Summer, one in the Autumn. This weekends June event was dubbed "Tyseley at Home" and was a slightly smaller affair than usual with only three of the fleet in steam. After a good day shunting with the lads on the Friday making things ready, I spent both days of the weekend at 84E helping on various jobs. On Saturday morning I spent a few hours with 9600 getting her ready for her day on the passenger shuttle with Batesy. When we arrived at the loco at 7am she had plenty of steam on the clock and, apart from finishing the oiling, there wasn't much to do before preparation was complete. Here, Phil uses the oil pump to fill the top pot on the rear drivers axlebox with motion oil. In this case the pot lubricates the cheeks and the boss face...
It was a beautiful sunny Saturday morning at Tyseley, although it was already baking when the gates were opened to the public at 10am. The cloudless blue sky made for a lovely sight from our shining BR Black steed as we awaited the board on Platform 1 road. The shuttle train is made up of two of the MK II coaches we use for excursions but unusually we had to turn one of them this morning before we coupled them together. 9600 would take the coach down for turning and then be turned herself...
9600 is a lovely thing to drive. With the road given, a pip on the whistle followed by a tug on the regulator got her on the move. Considering she is quickly nearing the end of her 10-year ticket, she is still like a new un'. We were soon waiting at the top of the yard for the road to the turntable once the Class 08 was clear...
With the coach turned and positioned on the coal road, I took 9600 onto the table for turning. After spinning 180 degrees, we dropped back onto the coach and then hissed away towards No20 disk signal. The passenger train was soon coupled together and it was then time for 9600 to draw clear and return to the middle road so that the 08' could bring out the stock for us to get on the right end. There's always plenty of shunting at Tyseley! Later on, 9600 basks in the warm sunshine on this sweltering day...
I drove and fired 9600 up and down with Batesy on a few trips during the morning before handing over to celebrated main line driver Ray Churchill. Two of the big engines: "Rood Ashton Hall" and "Clun Castle": were in steam for the weekend, with 5043 taking a break from proceedings due to overrunning maintenance...
It was a steady day really. There were quite a few visitors and 9600's trains seemed fairly full as she trotted back and forth but on the whole it was a relaxed event. Later, 9600 rests on the level crossing after the termination of passenger services...
Before I washed up and headed for home on Saturday night, I grabbed this shot of the lovely Jubilee "Bahamas" that is very quickly nearing completion now. She'd been dragged forward from her resting place at the back of the erecting shop for display. I have distant memories as a child seeing this double chimney Jubilee in steam at Shack way back when but only just. I can't wait to see her going...
Sunday morning quickly rolled around and I arrived at Tyseley at 06:30...you get no sleep with steam engines! I was asked to start preparing 9600 again and was told I'd probably spend the afternoon shift on her. The first thing to do, as usual, was to have a good check around the engine. I cleaned the grate and the smokebox before lighting the embryo fire. Craig & Tony kindly provided a good pile of wood for me...
With pressure gently rising I grabbed my feeders and performed another act of contortionism to get back inside the frames of 9600. I knew most of the pots and oiling points wouldn't need any oil but it never hurts to check. The worst thing about oiling a Pannier tank is that once you're in there you tend to forget how you got in and have to turn yourself into a split-pin to get yourself back out! Once oiled, 9600 was nearing full pressure and with Craig aboard I drove her gently back via No20 disk to reach the running line. After receiving the shunt signal to drop forward towards the station, we stopped to refill the 1200-gallon tanks with water...
Waiting in the platform for the first shuttle train of the day...
A hazy view of the lovely light cab on Pannier Tank 9600...
Before passenger trains could begin, "Clun Castle" had to drop back for water. She is quite a sight when she's outside in the sun. What a lovely machine...
A turntable view: 4965, 7029, 5043, 5080 and Small Prairie 4588...
After 9600's morning shift, crewed by Ray and Stuart, she returned to the shed road for stabling whilst the two big engines completed their cavalcade...
For the afternoon myself, Stuart and Batesy crewed the engine and had a very pleasant time. It's nice ticking back and forward with this fine Pannier, built at Swindon in 1945. I particularly like the lined black livery...
9600 rests at the end of the day before the put-away shunting began...
Once free and turned, the Pannier waits for the road to the shed for disposal...
Finally, 9600 simmers quietly after a great weekend on the shuttle train...
Well that's it folks, another Tyseley open weekend is at an end. The next one is in September and by all accounts that sounds like it's going to be a big one, celebrating 50 years of Tyseley Locomotive Works. Thank you to the Tyseley lads for their continued hospitality - I had a great time. Proud to be involved. Cheers then, Sam...
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