Yuletide In York With "Clun Castle"...

Every year we seem to reach our final excursion even quicker than the last, with this year being no exception. Today marked our final Vintage Trains outing of 2019 and included a fabulous run to York and back with the 'Christmas White Rose'. Heading up the well booked train was of course No7029 "Clun Castle". The engine went to York last Saturday too, but I was already committed to drive "Fiji" at Statfold so didn't tag along. This morning, well before dawn, I arrived at Tyseley and found No7029 simmering quietly as she steam heated the coaching stock. Unusually, the Castle would depart from Platform 2 road with the ECS as the usual platform was occupied by the Black Five and its coaches for todays 'Polar Express'...

Driver Ray Churchill would take us to York and I was privileged to travel with the crew from Tyseley to Coleshill via Dorridge. Most of our 2019 excursions have begun from Dorridge, despite ultimately heading in the opposite direction. The morning bark out of Tyseley, up and over the canal, was followed by some Class 47 action as it hauled us neatly to Dorridge. The Castle is allowed to travel at 45mph tender first which, on a frosty winters morning like this, was quite bracing shall we say! At Dorridge, fireman Tom made up the fire for an imminent departure. Behind us, hoards of passengers began boarding the toasty coaches, including a sizeable amount of Pullman Class diners. When right time came, off we went. "Clun" certainly makes her voice heard, with her double chimney bark echoing around the quiet morning streets.

The main line offers a fabulous experience for anyone who is a lover of steam. It's about as close as you're ever going to get to seeing "how they were", without actually having been there. A 10-coach load and a 47' on tick-over certainly made "Clun" (and Tom!) work a bit as we raced towards our first pick-up at Solihull. We would also be making pick-up stops at Tyseley, Coleshill Parkway and Ikleston before continuing our run to York. After an amazing morning run, I left the footplate at Coleshill and rejoined the lads in the Support Coach. The usual chat was enjoyed over the bark of the Castle, everything from loco performance to the current dirty washing of the preservation world. We had a servicing stop for water in a loop not too far from York, before the final sprint to the walled city. Upon arrival at platform 10, the assembled hoards of spectators and Christmas shoppers crowded around the engine...

With the coaching stock now empty of passengers, the 47' was summoned into action to haul the now uncoupled ECS into the sidings. "Clun" and the trusty GUV would make their way around the city to the NRM so that the loco and water carrier could be serviced. Leaving platform 10 behind, we steamed around the side of the NRM and then had to set back to reach the yard. With the GUV dropped off, 7029 was moved into the car park for coaling via a grab lorry...

Tender trimmed and refilled, the engine steamed cautiously back into the NRMs service yard and came to rest under the canopy. There is a sizeable inspection pit here, perfect for oiling the underneath: a rare luxury! Just the other side of the wall was 1898-built GNR No990 "Henry Oakley": the first Atlantic locomotive to be built in Britain. The pioneer was no doubt eyeing up "Clun" with envy from her resting place...

With the engine and GUV now watered and "Clun" lubricated ready for the homeward run, our next stop was the York turntable. We've been here before with "Edgcumbe", but not since the Christmas before last. The turntable is a fairly modern electric example, with hand cranks as a back up. By now the light was fading fast and "Clun" is pictured on the table after turning, ready to run round the GUV...

From here it was a short stroll back to Holgate sidings, passing the NRM on route. A little tank engine (I think it was a P Class) was shuttling up and down the yard on its final runs of the day. Soon enough we were back at Yorks bustling station under the impressive roof, with our consist in the opposite formation and the 47' just behind the Support Coach. As I stood in the doorway with a cuppa', I couldn't help but think how busy the place was: it was rammed. Leaving York behind, myself and Ted got to work in the kitchen, preparing crew and volunteer evening meals: an important job on these long days! Support Crew lead a varied existence, performing every task from pulling coal down, rolling up hoses, working hydrants, cooking, cleaning - you name it...it comes with the turf! All of it does however usually lead to a trip or two with the engine, experiencing the rarest of steam treats. Roll on the next one...