Tyseley Summer Open Weekend 2019...

Good evening all. This weekend marked the return of Tyseley's popular Summer Open Weekend and the rather pleasant weather meant that visitor numbers would be strong. I arrived at the former 84E at around 06:30, having called into McDonalds in Sheldon to grab some breakfast on route: why break the habit of a lifetime? Five locomotives would be in steam today and when I reached the engine shed "Bahamas" was already sending a plume of smoke steadily skyward. Even now the temperature was rising and the forecast promised a very warm day ahead...

Whilst I was photographing "Bahamas", Dean appeared from the direction of the  Mess Hut. Slowly but surely, as we chatted, our numbers grew as the rest of the Tyseley lads began to arrive. The team was soon put to work as Alastair arrived to give us our duties. I was instructed to join Dave in preparing 7752 for use on the Shuttle Service. The Pannier was stabled behind the visiting "Rocket" replica, courtesy of the National Railway Museum in York. More on her later...

7752: my steed for the day: has very briefly returned from her Summer holidays at the West Somerset Railway and so this would be a rare turn for me, for this year at least! Dave, armed with a long iron, set to work clearing the grate whilst I tried to find some oil bottles and a feeder. (52' was fresh off the lorry and had no kit). Down on the running shed frontage, "Clun Castle" and "Rood Ashton Hall" were sunbathing under the cloudless blue sky. Together they made for an impressive picture...

Having located some oiling equipment, I helped Dave carry some wood to the engine ready for the fire to be lit. Dave soon had a blaze going and the tank engines warm chimney provided some initial draft. One snag we did meet this morning was slack. The Welsh open cast stuff in the bunker was probably 50% dust and this is the last thing you need when starting a fresh fire. Welsh coal is soft by nature and the mechanised mining processes, coupled with transportation, further reduce the lumps to slack. I spent the next couple of hours nursing 52' into steam as she tried her best to be 'cold hearted'. The fire was very much lit but with so much slack to hand you run the risk of choking an embryo fire. Nevertheless, in between my acts of contortionism between the frames with the feeder, I managed to eventually achieve a full fire. 

As the pressure gauge needle progressed lethargically clockwise, the other engines were getting ready to be shunted into their respective display positions. With just about enough steam, we took 52' across onto Platform 1 road to complete preparation prior to working some shuttle services. It was roasting as the time neared 10:00...

Once the gates opened to the public, the Warwick Road platform became almost instantly swamped with expectant passengers. With a brake test completed, 52' hissed cautiously into the platform ready to load for the first run. It wasn't long before myself & Dave were away, chugging happily back and forth with the two-coach train. The 1930-built Pannier was finally in her usual fettle, with the needle hugging the red line and water well up the glass. The mass of dust in the bunker didn't provide as much of an issue when you could work with the regulator and usual steaming rates resumed. We didn't do many runs before we were shunted back onto the middle road to allow "Rocket" to escape. 52' spent the next couple of hours sunbathing...

The "Rocket" replica meanwhile was incredibly popular and was chuffing up and down for hour after hour with a full compliment of passengers...

At around 13:30 it was decided to run the impressive cavalcade of large engines and so 52' and her coaches were moved across onto 'Five Road'. The trio of 7029, 4965 and 45596 then did the honours on the demo line...

Although beautiful "Bahamas" put on a fabulous show with her spectacular exhaust, the roar of "Clun Castle" definitely opened peoples ears. These double chimney 4-6-0s really are formidable engines and 7029 is definitely following in the "Earl"s footsteps. I can't wait for 5043's return and that much anticipated doubleheader...

For the rest of the day, whilst her crew enjoyed many ice creams, 52' simmered quietly on 'Five Road'. The popularity of the visiting "Rocket" replica proved practically limitless and the 0-2-2 worked the demo line constantly until closing time. Our final task for the green Pannier was a last minute shunt move back across to Platform 1 road for overnight stabling. By now my fire was run down to nothing and the lack of any lumps in the bunker didn't help! I'm not ashamed to say (well, that's a lie...I am ashamed) that we ended up "down the nick" on our short move but we got there in the end!...

Like the kind hearted soul that I am, having disposed 52', I opted to hand shovel plenty of large lumps of coal from the adjacent coal pile into the bunker. There's nothing worse than when you're the "next man" and you come in to an engine that has no coal at all for lighting up. With the bunker restocked for the early morning and a small wedge at the back of the box to keep her warm, I left 52' and headed for the Mess Hut. "Rocket" had been stabled not far from us and it was nice to see her up close...

This replica is of course modelled on George Stephenson's revolutionary masterpiece of 1829. The original "Rocket" won the Rainhill Trials that same year, which was a competition to see which design of locomotive was most appropriate to power the new Liverpool and Manchester Railway. "Rocket"s design features included inclined cylinders (rather than vertical), a multi-tubular boiler and an exhaust which fed to the base of the chimney to improve drafting rather than being lost to atmosphere. The water jacket around the firebox is interesting as it includes a dry throatplate and doorplate, with copper pipes circulating water to the remaining areas. 

This replica was built in 1979, with the original engine surviving at the Science Museum in London. Modern fitments include a pressure gauge and a pair of gauge glasses: the original would have had a mercury manometer and test cocks respectively. Having admired "Rocket", I headed off to get washed and changed before the drive home. It had been another great day crewing at a Tyseley open weekend, although sadly I can't make it tomorrow. Cheers all, Sam...

Tyseley: Preparing For The Open Weekend...

Every year Tyseley Locomotive Works holds two open weekends: one in the summer, one in the autumn. During these events, the public are encouraged to spend a day getting up close and personal with the various members of the locomotive fleet and of course viewing progress on the many projects on site. There are exciting turntable demonstrations, train rides in the yard and trade stands on the shop floor, not to mention vintage vehicles and usually a miniature railway out in the car park. Due to the working nature of the site and the ever growing order book, every open day requires a huge amount of shunting and setting up. I arrived at the former 84E at just before lunchtime today, ready to spend a few hours helping with preparations for the weekend. Wandering down through the bustling workshop (the machines are often quiet when we're in at the weekend), I soon found 4965 "Rood Ashton Hall"...

"Rood Ashton" was having her 'screens' (spark arresting gear) fitted before she was lit up for the weekend. Batesy quickly conscripted me into aiding the process and I soon found myself in the smokebox. Screens in, I was asked to walk across and check on a simmering 7752, freshly returned from her visit to the seaside whilst working at the West Somerset Railway (bucket and spade not included)...

The North British-built Pannier, of 1930, was bubbling away to herself nicely, requiring only a small scattering of coal across the level fire bed to keep her happy. The WSR have repainted 52' into her traditional Great Western green livery; this time wearing the company name on the tank sides. I think she looks lovely back in green, although the London Underground colours she wore as L94 (carried since 2011) were very popular. Wandering back towards the big engines, it was time to do some shunting. The trusty Class 08 soon growled into life and we propelled 4965 back into the shed to retrieve her Castle cousins. Once drawn out into the warm sunshine, the trio of 4-6-0s looked a picture whilst we topped up "Clun Castle"s tender...

With "Clun"s tender now adequately filled, we pushed the Castle duo back into the shed and uncoupled 4965 from them again. My task then changed to working the signalbox and, on my way there, I passed 84E's Midland member: No5593 "Kolhapur". The Jubilee was looking very nice at the head of a couple of maroon coaches in the goods siding. We don't see much of "Kolhapur" as she lives in the 'Top Shed' with "Defiant". I really hope she gets her turn in the overhaul queue one day...

One job that I don't mind doing when we're shunting is working the signalbox. Setting up for an open weekend requires an awful lot of shunting and the various moves cannot take place without effective operation of the lever frame...

The 08' was now required for other duties and so 'our' shunting was continued with the help of 7752. After all, a Pannier Tank is the perfect shunting engine...

52' was now being readied to take "Rood Ashton" across to the middle road for coaling. Across on 'Three Road' was another Jubilee: "Kolhapur"s visiting double chimney sister "Bahamas". 45596 had recently arrived back at Tyseley from her base at Keighley and will be starring in this weekends event as well as a few upcoming railtours with the TOC. "Bahamas" is a beautiful machine, well kept and much loved...

Once we'd taken 4965 from 'Five Road' and across onto the middle, I was very happy to be asked to light her up for the weekend. The practise of a 'warming fire' is not only to aid steam raising the following day, but also to safeguard against potentially harmful stresses which occur in the boiler during expansion. The boiler of a steam locomotive is made up of several different materials which expand at varying rates. Therefore, the more gradually we can bring an engine into steam, the less stress we impose on the boiler and firebox. With a bed of coal laid on the rear of the grate, I lit a good pile of rags on the shovel. The wood was ready and waiting on the tender...

With the rags smouldering away on top of the coal, I added the wood and allowed it to burn for a few minutes to get the heat into it. The blazing mound was then topped with plenty of coal before the firebox doors were closed and the fire allowed to take hold. The reassuring plume of smoke rising from 4965's copper-capped chimney, as well as the tell tale crackling, told that all was well...

4965 was built at Swindon in 1929 and has been a firm favourite at Tyseley throughout both of her 10-year boiler tickets in preservation. She will be leaving service later this year in readiness for her next overhaul. Just like the "Earl" and 9600, the Hall seems to be retiring in better condition than most engines start their careers: a real testament to the hard work, skill and dedication of the team at 84E...

The rest of my time at Tyseley today was spent helping with varying tasks from shunting to signalling and generally tidying the works. I left for home just after 5pm and can't wait to join the team tomorrow for the open weekend. Today was very busy but most enjoyable: sometimes the set-up days can be just as exciting for us as the event itself! A great day. Cheers all, Sam...

The Davenport: A Statfold American Dream...

"Driving Britain's Only Davenport" (Pic - M.Waldron)

Throughout my years of crewing locomotives for Statfold Barn I've been on most of their ever-growing fleet. However, one engine that remained at the top of my list was the diminutive Davenport: Ryam Sugar Company No1 of 1917. Therefore, when the roster for todays June Enthusiasts Day was published a few weeks ago, I was pleased to see my name penned against No1. The Met Office men had promised persistent pouring rain and, for once, they were sadly correct. When I arrived at Statfold a little after 06:00, the only thing I could see by the dawn's early light was a very wet shed frontage. In the lamp hut, I signed in and read the notices before wandering across to find my steed for the day. The fire had just been lit, with the tell tale plume of wood smoke from the chimney offering a reassuring sight... 

The Davenport Locomotive Company of Iowa were known for building 'switchers', or shunting locomotives in British terms. No1 was built for the Ryam Sugar Company in Bihar, India where she worked alongside younger Statfold shed-mate "Alpha". A rarity on the Indian sugar fields, we can only assume that the Davenport was ordered because British manufacturers would have been busy building locomotives for the war effort at the time. Showing her US pedigree, No1 includes features such as bar frames, ratchet regulator and even a bell. Making my way around the engine with an oil can, the bar frames made it easier to reach the inside Stephenson's valve gear which would be almost inaccessible with plate frames due to the low lying boiler barrel...

Whilst the various crews prepared their colourful steeds on and around the shed frontage, the rain continued to fall. The Safety Briefing took place in the running shed at around 08:00, after which I headed off to grab my free breakfast roll. Though a generally small engine, the Davenport employs probably the best cab of any SBR locomotive and it was most welcome on a foul morning like this one...

Known by some crews as the chicken coop, the cab isn't quite high enough for a driver 6ft tall (like myself) to stand up straight in. Therefore, I opted to make a Gresley out of a Davenport. I found a perfectly sized oil drum and stood it on my side of the cab before adding a block of wood and a cushion I'd brought from home. This created a lovely driving position from which to drive the 102-year old engine. It wasn't long before Fireman Joey noticed my seating arrangements and created his own version!

Despite the Davenport being rostered to run alone, the adverse weather conditions saw us being asked to couple up with 'Lautoka No19'; the ex-Fiji Hudswell. Though I myself was more than willing to brim the sand pots and go it alone, a little assistance wouldn't go a miss on the greasy rails, particularly when trying to stop the freight train! A little after 09:30, the yard master gave us the call to come off shed with our well-travelled duo. After descending the bank and drawing into the headshunt, we came to a stand near "Trangkil" to await our next movement...

With the board off, the pair hissed steadily backwards towards Platform 2 where the ex-Lynton coaches were waiting. Soon we were ready for the off...

With a "Right Away" from the Guard, away we drifted. The Davenport's ratchet regulator is unusual to operate, pulling open towards the rear of the engine. The 0-4-0 is well known for her loud bark but I was surprised at just how little regulator would make her start shouting. Her bark is most definitely worse than her bite! After a break at the balloon loop, we steamed away again towards Statfold. The engine strode easily towards the bank, with No19 hissing away behind our tender. In a way the hardest part of driving this engine is resisting the urge to ease back as you believe you're working her harder than you need to, when in reality she is just a loud little machine. Once back at Statfold we were shunted into the headshunt again before awaiting our next turn: the freight. No19 would lead us for this one...

Due to the poor weather, visitor numbers were noticeably lower than usual and photographers at the lineside were only the bravest, or maybe the silliest in this rain! Our third outing featured the ex-Bredgar coaches and was undertaken when the rain was at its heaviest. The Davenport certainly offered us the perfect machine for these conditions, although I bet it could be quite unpleasant under the baking Indian sun. Most of these sugar engines only had cabs to keep the sun off...

"Fireman Joey Leans Out" (Pic - M.Waldron)

I must apologise by the way for the awful quality of the pictures I took today; it was just so foul all day that I couldn't do any better!... 

The road ahead as seen from a saturated balloon loop...

Our next train was at around 13:40 and featured the Severn Lamb rake. Seven different locomotive consists on the low level railway did allow us to have a different train on each departure which was quite nice...

On the whole I found the little Davenport a very nice engine to drive. It's just very different and there's nothing wrong in that. Restored from a very dilapidated condition and returned to steam in 2015, No1 is now the only Davenport product in the UK and was the first American engine I've had the pleasure of driving. For our fifth and final journey of the day the rain did subside a little. Joey drove this trip with Cleaner Jake having a go at firing under my supervision. It was a nice last round trip with the little American and here we are barking back into Statfold...

"Passing The Tram Shed" (Pic - M.Waldron)

Following our final passenger working we were signalled across to the engine shed via the headshunt. Once stationary we were advised that No19 would be taken off us and used for some shunting whilst No1 was no longer required. Disposal began at around 15:40: the earliest I've ever done that on a Statfold day! Below we can see the cab layout on No1 after disposal. Note the ratchet regulator with the handy pin (to stop it opening on its own should the ratchet fail) as well as the pole handbrake lever next to the reverser. My Gresley seat can be seen on the right...

A final view of the ex-Ryam Davenport after a pleasant but very wet day...

I believe I signed off duty at around 16:15 today which was most pleasant! My thanks must go to Alex for rostering me and to Fireman Joey and Cleaner Jake for their hard work and company on the footplate of No1. I like this engine and would love to try it again on a dry day, maybe even go it alone! It's always nice to drive something a little bit different and No1 certainly is, even if you do feel a little bit like Casey Jones! What a historic little machine from the land of the free and the home of the brave...

Tyseley: A Bit Of "Clun" After Work...

Hi all. Just a quick one from today. I had to work this morning but having finished in the early afternoon I had a few hours to kill before going home. I therefore opted to head for Tyseley which is conveniently only about 10 minutes down the road into the city. Once there I donned my prep coat and wandered down towards "Clun Castle" where young Jake had already made a good start on the cab brasses. I spent the next couple of hours working away in the cab and produced some fair results...

Having used plenty of elbow grease shining up the cab on the 1950-built Castle, I decided to head for home a little after 16:00. She's now all ready for her run next weekend. Next Saturday we have Statfold's June Enthusiasts Day...