Completely In Awe...

Hi guys. Just a short one today. I nipped into Statfold after work for a few hours, ready to do a bit of cleaning before an invited firing turn at the March Open Day which takes place tomorrow. Weather forecasts are not looking good but Statfold will, I'm sure, do their best to provide a brilliant show regardless. As usual, when I walked into Statfold I was completely in awe. There is so much to see and yet the equipment and storage facilities on offer there seem completely mundane to those regularly involved with it. To me, it is absolutely fabulous and every engine is a unique jewel in the Statfold crown. A brilliant place, really, fantastic. Below, one of the two newly restored engines being released tomorrow...Large Quarry "Sybil Mary"...

The other engine being released tomorrow is No19, a Hudswell Clarke 0-4-0 which returned from Fiji last June in a poor state. Since then it has been lovingly restored and looks brilliant...

In the main engine shed there were familiar engines and also newbies. It was the first time that I had seen "Sybil Mary", and the first time I'd seen No19 restored (I saw it when it arrived last June). Another new engine was "Josephine" which is a modified 0-4-2 Hunslet (sister to Statfold's 'Trangkil No4') and has been purchased in working condition (unusual for Statfold). Below, we can see "Sybil Mary" and Avonside "Marchlyn", with new build Quarry's "Jack Lane" & "Statfold" behind...

During the afternoon, my mate Phil took me for a jaunt on a rattling 0-6-0 diesel engine that was purchased along with "Josephine" from a private railway collection. The diesel originally operated in a German concentration camp which gives it a slightly unsettling potential history. Below, we are leaving the multi-gauge Statfold yard, bound for Oak Tree (no snow yet!)...

Down in Oak Tree storage shed I saw many engines, including the Bagnall "Isibutu" (a beautiful machine), Peckett's "Triassic" (formerly of Bala LR) & "Liassic", Alice-class Quarry's "Michael" & "King of the Scarlets" and a few more non-British steamers. Outside the shed were two Baldwin locomotives, recently returned in a poor state, from India. Oak Tree is yet another gem and you could spend ages looking around the various engines in there. Back at Statfold, "Sybil Mary" is waiting in the heated shed...

After doing some cleaning and ashing out on "Sybil Mary", I decided to head home as we are out for a meal tonight. I will return to Statfold first thing, hoping that the snow is not too bad. Cheers guys. Sam.

Steam Gala Day 2: Station Pilot with "Sir Gomer"...

Hi guys. Today was another brilliant day on the railway, this time crewing something a little closer to home: our own Peckett 0-6-0ST "Sir Gomer". The ex-Mountain Ash locomotive (1859 of 1932) just had to be steamed for the gala weekend, alongside fellow resident Aveling & Porter "Blue Circle". 1859 is the railways own locomotive and is a jack of all trades, being extremely powerful for her size and able to move whatever you want her to. Regular readers will know that she is of course vacuum and steam heat fitted and can do a full day travelling between Shackerstone & Shenton with five and even six coach trains quite happily. Peckett's were of course ignorant lumps, built to last. I arrived at 5:45am today after an extra 15 minutes in bed (spoilt lad that I am!), with Steve there cleaning the grate and checking the firebox. I then lit the loco up and she sat singing away happily over the pit. Once the locomotive was in steam and ready, we steamed out of the shed and were immediately given the road to take us up onto the pit road to couple up to the local set for steam heating. "Sir Gomer" was rostered as the station pilot and would be heating stock, shunting wagons, marshalling coaches and performing the odd shuttle run with 30585 throughout the day (as she did yesterday). Below, the green Peckett stands heating stock in the up yard...

Throughout the day myself & Carl shared the driving on the locomotive, with James doing most of the firing whilst we were out & about. Having steam heated the local, we brought it down into the station when required and the Beattie then took it to Shenton. When the Beattie returned we had to remove the box-van from the back of her train. Below, I'm driving the Peckett down to collect the box-van, with the Shunter (Danny) riding on board...

"Sir Gomer" In Snow (Photo - Debbies Photos)

As the snow continued to fall, we continued to shunt in order to keep things moving. The green engine took the box-van smartly down to the north end, taking water on route. Though the regulator is still pretty stiff, I got used to it as the day wore on.

Shunting The Box Van (Photo - Debbies Photos)

At 1pm we left Shackerstone tailing the Beattie on the Market Bosworth local. I was showing James how to fire whilst Carl drove and Dave rode with us for the joy of it. The engine performed well on the shuttle, with the shiney Britannia whistle screaming its head off on the way back through Hedley's. That whistle is a joy to use and you can create alot of different tones with it. "Sir Gomer" normally carries an original Peckett whistle but the Brit whistle is a good substitute and is very LOUD! After the shuttle the Beattie was taken off the train and "Sir Gomer" pushed the stock back up onto the pit road for temporary stabling. We took water again before collecting the local set for heating in preparation for the second MB shuttle. 1859 was ready to go when we got the call that the Beattie had failed with the reverser stuck solid in mid gear due to overwhelming steam pressure in the chests, against the valves. We quickly took the stock back up to the pit road before bringing "SG" back light engine. Through the dock road points we went and up towards the back of the Beattie in order to give her a light hearted bump. I carefully nudged the Beattie with "SG" before backing swiftly off and then, away she went. "Sir Gomer" had saved the day.

Me Driving "Sir Gomer" With T9 Behind (Photo - S.Adkins)

The Peckett steamed and ran well all day long and seemed very popular, seeing as she is only a simple locomotive and is a Shackerstone regular. I was very pleased to be driving & firing her again today: a beautiful industrial machine.

Me Taking "Sir Gomer" for Water (Photo - D.Hanks)

Our final job was to shunt the stock for the Beattie's last local, and then to collect it afterwards for stabling. The Beattie was then positioned on the double-headed 5:15pm departure for Shenton, with T9 30120...

With the two Southern's down the line, "Sir Gomer" was raked through and put to bed by myself, Steve and Caroline. "There we go old gal', another day done". All in all a fantastic gala weekend, with strong passenger numbers and fabulous morale levels all around. I for one really enjoyed it. Brilliant. Sam.

Steam Gala Day 1: Beautiful Baby Beattie...

Hello guys. Well, after months of planning by the railway, publicity in the steam rags and anticipation on our parts, the 2013 Battlefield Line Steam Gala had arrived. Myself & David were first on site this morning, arriving in the rain at 5:30am. I was of course rostered on Beattie 30585, with Dave being rostered on 30120. Carl also turned up early and made us both a nice cuppa' whilst we prepped our engines (Carl was out on "Sir Gomer" today). 30585 had had a good warming fire the day before but was not on steam yet. I cleaned the grate with the far too short fire-iron that came with the engine and also checked the firebox, which was nice and dry. The gauge glasses showed 3/4 of a glass and so I lit a strong fire with a pile of parrafin-soaked rags and some rotten wood, which always burns well. Soon enough the baby Beattie was singing away, though the pressure gauge seemed uneager to rise its needle. Driver Eddie arrived at around 6:15 and set to oiling the locomotive up underneath before I ashed her out. 30585 came round surprisingly quickly after 40psi and, even with the blower off and the damper shut, was feathering at the first safety valve within a matter of minutes! There was nothing we could do to keep her quiet.

In the morning rain we drew 30585 out of the engine shed in front of a gang of hardy photographers. We were due off shed at 8:15 in order to drop down into the North End and pick up the freight train, which was due off Shackerstone at 8:45. Right on time we slithered down the yard with the two reps on board, before picking up the stock; made up of four wagons and two brakevans...

30585 With The Freight In The North End

As usual with an engine I've never been on before, I was trying to work out how 30585 went...from the firemans side. I tried her on a flat fire with the hot burning Welsh steam coal for starters. We departed Shackerstone on time with our two reps (Adrian & Paul) present: one on the footplate, the other on the brakevans. Once Driver Eddie had got the 2-4-0s big 5ft 7" wheels to gain grip on the wet rails, we steamed triumphantly out of the yard and across the cross-over, collecting the token as we passed the box. The creeky wagons that we were pulling are rarely used (only for gala's and the occasional P-Way train) and so seemed to drag behind 30585, though she seemed to cope admirably. Due to the Beattie only carrying 600-odd gallons in her small tank, we were forced to take water at Shenton on each trip. This was done using our old petrol-engined water pump and a long hose, with water coming off the old Milk tanker that was positioned there yesterday...

Beattie Drinks at Shenton (Still Raining!)

Returning to Shackerstone on the freight, it was clear that Beattie was a fantastic steamer. With a flat fire and maybe the odd extra shovelfull in each back corner, she would keep 140psi-160psi (full pressure) all the way, with the train being slowed & halted on the steam brake. The injectors, though fiddly, seemed to inject a good stream of water and barely touched the pressure...just what you want! 10 miles later, we were already enjoying ourselves immensely. The NRM'S T9 was already waiting on the stock as we pulled in with the freight, and departed on time at 10am. We then performed some shunting demo's with Beattie and the freight wagons, whilst "Sir Gomer" steam heated our waiting 'local' set. Our local train departed at 11am with Adrian on the regulator, as he is a passed driver at Shackerstone as well as the keeper of 30585 at Quainton. I fired the trip whilst also eating my breakfast, alongside Eddie who was stuffing his down. You cannot beat a breakfast off "Jessie" the Buffet Car...

Throughout the day the Beattie & the T9 shared the services. The two runs to Shenton with the local set (a 10T Box van and two Blood & Custard Mk1's) were probably my favourites: very pleasant. At 1pm & 2:30pm we operated shuttles to Market Bosworth only, top & tailed with the powerful "Sir Gomer". These two trips were very enjoyable, with Beattie putting on a good show on the way there, and "Sir Gomer" showing just what industrials can do on the way back...

30585 Leaves Shackerstone On The Local, "SG" On Rear (Photo - J.Shadbolt)

Throughout the day Beattie's strained water capacity was taking its toll. We seemed to take water all day long (even more than the Pannier's did when we went around the Midlands!). The water filler is in the bunker on the Beattie, with the bag dropped in through a hole you dig in the coal. I tell you what, you need to be careful up there. One slip with the boot can go two ways...1) you fall off and break your neck, 2) the Beattie gets an unhealthy supply of coal in its water tank! Despite the water filler, I cannot convey how lovely this locomotive is. I would put it right up there with some of my favourite locomotive's that I have crewed over the years. At 140 years old Beattie would put most newer locomotives to shame, even "Tornado" in my eyes. Genuinely, a fabuous engine.


Me With Beattie at Shackerstone (Photo - D.Hanks)

As the day drew on we seemed to be very busy, with our last departure at 4pm with the second local, all the way to Shenton. I drove this trip with Adrian firing and Eddie along for the ride. The Beattie was just as good from the drivers side, and limped along quite happily. Starting off in full forward as usual on this slide-valve engine, she would wander away happily with the local. Once over 5 or 10mph I would notch up two or three notches, and cruise at about 4th notch with the regulator cracked so as to keep the engine chuffing along. To change reverser position you had to back off on the regulator to almost shut, otherwise she'd throw you through the cab front! With the regulator shut the loco had to be in full forward gear, as per slide valve locomotives. For those who do not know, a slide valve engine needs to be in full gear when cruising to prevent the valves from rattling around inside the valve chest (more travel = less speed). In a similar case, a piston valve engine is brought back into a "drift position", usually a notch or two before mid-gear, reducing the travel on the valve in this case. Below, I can be seen on 30585 having driven her from Shack...

30585 At Shenton (Photo - J.Shadbolt)

The afternoon had been a little brighter and dryer on the weather side of things, and passenger numbers had been very good indeed. However, under darkening skies, we pulled off the train at Shenton to take water at the tanker and then...the RAIN CAME DOWN (and did it!). Below, 30585 climbs out of Shenton with the last local in the pouring rain, with me firing and Eddie driving again...

Beattie Steams Back to Shack On The Local (Photo - S.Adkins)

Back at Shackerstone, "Sir Gomer" was ready to depart with her usual gala-Saturday evening run. The T9 waiting in the North end headshunt whilst we (with 30585) shunted the local stock up into the south yard for stabling overnight. Eddie then uncoupled the affectionately named 'Beattie'...

After a brilliant day crewing 30585, we disposed of her in the north end yard and joined the final departure of the day from Shack for a beer: the 6:30pm behind the beautiful T9. Below, Mike Snow's fabulous video of the gala, showing 30585 and 30120 at work in Leicestershire. The final shot of the Beattie is driven by myself, steaming through Far Coton...

 

All in all, an absolutely wonderful day. Honestly, I really, really enjoyed it. Fabulous engine and a fabulous day on the Battlefield Line. Wonderful. Regards, Sam.

Twas The Day Before Gala...

Hi everyone. Today I arrived at Shackerstone at 7:30am in order to participate in the final day of preparation for the 2013 Steam Gala weekend. Yesterday, the three line-going engines had their warming fires put in and today, all three would be in full steam. Upon my arrival I lit up Beattie No30585 ready for her steam test following road transport a week or two ago...

In front of the Beattie, "Sir Gomer" was also lit and was coming around nicely. We then enjoyed a cuppa' or two before "Sir Gomer" pushed Beattie out of the shed at around 9am, and down to the north end for coaling. In order to ensure that Beattie's water filler was not covered by the coal, we sent two of the cleaners up on top of the cab with shovels to clear the JCB's bucket by hand...

30585 Takes Coal

"Sir Gomer" patiently waited whilst Beattie was filled, before shunting down the loading ramp and coming forward again for coal herself...

Aren't You Handsome "Sir Gomer"...

With both engines coaled we steamed across the cross-over to the signalbox, hauled by "Sir Gomer". Both engines then dropped back & took water. We had reps on site for both 30585 and the NRM's T9 today, so everyone was on their best behaviour in order to give the best impression. I was shown around the T9 by two lovely gents who had come up all the way from the Bodmin & Wenford in order to look after the 4-4-0 for the weekend. We had a good chat & a laugh as we looked around the T9 and oiled her up for her test run later today.

Once the T9 was oiled, I was shouted outside to see "Sir Gomer" in my way and feathering at the valves. I was asked to fire the locomotive to Shenton & back on her loaded test run with Andy on the regulator, in order to free up Fireman Carl & Trainee Jason to help adjust the T9's brakes. Naturally, I took on the task and away we went. I fired "Sir Gomer" as I normally do with a full, flat fire with a stronger back-end. Filling holes as they appeared along the way, the loco romped along with 140-160psi on the gauge and a strong water level...brilliant. I am very fond of this old Peckett.

At Shenton we ran round the 5-coach test train swiftly and prepared to depart straight away...

"Sir Gomer" at the Battlefield Site

We had a fantastic run back and "Sir Gomer" romped along with 5 coaches seeming no effort whatsoever. Just the job! On arrival at Shackerstone we were halted at the Home Signal (No2), whilst the T9 watered in Platform 2. The Peckett simmered away whilst she was checked over by myself & Andy with the end result showing a favourable run and a big green tick against her name. She is now ready for her weekend's gala duties.

Andy Doing Some Kind of Celebration Dance Next To 1859

Following the test run we anchored the stock down in Platform 2 and took "Sir Gomer" to the pit road where she waited with a dead fire and a full boiler, simmering away nicely...

With line clear, 30585 took the milk tanker to Shenton for the weekend, as part of her test run. On her return, 30120 was ready to go and I acted as Pilotman on the footplate. We had a brilliant run on the 4-4-0 to Shenton & back and steamed back into Shackerstone in good time. After the run, the two Southern locomotives simmered quietly in Platform 1, right behind "Sir Gomer". It looks like its going to be a brilliant weekend...

I finally left Shackerstone at 7:30pm following a very long, tiring but extremely enjoyable day. Tomorrow, its the gala! Wohoo! Cheers guys. Sam.

Preparing For The Gala...

Hi there guys. Today I arrived at Shackerstone at Midday as we all started to pull together to prep for the Steam Gala. The T9 stood quietly at the back of the shed with a warming fire in the box, with "Sir Gomer" & 30585 stood together outside. When I arrived I lit up "Sir Gomer" and both she and the Beattie slowly began warming through together...

"Sir Gomer" Slowly Comes to Life

There was alot of shunting going on at Shackerstone today, not only coaches but also wagons and even locomotives. "Gomer" & Beattie were moved to the side road alongside the shed later in the day, in order to let the T9 out for a full, smokey warming fire to be built. Other jobs included cleaning and tidying the shed. Tomorrow will be the main prep day.

Beattie Behind "Sir Gomer" (And Lit!)

I'm really looking forward to this weekend: it should be brilliant. Please join us if you can as we bring Cornwall to Leicestershire for ONE weekend only! Cheers guys. Sam.

Achilles Report No29: In Steam...

Hi guys. Today I briefly steamed "Achilles" in its half-rebuilt guise in order to see if there were any leaks in the fittings I had repacked. The gauge glass and the whistle turret have both been successfully sealed and the new gauge glass rubbers were working fine. The blower gland still needs sorting but I can do that when I get around to it. The engine steamed up carefully with her electric blower running at a slower speed, in order to bring her around slowly on this very cold day. The valves blew off at the required 90psi and she sat simmering happily away with a good fire burning in the firebox. I had been trialling charcoal in the firebox for lighting up purposes as I am told that some people use it in the same way as parrafin wood but, honestly, I think the wood is much better, especially when lit with a fire-lighter to get it off the mark. Below, we can see a good wood fire burning brightly in the box with a trail of parrafin spill making its way down the backhead...

With the loco steaming well as a stationary boiler and no real faults to report, I decided to block it up in the air so as to allow the wheels to turn over. Slowly but surely, easing the regulator open in full forward gear, "Achilles" wheels began to bind as the steam pressure starting to push the rods. As usual, she didn't move first time. Instead I had to shut-off steam and then move the wheels by hand, allowing the supposedly "auto" (though the term is used loosely) drain cocks to open and release untold amounts of water. With the water expelled, a light touch on the regulator got the engine turning over freely, rocking back & forth on the work-bench. In fairness she did go OK, apart from the steam chests leaking slightly at their lids, as well as the drain cocks remaining open all the time. The latter problem is a plague I find with auto cocks, and these will be replaced with manuals before she hits the track. One problem that I was annoyed with was the water pump. The double-acting axle pump has two rams which force water from the tank into the boiler along a bypass system. However, I think the 'O' rings on the rams have finally worn out and so "Achilles" is chucking water all over the place, with the clack on the side of the boiler remaining very hot throughout running, and suggesting no feed whatsoever. Luckily the engine is still in the earliest stages of testing and so there is plenty of time to sort these jobs out, though I'm still aiming for April 6th. After a brief test to see what needed doing before a proper, full steam test, I decided to blow the engine down which, as she was in the workshop, involved putting her out on the drive...

"Wierd Thing To Have On The Drive!"

After disposal the engine was put back on her work-table and left to cool with all valves open to prevent freezing: this winter doesn't seem to be ending any time soon! Her 'naked' look (no chimney, dome or cab) was partly down to the fact she is under test and not quite finished yet, but also due to the fact that I have had some of the brasses professionally polished, as I do now & again. Below, we can see the chimney cap and the dome shining like mad. You cannot possibly get this finish by manual elbow-grease alone...

Now you all know the secret of "Achilles" shiney dome cover which I think looks fairly impressive when out on the engine. You can literally see your (or my) face in it!...

"Shiney"

With that said, you can probably guess why the brass is not currently on the engine. The loco is grimey and covered in muck from all the work she's had done, plus the sealant for the steam chests, coal dust and PTFE tape waste and god knows what else. The brass will return to the engine when it returns to the track in (hopefully) April. Thanks for reading guys. Sam.

"Sir Gomer" On Steam Test...

Hi everyone. Today at 7:30am I arrived at Shackerstone in order to help Jason & Andy steam "Sir Gomer". After a cuppa' I lit the locomotive up and she sat singing away happily in the shed following a good warming fire the night before. The Class 08 diesel was then fired up in order to drag Beattie No30585 and "Sir Gomer" out of the shed so as to let out the smoke. With the loco's outside we decided to clean up the shed a bit: the pit was swept, the bins emptied, the rags collected up and the area generally tidied. Outside the shed the two steamers looked chilly, even though "Gomer" was showing signs of steam as the cold wind blew. 'Beattie' was soon shunted out of the way in order for the Peckett to edge slowly up and down before heading back into the shed under her own steam for ashing out...

"Sir Gomer" & 30585 Sit With The 08 On The Shed Road

I love ashing out...not! Ashing out you can probably imagine was THE job that everyone involved with steam locomotives in their working days simply hated. You stand in a pit with a hose pipe in one hand spitting casually over the ash in the pan whilst the rest of the water falls onto your boots and then begins to fill the pit up slowly. Above your head you have a hissing, red hot steam brake cylinder and you are being dripped on by oil and soot from above, with the ashpan being right under the cab floor. With the grime covered rake in your other hand you begin sweeping the dust-clad ash from the pan and create clouds of white, speckly dust which covers your overalls and the back of the loco's wheels no matter how much you try to wet it down. Eventually the water will hit the rake and will make its way down until it enters your sleeve through your cuffs which rounds the entire experience off beautifully. Mind you, in the words of a good engineman..."it has to be done". With the pan ashed out we backed "Sir Gomer" out of the shed and she sat simmering happily in the winter air as the DMU casually passed on its way to Market Bosworth.

A Fire In Gomer's Box

Today we couldn't get a path on the main line due to the running DMU service and so "Sir Gomer" simply moved back and forth on the shed dock road before being disposed of. She will be line-tested with a load on Friday. With the 0-6-0ST back in bed we decided to fire up the 08 again before shunting 30585 back into the shed. What a beautiful engine she is. I wonder how she'll go...

I will next be at Shackerstone on Thursday, to begin the gala prepation. Please join us for the gala if you get the chance - I'm sure it will be cracking. Cheers guys - Sam.

Meeting Beattie and Warming "Gomer"...

Hi everyone. Today, after work, I slipped down to Shackerstone in dreary weather. Inside the shed I found Pockets, already working away on "Sir Gomer". The Peckett is due for steam test tomorrow following alot of valve travel work, and this afternoon was our last chance to reconnect any piping and generally tidy up the engine. Behind "Sir Gomer" stood an absolutely beautiful engine: LSWR Beattie 2-4-0 No30505 of 1883. This 140-year old locomotive is one of our two star guests for the Steam Gala which will take place next weekend, where we will be bringing Cornwall to Leicestershire for one weekend only. 30585 is on loan from the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre at Quainton...mainly because one of the heads there is one of Shackerstone's drivers! I am rostered out on the loco next Saturday and I cannot wait: what a beautiful piece of kit. The Beattie's were designed for commuter trains out of Waterloo but were very big in the wheel for their size (about 5ft 7" I think). They are a well tank locomotive and only carry about 600 gallons of water in their tanks, with the filler in the bunker (a most unusual arrangement). Three of these very old loco's survived until 1962, when two of them were saved...this one and No30587 which is part of the National Collection.

Anyway, back to "Sir Gomer", with all of her piping connected I could get to grips with lighting a warming fire on the front 1/2 of her grate. An oily rag and a match, and off she went with smoke filling the cab...

A Lead-Lamp Illuminates "Sir Gomer"s Cab

I took a couple of pics (excuse the quality mind!) on my phone in order to record the atmosphere in the shed when there are engines in steam. The hard-wood which we have been lighting up with, plus the very 'hard' Welsh coal we've been burning, creates white, lingering smoke and it really does fill the shed on these calm evenings. Below, the Peckett sits crackling away with a warming fire in the box...

'Warming fires' are exactly what they sound like. A fire is lit on the front half (or back half depending on the engine) of the fire-grate and gently warms the firebox and boiler over a period of time. Normally we provide a warming fire the day before steaming in order to allow the boiler to warm up and expand slowly and carefully. This method is tried & tested, and protects against harmful, quick expansion which can cause anything from leaking tubes & stays to complete boiler failure...

"Fire In The Hole!"

With "Sir Gomer"s warming fire burning well, I left the railway in order to get home for tea after a long afternoon there. I'll be back tomorrow in order to help with "Sir Gomer"s steam test and general shed work. Cheers guys. Sam.

Achilles Report No28: Running On Air...

Hi everyone. Today I picked up "Achilles" from Eddie's having been put back together by me old mate. The engine now has its new crossheads on and runs well on air. She will now require alot of running in as the running gear is very tight, though it does turn over evenly with good beats at the chimney. Running on air she'll run with absolutely nothing on the clock, turning over happily and quietly...not a clank in sight! There are a few more jobs to do before she will be properly steamable, including gasket replacements and leaks to be stopped. I'm still hoping to have her in steam at the 6th April CMES Steam Up at Ryton Pools but at the moment, I just don't know how its all going to go. We will see.

Thank you for reading guys. "Achilles" will be steam tested in due course. Thank you. Sam.

Busy, Busy, Busy at Shackerstone Loco...

Hello guys. The steam locomotive shed at Shackerstone was alive today, with work cracking on with both "Sir Gomer" and "Blue Circle". "Blue Circle" was in light steam, simply to test that it was OK for use at the steam gala in two weeks time. The little blue engine simmered quietly at the back of the shed, ticking over silently with hardly a breath of steam to be heard. "Sir Gomer" is coming along nicely, thanks to the hard work and dedication of the steam department, particularly the department heads who have spent alot of time in the week underneath the engine taking valve travel measurements. The measurements have revealed that the loco's reachrod was not long enough (only slightly) and so it has been adjusted accordingly. The length of the reachrod will determine the position of the die-blocks and of course, latterly, the valves and so this is very important. The extra reachrod length will give better valve positions in full forward and full reverse, and then the valves can be reset in order to provide even beats across the board. Below, welding on "Sir Gomer"s reachrod...

As well as "Sir Gomer"s reachrod, she had a few more jobs on today that myself & Eddie undertook with the help of James. The first was to refit the tool cupboard which was to be moved from the firemans side of the cab and up onto the backplate of the cab itself, allowing it to be more accessible for tooling and oiling pots. Below, Eddie drills an extra, supporting hole through the cupboard and the cab in order to put another bolt through...

Here, we see "Blue Circle" ticking over in steam at the back of the shed...

The Ruston diesel locomotive "Hercules" that came back to life a week or two ago when its engine successfully started was also being worked on today. The engine was having her remaining rods refitted ready for her first moves under her own power in a few years. The engine did move around the yard after dark, but earlier in the day we see her ticking over in the yard on the old road at the side of the Tool Stores...

As well as "Sir Gomer"s tool cupboard, we also fitted the brand new Fireman's seat that has been waiting for some time. "Sir Gomer" must be one of the few Peckett's with driver & fireman seats for relaxing between or during journeys (comfort is a virtue!). Next week its Mothers Day and so I'm banned from the sunday shed work, though I will be at the railway on Friday & Saturday, helping again with "Sir Gomer". Cheers guys - Sam.