7029: The Day We Went To Chester...

"Didn't we have a miserable time the day we went to Chester"...well, not totally miserable, but the weather was awful! You could seriously consider rewriting the 1981 Jasper Carrott tune about a wet day in Blackpool for todays outing as, if nothing else, "the rain came down". Welcome to the first in the 2019 series of main line posts which I've aptly dubbed "Through The Support Coach Window". Today, early but certainly not bright, I arrived at the former 84E and found "Clun Castle" brewing up on five road. Soon enough, the engine moved across to join the waiting ECS on platform 1 road, with the Class 47 already ticking over at the rear of the train. With 7029 gleaming for her outing to Chester via New Street and Wolverhampton, I spent the last 30 minutes prior to departure sweeping out the cab. I love seeing it like this...

The engine was sparkling under threatening skies as we awaited the off...

The new Vintage Trains TOC has been operating our steam specials since Christmas, when a successful program of 'Polar Express' workings operated from Moor Street behind "Rood Ashton Hall". This year, "Clun" has been to Stratford on main line test as well as out to Worcester on two evening dining trains. More recently, the engine went to Oxford on a circular via Sapperton, meaning that todays Chester outing would be only her second 'long distance' run if you like. Apart from the appalling weather, it was fairly uneventful on the outward journey as we made pick-ups at Dorridge, Solihull, Tyseley, New Street and finally Wolverhampton before continuing to Chester. Once there, the passengers alighted for their afternoon in the city before the ECS was hauled back out of the station by the Class 47 at the rear.

Once clear of the station, "Clun" was given the road to haul the train forward into the adjacent sidings where the engine and GUV would be uncoupled ready for servicing. New to us under the new TOC is the use of a coal lorry rather than our previous method of lifting coal sacks up into the tender. The engine did however have to reach a nearby service road to give the lorry access, coming to rest on a small siding. Here she was coaled, watered and oiled in the continuous wind and rain...

It's funny how wet you can become in a rainstorm but still be baking hot! The running around and rolling up various hoses certainly raises the temperature and by the end of it you feel like you're in a giant egg poacher! Even better, once the engine is serviced there are the coaches to be watered. The dining cars in particular get through a lot of water so need topping up at the destination, giving us even more time in the rain! Thankfully, once the job was done, we had the nice warm Support Coach to go back to and a hot meat pie with a cuppa', thanks to Craig and Tony. The run home would take us back along a more scenic route, via Ruabon and Shrewsbury. It was nice to dry out in the compartment on the way home, chatting about all things steam. Most of us alighted at Tyseley, trotting down the road to get the signalbox and engine shed set-up ready to receive the empty train back from Dorridge a little while later. Soon enough, "Clun" was simmering quietly on five road ready to go back into the shed...

Once the smoke had cleared, "Clun" was dropped carefully into the shed, coming to rest just in front of "Rood Ashton Hall". Thanks to the lads for a great day out and thank you all for reading. Our next run is, well, next Saturday! We're off to Llandudno and the seaside: hopefully the weather will be better. With that, I jumped into the car and headed off back along the A45 and M6 towards home. Of course, all the way home, yes you've guessed it, "the rain came down!"...