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...