Good evening all. Another pleasant day spent at the former 84E at Tyseley Locomotive Works, helping on and around 7029 "Clun Castle". The engine is currently at rest, ready for her outing to the Bath Christmas Market next Sunday. We have three Christmas excursions lined up for December, as well as an intensive program of 'Polar Express' workings out of Moor Street. Due to "Clun"s big commitments elsewhere and the retirement of last years 'PE' engine "Rood Ashton Hall", the TOC has brought in a welcome visitor to help out. My task this morning involved finishing up some cleaning on "Clun". She was pretty much gleaming already, having spent weeks being buffed up by various hands. The Tyseley engines have a reputation for their immaculate appearance so we never disappoint on that front!...
Whilst the Castles slumbered inside the shed, out in the damp November air stood the visiting Midland engine: Black Five 45305. Operated by the 5305 Locomotive Association, the Stanier 4-6-0 is usually based at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway. Much like the 84E team, the 5305 LA insist on a sparkling appearance and so 45305 was immaculately turned out for todays duties...
The 2019 program of the Birmingham 'Polar Express' started earlier this week, with trains now operating every Thursday - Sunday evening up until Christmas. I'm told that most trains are well sold, building on the success of last years trips. Rather than the usual Santa Special format, the 'Polar Express' offers more of an on-train theatrical performance, working through various scenes from the popular 2004 film with much singing and dancing. The Black Five would work the train in the Birmingham direction, proudly wearing the home-made headlamp to give it a slightly more American vibe. A Class 20 was coupled to the rear of the stock, ready to haul the engine in the opposite direction when required. Here, 45305 sits beneath the starting signal which is already in the 'off' position in readiness for departure early on in the afternoon...
I tagged along with the 'Polar' on todays first round trip, really just to say I'd done it again in 2019. Myself and a few others had a quick ride behind "Rood Ashton" last Christmas for the same reason! It's a steady run to Moor Street of only a couple of miles, mostly along the goods line which is restricted to 15mph. At Moor Street, the Five came to rest alongside a Chiltern Railways unit...
Crewed by Ray and Phil, it wasn't long before my puppy dog eyes got me invited up for a look in the cab. Despite being a Western fan, I've always had a soft spot for the Black Five. As with the outside of the engine, the cab on 45305 was very clean...
These LMS machines were masters of their job; the true go anywhere, do anything locomotive of their region. I will admit that I was green with envy, and Phil knew it! I'd love to be up here crewing this old thing...
Having drooled over the cab of the 5MT for long enough, I returned to the staff coach for the short and steady ride back to Tyseley. 45305 is an Armstrong-Whitworth example built in 1936 and spent most of its working life in North-West England. Bought for scrap by Drapers of Hull following withdrawal in 1968, the fate of the engine seemed sealed. However, the yard owner: Alderman Draper: decided to save one of the 742 locomotives cut up at his yard for the future and, simply because it was the cleanest, chose 45305. The engine is still owned by the Draper family and is now named "Alderman A E Draper" in memory. She is certainly well looked after and it was a pleasure to see her today. At Tyseley, I alighted ready to watch the 4-6-0 steam back off towards Moor Street with the returning 'Polar Express'...
By now the time was knocking on and the cold damp air was starting to bite so, having cleared away my dirty rags from "Clun", I decided to head for home. I'll next be at Tyseley next Sunday for the Bath job and I'm actually really looking forward to it. I thought I'd end with a few lyrics dedicated to the 5MT:
"Well you're up and you're groping for coal
For the fire had blinded your eye
Feel the boilers need and the fireholes greed
As you blacken the sun and the sky
She goes hammering over the hill
And you're bloody near roasted alive
Like a hound of steel riding runaway wheels
There's a devil astride a Black Five"
(Black Five - David Goulder)
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