Statfold Cleaning Day...

Hi all. Today, in clement February sunshine, a group of hardy volunteers descended on Statfold for the annual Cleaning Day. I arrived at around 09:00 and, having parked the car, I wandered into the Roundhouse where some of the lads were gathering their cleaning materials. I soon found my way to my Statfold favourite: the beautiful Bagnall "Isibutu". Armed with rags and polish, I started on the top of the engine and worked my way down. All around, the various other members of the SBR fleet were being buffed up to within an inch of their lives. The cleaning of a steam engine is rather therapeutic, particularly when you look back upon the results of your efforts. The cleaning day provides a very much welcome break from the Winter blues. The well known debilitating illness 'Cold Firebox Syndrome' is very much in evidence in the closed season and I discussed the awful symptoms today with my fellow sufferers. 'CFS' has become a very real issue during the steamless months of January and February but we are doing all we can to raise awareness! After a couple of hours, "Isibutu" was shining beautifully alongside the much younger "Trangkil No4"...

After a spot of lunch, the early part of the afternoon was spent making the finishing touches to the now immaculate steeds. The operational members of the fleet will soon be steamed for their annual steam tests, with their first public appearance scheduled for March 23rd at the annual Spring Enthusiasts Day. I'm sure that many of us: including myself: will be glad to feel the touch of the regulator that day! On an entirely separate note, this week heralded the arrival of the new leaflets for the upcoming Giant Miniature Weekend. I guess it's time to get distributing...

If you're thinking about visiting GMW at all then take it from me that this year will be the biggest yet. We have so much on offer and steam engines of all shapes & sizes will be attending. Don't miss it. After a very pleasant day at the annual Cleaning Day, I headed for home at around 15:30. I can't wait for my next SBR driving turn!...

A Castle Reborn: Welcome Back "Clun"...

"An Express Sunset" (Pic - D.Chandler)

The restoration of any steam locomotive to operational condition is something to behold indeed. It's the bringing back to life of a historic machine, who's past and future spans far beyond our mortal selves, providing a touch of graceful nostalgia to a far more modern and ever changing world. Today, in an unseasonal 15 degrees, Tyseley's preservation pioneer No7029 "Clun Castle" was out and about in Warwickshire for her loaded test run. With a couple of hours to spare this afternoon, I couldn't resist the chance to ride out under the blue skies to see her at Stratford. Sure enough, as I pulled into the car park, a gleaming 7029 rolled in from Tyseley around 20 minutes early. Coming to rest in Platform 1, the engine wasn't allowed to run round until an arriving West Midlands Railway unit had been let into the adjacent Platform 3. With the road given, 7029's ejector hummed into life and the Castle was soon "on the move". Fireman Alastair gave me a wave as the engine passed by...

The Birmingham end of Platform 2 was full of camera wielding enthusiasts all jostling for position as the 4-6-0 backed down. Soon enough, she was coupled up to the six-coach rake of chocolate & cream coaches which would form her trailing load. This was "Clun"s second outing on the main line in 31 years: the first time being two days ago when the lads took her on a late evening jaunt to Stratford with just the Support Coach. Built in 1950 and saved for preservation by Patrick Whitehouse direct from BR service, "Clun" has been resident at Tyseley ever since. Though she was active on the main line in the 1980s, 7029 did have another ticket which I believe expired in around 2002. During that period of operation she didn't do any main line work, being used instead on the extremely popular 'Drive a Loco' experiences at Tyseley as well as visiting other preserved lines. Happily, following a few years out of service, her restoration to main line standard began in 2009.

When I started at Tyseley in late summer 2015, the engine was made up of a largely complete rolling chassis. The boiler was being worked on alongside. By late Spring 2016, the boiler was being fired for the first time...

Like the rest of the Tyseley fleet, "Clun" has been restored to an impeccable standard. The engine was finally completed in October 2017 and we had a celebration Open Weekend at 84E to welcome her back into steam. Since then, despite being used on the open days and for a couple of private steamings, "Clun" has been waiting for her chance to get back on the road. One of the countless things I've learnt whilst volunteering with Tyseley is that the main line is definitely where these old express engines belong and it was fantastic this afternoon to finally see "Clun" back on the national network. It was also brilliant to see the lads back where they belong; aboard the Support Coach behind a shining locomotive...

Having admired the Castle a little while longer whilst remembering several cracking runs with sister 5043, I wandered over the footbridge to chat with the team...

The first half of this years tour program has now been published on the Vintage Trains website so if you'd like to book some mileage behind 7029 why not take a look? We're going to a variety of destinations, mainly the old favourites with a few extra diners mixed in. Personally (much like the rest of the Support Crew I'm sure) I can't wait to get back out there again. A main line steam tour is not just a day out volunteering, it's an adventure and a really unique steam experience. You won't see these engines anywhere near "the way they were" unless you see them at speed on the network, transporting you back to the days of the Great Western crack expresses on Brunel's billiard table. As "Clun"s return departure time neared, I jumped back into the car for a hurried dash through the last of the school run traffic to reach Stratford Parkway. There, preceded by a screeching whistle, came a Castle out of exile...

As the Castle barked away from us towards Wilmcote, I watched the tail lamp disappear from view before returning to the car. I can't lie: todays outing has got me all fired up for the trips ahead...I can't wait! It was quite moving to see the 'new' Castle out on the main and a fitting end to another painstaking restoration by the Tyseley team. My own contribution to these engines is nothing short of miniscule compared to the efforts of the 84E staff but for the small part I have played I am very proud. Welcome back "Clun Castle". As always, it's a pleasure to be involved in such a fine operation. For a cracking shot of 7029 at Widney Manor - click here. Until next time, Sam...

Tyseley: In The Bleak Midwinter...

Evening all. Today was another very enjoyable day spent in the company of express passenger 4-6-0s at Tyseley. Myself, Tony & Craig spent the day cleaning up No7029 "Clun Castle", kick-starting the steps to make her ready for the road. I'd already spent last Saturday cleaning up the cab and so today we focussed on the exterior brass work. By the end of the day the 1950-built Castle was beginning to sparkle as the warming Winter sun shone down through the clear roof panels. Hopefully "Clun" isn't too far away from her main line trials now; I can't wait to see her on the move! After another good days polishing it was time to head for home and sip a whiskey in front of the crackling fire: a must for any Winter evening! Cheers all, Sam...

Welcome Back "Bahamas"...

Evening all. Tonight on the way home from work I couldn't help but think about the LMS Jubilee "Bahamas" which was out 'on trial' in the area. The Jub had two tests planned for today: a round trip to Stratford and back in the morning and a loaded run around the Leicester circuit this evening. It was only a couple of miles out of my way to reach a bridge which crossed the Jub's route so I decided to stop by and see her. Due to pass through Nuneaton at 16:13 with her test train, I pulled up at Horsten Grange (where two bridges cross the line towards Hinckley) with around 10 minutes to spare. It was absolutely freezing as I trudged across the field to reach the second bridge, which is a farm access: the other one has too much traffic noise! A couple of minutes down, with the temperature barely above freezing, 45596 steamed into view with her distinctive three-cylinder beat echoing from her double chimney. Here is my grainy video attempt; by now I'd lost all feeling in my fingers...

One of the reasons I've never really been keen on spotting main line steam is that it's all over in a matter of seconds! Sure enough, once under the bridge, "Bahamas" was well on her way towards Leicester and beyond. She sounded a treat as she dug into the gradient with her short train. Once passed off, the 1935-built Jub will return to her home at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway in Yorkshire, ready to commence revenue earning main line duties. I'm sure I'll see her again at Tyseley this Saturday but it was still very nice to catch her in flight! Thanks all, Sam...