A Grand Great Central Night Out...

Well folks, what a cracking night this was! This afternoon and evening I attended the Great Central Railways Beer Festival at their Quorn & Woodhouse Station and a great time was had by all. Batesy and the team were there with his 1925-built Aveling & Porter steam roller so this immediately gave a good base camp and would promise a social and humorous evening. I arrived at the Central a little before 14:00 and, having met up with everyone, it wasn't long before we were making ready for the 15:00 road run to the village pubs. Soon enough, we were rumbling along behind Batesys roller, making steady progress towards the Quorndon Fox...

As this event was a direct replacement for this years cancelled Easter gathering, there were plenty of other steam engines, tractors and classics on the road run and so the car park was quite busy at the pub. Here, the roller simmers outside the pub...

Wandering around pint in hand, it was a pleasure (as always) to see Fowler Showmans Engine sisters "Repulse" and "Renown" side by side...

Here, "Ikanopit" simmers alongside fellow Foster "Fiery Elias", of Teddy Boston fame...

There were also some miniatures about, of which some were old friends...

It was a pleasure not to have the car with me today and I must thank Ben for his personal chauffeuring in both directions which meant I could actually sample a Beer Festival for a change! Usually whenever we attend these dos I'm driving so am limited to soft drinks! After a steady trundle homeward from the pub with "Louise", we arrived back at the yard and shunted the trailer back into place in good time for Dr Buskers performance at around 19:30. A steam rally favourite for decades now, Dr Buskers light hearted bawdy shows always seem to go down well wherever they're performed: we have always enjoyed them! Usually this weekend he would be at the annual Bosworth do which has held this weekend for many years but was cancelled for 2021. As the music continued and the beer flowed, the trains on the GCR were still running in the form of the Standard 5 on the diner and the Standard 9 on the Fish and Chip special. Here, the latter creeps impressively through Quorn...

Later on, with lamps lit, Batesys roller sits outside the Beer Tent...

The two Showmans were by now generating with lamps burning brightly...

Later on, a miracle occurred from the heavens above: Batesy bought us a pint!...

It was a fantastic atmosphere at Quorn this evening: singing and laughter, steam engines and beer. I haven't experienced this since way before Covid-19s first appearance and so it was a welcome return to some form of normality after a bleak 18 months or so. Sadly, all good things must come to an end and by 23:30 I was trudging across the yard towards my lift home following the finale of Dr Buskers performance. I struggle to write posts like this as it's hard to convey atmosphere and enjoyment in words and pictures but it was a sensational evening to remember and so thank you to Phil and all involved. It was great. Cheers all, Sam...

The Northampton "Tornado"...

Evening all. A very quick post from today. This morning we were treated to the sight of Peppercorn A1 Pacific No60163 "Tornado" (the big model) steaming past work. The engine was working north out of Northampton station with a lengthy, well loaded train bound for Chester I believe. She made quite a sight and I must admit she looks fabulous in the BR Brunswick Green livery. Driver Mick Kelly gave us a quick wave before opening the engine up and setting into the journey towards the water stop at Rugby. The A1 sounded fantastic with her three-cylinder beat echoing all around as she barked into the distance. I'm not much of a fan of Eastern stuff but she did sound brilliant this morning. Cheers all and catch you next time, Sam...

Please note that the above image was taken from land outside of the NR boundary fence.

Statfold: Camaraderie with "Cloister"...

In my opinion days on the footplate are made all the better if you can share them with a good crew. Today at the Statfold Barn Railway I was rostered to drive 1891-built Quarry Hunslet "Cloister" with Ian firing and, coupled on behind, Phil and Caroline with "Jack Lane". As can be expected, a great time was had by all. The day began like most: at dawn. By 06:30, I was one of the first on the shed frontage and found my steed sitting quietly, still nice and hot and with the chimney capped...

Fireman Ian soon arrived and began checks and preparations to light the fire. I meanwhile made my way around the compact 0-4-0 with the oil can. Soon enough, a plume of smoke was rising steadily skyward from the chimney... 

This engine is one of Hunslets eleven strong Alice class, designed for Dinorwic Slate Quarry. They are punchy little engines offering strength far beyond their stature and yet, with a short wheelbase, they can also negotiate fairly tight curves. Often nicknamed the 'Hunslet GTI's by Statfold crews, you are pretty much guaranteed a good day with a Quarry Hunslet. With Ians fire now crackling away nicely and the oiling up complete, we set to with the cleaning kit in an effort to spruce up "Cloister". A small engine is a blessing when it comes to cleaning and, by the time our train engine crew arrived, "Cloister" was gleaming, much to Phils embarrassment...

This weekends Statfold event celebrated 126 years of the Quarry Hunslet and so the four operational home-based Quarrys were out and about along with visitors "Lilla" and "Britomart" from the Fes. When required, we left shed with our Quarry duo and were signalled onto the ECS stabled at the top of platform 1. Once piped up, the duo steadily brought the train down to the peg for boarding...

When the next up train arrived, we were given the road and the signal to depart. With a "Right Away" from the Guard, off we went. Once on the move it was clear that "Cloister" is a tad on the worn side. It has a few knocks here and there and appears a bit three-legged at the chimney. I later found that this is due to one eccentric rod not being the correct length! She also likes to self-select her reverser position as she rattles the stick into full forward at any given opportunity. We also found it to be quite a wet engine: spitting and spotting even with the appropriate water levels: I can't explain that. It seems ultra-saturated! Despite these quirks, she tries her best and steams very well. Here, we await the road at the balloon loop...

Next, our Quarry duo have moved around the balloon loop in readiness for departure as "Wendy" and "Liassic" arrive from Statfold. "Wendy", like "Cloister", was part of the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Trust before the pair were donated to Statfold in 2019 following dissolution of the society and collection...

After a sprint back to Oak Tree, Phil tops up "Jack Lane"s saddle tank...

Things seemed to move very quickly today and the operations at Statfold signalbox seemed particularly swift. We were at the balloon loop with our second round trip when this picture was taken at 10:52! Here, Ian adds more coal...

Our second trip was hauling the fairly weighty freight train. An interesting addition was "Jonathan" of 1898, sitting on a flat wagon. Though lovely to see, its presence certainly made us uneasy on points and bends!...

Back at Statfold again, we see a cab view of "Cloister". This is the fourth Alice class I've driven, having crewed at Bala in years previous and driven "Holy War", "Maid Marian" and of course "Alice" herself. They are all, as you can guess, extremely similar looks wise (cabs optional of course). However, a difference we noticed with "Cloister" was the missing saddle tank handrail which on some examples also rounds the chimney at the front. She looks a little naked without it I feel, probably because the other ten have it...

Third trip down and the engines are on the turntable which was having motor issues so required a little manual intervention! It was far more enjoyable watching Ian and Phil struggle than break into a sweat yourself...

Soon enough we were getting ready for our fourth outing and it was only the early afternoon! The two engines were performing very well and we were having a lovely day: good engine, good weather, good crew...

After a pleasant fourth trip I swapped with Ian who then took over the regulator for our remaining trips. The sun was shining as we prepared to set out on Trip No5...

Here, the duo waits at Cogan Halt with the Lynton set on Trip No5...

For the final two trips of the day we became a Quarry Triple as "Sybil Mary" joined the consist behind "Jack Lane". Following the seventh trip we were all separated and Ian drove "Cloister" onto the shed with a perfect fire for disposal: I was quite pleased with it anyway! A quick rake through and a flick around with the iron rendered the fire almost dead and the boiler was then topped up before the necessaries were isolated. It was then time to fill in the book and sign out after a cracking day. Thank you to Ian, Phil and Caroline for a great laugh! If only all days could be this much fun...

Summer Afternoon Bulleid...

Evening all. A very quick post from today. This afternoon, right on time at 15:29, West Coast Railways' Bulleid Pacific No35018 "British India Line" sailed past work on a light engine move from Carnforth to Southall. Hauling just two support coaches, the large Merchant Navy slipped gracefully past us with hardly a whiff of smoke in the hazy summer conditions. Built in 1945, the pacific was heading south to work an excursion over the weekend and looked a picture as she passed by. The Bulleid pacifics are all big engines, but the Merchant Navys in particular are the largest of all. I thought that light pacific "Sir Keith Park" was big when I got on that a year or two ago, but these are the next step up again! As with all passing main line steam, the sight of her was very brief. A friendly wave from her crew as they passed was then followed by a quick view of the tail lamp as they disappeared swiftly south. Lovely engine. Cheers all...

Please note that the above image was taken from land outside of the NR boundary fence.