A Ryton Day: Steam At The Pools...

Hi all. After a fantastic run with "Green Goddess" on Thursday at the RHDR, todays turn at Coventry Model Engineering almost didn't happen at all. Upon my return from Kent I had the most horrific food poisoning and was in a terrible state. All that managed to coax me from the house was the thought of a few sunny hours of fresh air at Ryton Pools. I arrived at the CMES steaming bays at around 11:30, finding a couple of engines already preparing to raise steam. Jeff had brought along his trusty O1, which I believe has the 5" gauge Nigel Gresley 2-8-0 chassis plumbed up to a B1 boiler from a Springbok. I've driven it before in its previous green livery and found it to be a gentle and forgiving giant with plenty in reserve...

After chatting for a while with Jeff about all things steam, his engine was very nearly at working pressure. The 2-8-0 would join two other steamers today for what would be CMES' second of three steam hauled public running Sundays in 2019. There was a time when steam was all the track had, with the two club Sweet Peas putting in countless miles in previous years. However, these days the steamers tend to appear for these three special occasions only, giving the two battery electrics a break...

Over the way from the O1 was Emma with her sparkling Polly I 0-4-0 side tank. This engine is fairly new and is immaculate from top to bottom...

With three train rakes marshalled up from the assortment of riding cars, the trio of steamers gradually made their way to the track in good time for the 13:00 start. The largest engine of the three was Daves humungous American locomotive. If memory serves me right it's a 2-8-4, but I can't be sure. It's a huge beast of a thing when on a 5" raised track, having to be controlled by extension rods from the back of the tender. With three cylinders and a sizeable boiler, this engine is master of any job at RPMR and is an impressive feat of model engineering...

The day was a fairly steady one passenger wise, with a few hundred being carried but not enough to overwhelm our services. Ryton is often like this on hot sunny days as people tend to find plenty to do on a summer Sunday afternoon. Here, the Polly I simmers at the head of a waiting train of ECS...

I had a mixture of jobs today, from guarding to clipping tickets or helping with loading. It was probably best that I sat on the back of the train taking in the fresh air, especially with how I was feeling! Later on, Jeff kindly allowed me to take the regulator of his O1 for a few trips. It's a lovely thing to drive: gentle but powerful. She steams so freely and has a lot to give but seems to do it without fuss or exertion...

Whilst Dave had his lunch, I was also given the regulator (or the extension rod) of the huge American engine. Leaving Ryton Halt with a full train, the engine barely murmured as it pulled away. She carries a steam chest pressure gauge and you didn't need much in there to have her setting off like a rocket. Around the railway we went, eating up the lengths of track with plenty of momentum. It's quite a thing but, due to the size of it on raised track, I was a little worried about letting it go too much. I am however grateful for the go on it: quite an experience to say the least! Later in the day, as the passenger numbers dropped, the queue became quieter. Jeffs O1 is spotted on a late afternoon train as the sun finally gave way to some cloud cover...

With the station gate closed at just after 16:00, the three engines retired to the steaming bays after a successful and enjoyable afternoon. It had done me the world of good to get out in the air, as well as taking in some steam. Thanks to all for a pleasant afternoon out and now it's time to rest up before work tomorrow...