Tyseley at 50: The Sunday...

"7752 Works The Shuttle Train" (Pic - M.Tattam)

Good evening all. I'm now home after a fantastic three-days at Tyseley Locomotive Works for their big "Tyseley at 50" event. After a cracking day on and around 7752 yesterday, I arrived back at the gates of 84E in the gloomy darkness at around 06:30. Wandering across the car park and into the site, it was clear that nobody was around yet. Simmering quietly around the turntable was 5043, silently awaiting her last moves of this boiler ticket. This would be the "Earl"s last dawn, for now...

Having gobbled down my McDonalds breakfast on the platform (alongside 52' who we'd disposed there the night before) I walked down to the Mess Hut to see if anyone else had surfaced yet. Sure enough, Andy and Dean were there. Alastair soon arrived and set us our duties. I was given 7752 again to light up and prep. Tony and Craig kindly found some wood for me whilst I used my world's longest fire iron to clear the bars of the remains of yesterdays fire. With some paraffin rags lit in the box, the colourful selection of wood bits was added followed by some coal. 52', although not yet ready to make steam, started singing almost immediately as the fire took hold. With the hose now in the tank to top them up, she crackled away to herself nicely...

With the fire now going well it wasn't long before the pressure needle slowly began to march clockwise. All around us, the other Tyseley engines were being made ready for the day. The weather was a stark contrast to yesterdays clear morning, with cloud and a chilly breeze bringing the threat of rain later on. Before the skies had a chance to spit, Phil kindly pushed a rag around the Pannier to buff her up again...

With everything going according to plan I decided to head inside to check the oiling points on the Stephenson's motion. I was confident that nothing would really need doing after yesterdays efforts but it never hurts to check. My acts of contortionism were of course very much in vain as I was correct in my earlier assumptions once I'd forced myself down between the rods. Once back out on the platform I could drop my split-pin act and enjoy the bacon cob which Phil had kindly acquired for me...

The Pannier was now coming round nicely and we had little else to do but wait for some passengers once opening time (10:00) had arrived. Below we see an image of the inside motion on 7752. Note the large cranks coupled to the connecting rods, transferring power from the cylinders via the pistons and crossheads. The four eccentrics (common to inside Stephenson's) can also be seen as well as the rear of the typical GWR vacuum pump to the right...

The cab on 7752 is a fairly typical Great Western cab. The GWR combi-brake (steam and vacuum) can be seen on the right with the bright burnished regulator handle in the centre. 52' has two separate vacuum gauges (slightly visible top right): one for reservoir and one for train pipe. Most engines tend to have the duplex gauge but I do like this feature on her. One thing the Pannier tanks are renowned for is the cab springs. When you're on rough track these things snap together like a press at regular intervals and it is advisable to keep all body parts you wish to continue the possession of away from them! All in all though a nice, workable cab layout. I love the Pannier tanks and always enjoy spending time on and around them...

Phil & Tony joined me on the footplate for the morning shift on the shuttle train, again featuring two TSO's and Pullman Car "Eagle". Steadily we shuttled back and forth, occasionally seeing one of the big engines steaming onto the turntable to the delights of onlookers. Up the yard, 9600 was in steam and moving around with a match truck. She too was on her last day of her current boiler ticket...

"Match Truck Pannier" (Pic - M.Tattam)

We had a very enjoyable morning with the ex-London Underground Pannier...

"A Happy Phil & Me On 7752" (Pic - Lidia)

At around 13:00 it was time to surrender the train staff once again and follow the signals to reach 'Five Road' via the motor points. The train was now empty and the ECS working passed 9600 as we approached the shed...

"Driving 7752" (Pic - M.Tattam)

A quick pip on the whistle as we ticked into the shed and we were soon out the other side and safely stabled. The four-loco cavalcade of big engines was waiting...

Myself and Phil then grabbed some lunch before a phonecall came through asking me to move 9600. She was sitting in the road of some of the photographers so I walked up and moved her steadily back onto the rear of our train in readiness for the afternoon shift. I was quite glad of that short drive of her on her last day! Back at 52', I splashed some oil around some of the motion whilst we awaited the return of the big engines. She was behaving herself wonderfully as usual...

 

The return of the big engines was swiftly followed by us receiving the road to go. 9600 summoned her strength and dragged us out onto the demo line via the motor points. We then dropped forward with 7752 to take water for the afternoon shift...

Now for a photograph of beautifully turned out Jubilee "Bahamas"...

(Pic - M.Tattam)

And one alongside her waiting for overhaul sister Jubilee "Kolhapur"...

(Pic - M.Tattam)

To our surprise myself and Phil ended up staying on 7752 for the afternoon and had a great time. Towards the end of the day we began shunting moves to at least attempt to start putting everything away. The two Panniers were disposed on the middle road alongside the shed and I couldn't resist a final rushed snap of 9600. Goodbye old gal', until next time: I'm sure it won't be too long...

By 17:30 most of the engines had been bedded down and the shunting moves were complete for the evening. I believe the Tyseley lads have a few days work ahead of them to complete the rest of it! 5043 "Earl of Mount Edgcumbe" was brought down to 'Five Road' to await the road to the demo line for a few last stomps up and down. Another sad goodbye to another beautiful engine. Throughout my time in this hobby I've never seen two engines retire in such beautiful condition; neither of them is even slightly worn! For now though, one final shot of the "Earl"...

It was a pleasure just before home time to grab a final drive of this wonderful Castle. With the reverser wound into full forward you can take control of the shining regulator and feel the power beneath your hand. Slowly, gracefully, she moves off, stomping towards the bank out of the yard. Steadily bringing her back on the reverser, the note changes and she moves into a steady potter before you have to shut-off and rub the brakes. I had two go's up and down with the "Earl" before setting off for home. She's wonderful: delicious, delightful, a beautiful thing. I'm very sad to see her go and hope it won't be too long before she's in steam again. Time will tell. Thank you all for reading, thank you to the Tyseley team for another great weekend and thank you Martyn for sending in your images! Kind Regards, Sam...