"Sir Gomer"s Summer Saturday Service...

Hi guys. Today at 6:30am I arrived at Shackerstone with Pockets, ready to light up the days engine: Peckett 0-6-0ST "Sir Gomer". The ex-Mountain Ash saddle tank is currently the only operational 'line-going' steam loco on the railway and has therefore been used as the mainstay of the services so far this season. She is of course the Shackerstone Railway Society's own engine and therefore is an economical and effective steed for these steady steam services. With 4 coaches and a good few happy passengers behind her, she will causally waddle through the Leicestershire countryside, steaming well and working fine. Having checked her over this morning, I lit the engine up in the shed ready for the day, which would see a 1940s theme echoing around the railway. With a strong fire of Welsh steam coal burning in her firebox, the green 0-6-0 came around slowly but effectively...

Being Oiled Over The Pit

After oiling up and prepping by Andy, myself & trainee fireman Richard, "Sir Gomer" was moved out into the morning weather, which was now warm sun. The locomotive was then cleaned both top & bottom, with the brass dome, whistle and makers plates being cleaned with 'Peek'. When we were finished the loco looked a treat and sat happily outside the shed awaiting the first steam service at 10:30am...

"Sir Gomer" Squeaky Clean

Today's services were a little different to the norm. The normal timetable (Green) was changed to a special, intensive variant with 2 trains operating. One train was made up of the Bubblecar (DMU), whilst "Sir Gomer" and her 4 coaches made up the 2nd train. We would have 5 service trains today, as normal, though they were a little more spaced out, at 90-minute intervals rather than 75 minutes. In between our steam services the Bubblecar would run to Market Bosworth only: to connect with the 1940s event: returning in time to provide a guaranteed connection to the next steam service from Shackerstone. The extra time at Shackerstone allowed us to enjoy a cuppa' in the sunshine whilst "Sir Gomer" sat feathering away happily to herself...

"Sir Gomer" & Train at Shackerstone

I fired the first run, with Richard firing the following three, and I then fired the last one too. In between this I also drove two of the trips which was very enjoyable indeed. "Sir Gomer" is a pleasant machine to drive once she is underway, though she does have a tendency to waddle a bit, like a raft on the Atlantic. Mind you, she is powerful and free steaming and, for a lumbering industrial designed to do 5mph, does the job very well indeed on not a lot of coal. We returned the loco safely to the engine shed after another successful day and I am sure that tomorrow's crew will find her to be as useful and enjoyable as we did. A very nice day. I must thank Richard & Andy for their company and of course the Peckett for a great day. Cheers guys, Sam...

A Quiet Day on "Jessie"...

Hi guys. A short post from today. Today I worked "Jessie": the Battlefield Line's popular Buffet Car: on behalf of the railways catering team. We worked all five trains and trade was steady, with services hauled by the railways Peckett "Sir Gomer". Thanks for reading guys, Sam...

Achilles Report No34: Fish, Chips & A Steam Loco...

Hi guys. Tonight we attended yet another "Fish n Chip Steam Up" at Ryton Pools Miniature Railway. The club (CMES) runs this successful event annually and tonight saw yet another cracking do taking place. Though there were not as many locomotives running on the 2000-ft long track as I would normally have expected, there were still a fair few. The battery electric engines certainly seemed to be flourishing and a good few of them were out & about on the RPMR metals. We of course took "Achilles" along following its successful outing to do some public hauling at the GEC track last Saturday. The loco was polished & shining and wore two newly painted LMS-style engine lamps as well as its recently purchased bucket. The bucket is a bit narrow gauge for this engine really but then again it is a freelance design so you can have what you want on it I guess! The loco was steamed at just after 4pm and performed very well until about 6pm. It ticked along happily, blowing-off most of the time with no problems to report...

Worst Engine Driver Face Ever! (Photo - P.Strapps)

One of the other engines running was "Princess Marina": a 3.5" gauge Stanier Mogul. It seemed to be having a few problems and so, when we discovered it struggling for steam at the bottom of the lengthy bank, we buffered and shoved her up the hill! "Achilles" seemed to find it no trouble and accelerated up the bank happily with 4 adults and the 2-6-0 to push & pull. The video of us topping the bank with "Marina" is seen below...

The same thing happened on the next trip, with "Marina" being pushed up the hill by "Achilles" once again. However, the little red loco then shortly began to run fine which I couldn't understand! Ahh well, all's well that ends well. "Achilles" continued running well until its water pump got blocked up in one of the delivery pipes. I think it had been filled from a watering can which was full of muck. Its not really a difficult fix, just inconvenient. The loco will be running again, subject to repair, next Sunday at RPMR for the public running. All in all, another cracking evening with some great Fish 'n' Chips!! Cheers guys, Sam...

Passing of a Streak...

Hi guys. Tonight we spotted the A4 Pacific No60009 "Union of South Africa" on the West Coast Main Line. The green 4-6-2 was returning at speed from Chester, hauling a lengthy train of Mk II coaches, tailed by a Class 33 diesel. At Marston Jabbett; just south of Nuneaton; we saw the A4 come flying past. The green streak ticked along happily with the long train, slipping away into the distance with only a murmur. Cheers guys, Sam...

Shackerstone By Night...

Hi guys. Tonight after work I was at Shackerstone, helping with the on-going work on the Peckett "Sir Gomer". The loco failed last Sunday and has thus been pulled from service to allow the appropriate repairs to be carried out so that it may return to work this weekend. Work included the trial fitment of new boiler plugs as well as firebar alterations and also the refitting of the latter: carried out by myself and Eddie. I was covered in muck from head to foot after all of the angle-grinding and crawling around in "Gomer"s box that I did but, all in a good cause! A late night but well worth the ride over. All being well the Peckett will steam again on Saturday. Who ever said that voluntary railways only function on a Sunday?!...

A Day On A D-D-D-Diesel!!!...

Hi guys. Sometimes during a heritage railway career you may well have the dreaded experience of being out on a diesel locomotive for the day and not one of the beloved steamers: today was one of those days! Unfortunately, due to a mechanical failure, "Sir Gomer" was out of service for our turn today and so, with no spare steamer, services were quickly put in the hands of the heritage diesel fleet. 1958-built Class 31 A-1-A 31 101 was duly pressed into action with Adrian driving and second-manned by myself & Dave. I'm not a diesel person, in any way, but the Class 31 is a nice one to be out on if you have to be. The days service comprised the normal five return journeys, all hauled by 31 101. As a class, the 31 is one of the smaller diesel electrics, with only 1470bhp at the engine, as opposed to over 2500bhp on the Class 47. A Duchess Pacific steam loco is rated at approximately 3300hp at full bore which gives you some idea of the challenges faced with diesels as opposed to steam. The advantages with the diesel however are of course lower prep times, less maintenance, better crew comfort and of course the ability to sit on full power all day long without some poor bloke shovelling his back off mile after mile. Though they never had the charm of the steamers, the diesels brought with them a new age that 'had to come some day'. I was lucky enough to drive 31 101 on two trips today which, though very different to a steamer, was quite enjoyable dare I say it!...

With a diesel electric the diesel engine powers generators which create electricity for the motors. Therefore, when you open the power handle a notch, the ammeter immediately throws up amps. The amps on the gauge are how you measure how much power the motors are getting as you start away. In first notch the 31 only provides a few hundred amps where I believe the 47 chucks in over a thousand! As the amps climb the engine note will change as it revs more to build a larger quantity of electricity at once. Once up to 25mph, the 31 will cruise quite happily in first or 2nd notch and that's all you have to do to keep it doing 25mph on 5 coaches. It ticks along quite happily through the countryside with barely a murmur once its got the momentum up. Stopping it is on standard vacuum with the train behind, and air only when running light. Another unusual feature is that you of course have to change ends on a diesel like this, switching off the console before you go and operating the change end switch. Doing this on every run round is time consuming and a little tiresome! I tell you what though its a different life on a diesel...you sit there with your cuppa' in your leather seat riding through the countryside in a clean cab at 25mph with good control over the loco and not a care in the world. It doesn't beat a steamer though!! Below, I'm driving 31 101 out of Market Bosworth with my eye on the amps...Dave looks like he's just realised he's in a diesel cab and looks startled at the thought...

"Two New Recruits To The Dark Side" (Photo - A.Lock)

The day went off without hitch and 31 101 performed well, using about 60 gallons of diesel for the day. Earlier on Dave had managed to catch a pic of some railway enthusiastic sheep grazing on the embankment at Shackerstone having escaped from their field...

"Baa - Where Is Gomer? - Baa" (Photo - D.Hanks)

Below, Adrian takes 31 101 out of Shackerstone with myself in the Second-mans seat...

31 101 - Built 1958 (Photo - D.Hanks)

All in all a different day which turned out alright in the end. Though I won't be swapping my shovel for a comfy seat, the diesels do have something different to offer and are certainly railway heritage in their own right. Kind thanks to David, Adrian and 31 101 for good company during the day. Best regards. Sam...

Achilles Report No33: Pulling Alot Of Passengers at GEC...

Hi people. I can't believe that it is the first day of June...but here we are! Today I had planned to take "Achilles" for its first visit to the GEC since returning to work. This would be her 4th time out since the new bearings and crossheads were fitted, though I was hopeful that it would do OK. This afternoon was the GEC's 5" gauge June public running day and trains would run 2:30pm - 5pm. Four loco's adorned the steaming bays, though two were adequate for the work required as long as they kept going. "Achilles" was steamed, as was the bright yellow Peckett 0-6-0, which very much resembles "Sir Gomer". 0-6-0 'NER' and Speedy "Cyril" were left to bask in the sun as the two engines made their way onto the track with drain cocks open. Each loco hauled a 2-car rake and, after a test circuit, we started taking passengers at 50p per fare.

Throughout the afternoon the two locomotives ran well and neither seemed to have another bother. "Achilles" would romp along quite happily, sounding much better than she did last time she was on this steep track. Two problems stuck out to me...nothing serious, but worth looking at. A) The springing on the loco is not right and requires tightening where it has aged and, B) the deflector for the chimney rests on too sharp an angle and hinders steaming unless working very hard. Though "Achilles" was steaming well, it struggled to creep along with little regulator with the deflector in as the draft up the chimney was impaired. I'll have to make a new deflector for it but that's no real worry. Apart from these two minor things, the engine performed very well and I'm very pleased with it. We seemed to pull some pretty considerable weights up that bank without stalling or struggling for steam and you can't really ask for anymore than that. It must also be remembered that "Achilles" is not really a big engine. Though she has a Simplex-style chassis and outline, the boiler is smaller and so she is literally an 0-6-0 Ajax. At 5pm we had retired from the track with the loco still feathering at the valves before the fire was dropped...

"Achilles" Basks In The Sun with "Cyril" Behind

Having disposed and blown down, I reversed the Saxo up and put "Achilles" in the back ready for home. A job well done I think and I must thank GEC for having us again. There were many kind comments about how well both locomotives had performed during the day which is always nice. The loco will be out next Saturday at CMES for the annual 'Fish n Chip Steam Up' and will double-head the public service up there too on June 16th (subject to fitness to run - "you never know!"). Cheers guys, Sam...

Achilles Report No32: All On One's Own...

Hi guys. Tonight, in the rain, I took "Achilles" up to RPMR for an organised evening club steam up. Luckily the rain held off for my run but the forecast did put off every other operator, resulting in my tank engine being the only loco to go for an outing this evening. I steamed her up in the damp air, mainly to test the water pump which has had new O-rings and a repack. After 2 laps it was clear that the engine was performing well and that the problems with the water pump had been overcome. That was really all I needed to do...

Feathering At The Valves In The Damp Evening Air

As she was already there and in steam we did do a few more laps before retiring, just to finish off the running in which has been relatively problem free (he says!). The loco had performed very well once again and will be steaming at the GEC on Saturday; all being well. Thanks guys, Sam...

Breezy Evesham & A Footplate Ride...

Hello everyone. On our way back from Devon, having briefly spotted 2-8-0T "Hercules" and 4-6-0 "Lydham Manor" on the DSR, we called in at Evesham Country Park. This rest stop left us only 40 miles from home and so the family looked around the shops whilst I checked out the railway. Regular readers will know that I've been here a good few times and been treated to a few footplate rides and even a drive or two. Today was just a flying visit and saw two locomotives working the bank holiday service: 0-4-0 Exmoor "St Egwin" and Severn Lamb 0-6-0 "Dougal". The locomotives were working a passenger train each around the 1.25 mile 15" gauge railway and passenger numbers looked strong. When I arrived at the station "Dougal" was waiting at the head of an afternoon train...

Having had a look at "Dougal" I walked towards the top of the bank where I photographed "St Egwin". "Egwin" is an Exmoor product; a company that has a reputation of providing solid, powerful and reliable locomotives. Fairly large for a 15" 0-4-0, the locomotive finds EVLR work relatively easy and chuffs along happily. Below, "St Egwin" has crested the top of the bank and is cruising towards Twyford with a modest 3-coach train...

"St Egwin" Having Shut-Off Over The Bank

With "Egwin" having cleared the section, "Dougal" got the 'right away' with a 4-coach rake. "Dougal" is ex-Longleat and was re-boilered by the EVLR when her previous one expired. The new boiler is considerably larger and the addition also saw a tender being fitted, replacing the bunker...

Once "Dougal" was in the section, "St Egwin" was turned and continued to run round...

"St Egwin" Running Round

Owned by Steve Bell: who was driving her today: "St Egwin" was built in 2003 and so is no elderly loco. She has however just returned from her very first 10-yearly overhaul though Steve reported that the engine was nowhere near tired. The chassis was, in his words, "not touched" as the valve gear doesn't wear very easily due to it being made up on roller-bearings rather than brasses. The boiler was apparently in equally good condition and the old tubes were nowhere near life expired. It is interesting to note the differences you see with a brand new engine compared to overhauling an old one! Steve chatted to me for quite a while before backing "Egwin" onto the waiting stock...

I walked back around to the platform to watch "St Egwin" leave on her next run but was soon, rather unexpectedly, invited onto the footplate! Regular readers will know that I jump at the chance of any footplate ride and they are always greatly appreciated. Thank you very much, Steve! I have been on "St Egwin" once or twice in the past and I think there is a post about it on here somewhere! We departed Twyford Station in good time and soon the big Exmoor was chugging along happily, murmuring crisp beats from her chimney...

"Shutting Off"

The EVLR leaves Twyford on easy gradients, and then climbs up to the top of the bank before descending towards the facing point near Evesham Vale Halt. "St Egwin" rolled down this section, being kept in check by the air brake which is provided by a pump in the tender...

Having descended a fair bit of ground, the steepest bank on the line appears. "St Egwin" romped up there and sounded like it could haul a fair bit more weight. The regulator is shut at the top of the bank ready for the tunnel, inside which is a downgrade section. There is then a climb into Evesham Vale station. Halted in the platform, "St Egwin"s fire was attended to...

"St Egwin" feathered away to herself quietly as we awaited the 'right away' upgrade back towards Twyford...

We left Evesham Vale climbing again though "St Egwin" got the train away easily. It was then time for a neat little chuff up the bank (best watched in HD)...

With the bank topped we descended into Twyford with "St Egwin" coasting along with barely a murmur. It is interesting to note how quiet a locomotive is when all you hear is the beat of the exhaust, as there is no ejector roaring away all the time. Back at Twyford, I thanked Steve gratefully for my ride and I had enjoyed it very much. Its always nice to be invited out...

After the return journey I had to get going as I still had to get the family home...I would have loved to have stayed a bit longer though! I would recommend the EVLR to anyone as it is a very nice trip and the locomotives shine like new. Another very pleasant visit and another run on "St Egwin". Cheers guys, Sam...

Seaside Manor...

Hi guys. We are now in Devon! We travelled down yesterday morning and are staying in Torquay for the weekend. Today we visited Paignton and no trip to Paignton can ever be complete without a ride on the Dartmouth Steam Railway...

The DSR runs daily throughout the season and mostly employs 4 trains a day. One steam locomotive is rostered to work these services and, during our visit, it was Paignton's only authentically named locomotive: No7827 "Lydham Manor". The DSR upholds a tradition of naming all rail vehicles, but 7827 is the only item to arrive there with its own name. The BR (W) 4-6-0, built in 1950, looked absolutely immaculate and was soon running round the stock for the first departure of the day (the 10:30am); made up of 7 coaches. To my surprise, the Manor soon ran back into the sidings and picked up an extra 2 coaches due to the amount of passengers who wished to board the train. In my mind I thought that 9 coaches for a Manor going tender-first up Goodrington bank would present quite a challenge...how wrong was I! The immaculate 4-6-0 chugged happily along to Goodrington where it made a good start + load 9 upgrade. The engine slipped slightly before regaining its feet and digging in for the climb towards Salturn. I was very surprised at how she climbed, with 4 crisp beats leaving the chimney and echoing around the coves at the seaside. The engine took it all in her stride and roared over the two viaducts towards Churston. I just had to have my head out of the window all the way up the climb...she sounded brilliant. From Churston the Manor coasted down towards Kingswear for Dartmouth where pretty much every passenger on the train disembarked.

 

We caught the Ferry across the water to the pretty town of Dartmouth before returning ready for the next train. The weather was lovely. During our return crossing on the Ferry we passed "Kingswear Castle": Britain's last coal-fired paddle steamer, which for 2013 is working for the DSR and offering cruises in steam powered fashion. This was an interesting little vessel with a very loud whistle...

Paddling in Dartmouth

Standing on the end of Kingswear's long platform, it wasn't long before "Lydham Manor" pulled in with her 9 coaches. You can't knock the cleanliness of DSR engines...they are all squeaky clean. Below, the Manor rolls in with the typical GWR vacuum pump ticking away...

The DSR, as I may have mentioned in past posts, owns one of the two Devon Belle observation saloon's (the other is at Swanage). These coaches are very luxurious and spent their lives at the rear of the Devon Belle express'. The coach offers brilliant views and comfort so we decided to take another trip aboard it...

With the Manor hooked up, away we went. We have ridden behind 7827 in the Devon Belle before, when she was green. Below, the loco hisses along the river...

After a loud climb up to the tunnel; inside which her fire created a huge glow which you can only really see from this coach; the Manor reached Churston. From here it is mostly downhill and the loco rolled easily along the seaside...

Best View in the House

Back at Paignton the experienced (and paid = very jealous of this fact!) crew of the DSR drew the loco forward for water before being shunt-released by the Class 08. Paignton station isn't long enough to take 9 coaches and still allow the loco to run-round you see. The Manor is completely immaculate...

7827 "Lydham Manor" - Built 1950

We then left the DSR after another enjoyable trip. Despite what some people say about it, in my mind it offers some of the best scenery in the country as well as immaculately kept locomotives and a much-loved destination...

Cheers guys - Sam