"Giant Miniature Weekend" 2018...

"Peckett 'Harrogate' Meets The Miniatures" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Giant Miniature Weekend" 2018 began for me once again at not long after 6am - up with the dawn chorus and out into the truck to carry on setting up for Saturday. With stacks of tickets sold - more than four times more than last year - we had a lot of visitors to attend to and the show had to be as good as it could be...

"7am at Statfold Junction"

After a walk around the running shed to meet the morning crews, I drove down into the field where Fergal Roche's 6" Savage "Spud" was basking in the morning sun. Fergal and Mick had brought their engines all the way from Corke in Ireland - a fine achievement and I think a testament to the great experience we try to provide at Statfold. We appreciate their support immensely...

Now, due to the fantastic photos kindly sent in by Old Glory reporter Malcolm Ranieri, this post is picture heavy and so I won't ramble on too much. Regular readers will know about the miniature do routines from previous years and it was much the same this weekend. I will say however that it was just wonderful this time - I loved every minute of it. We had many, many visitors, the sun shone brightly all weekend, the trains ran well and to plan, the miniatures turned up 102 strong and it was just a fabulous atmosphere. Here are some pictures of the Saturday...

"Steve Leedham's 3" Fowler Ploughing Pair" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Full Size Visitors - Fowler 'Elsa' with 'Odin' - Aveling D-Type" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Railway Engines - 'Trangkil' and 'Harrogate' The Peckett" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"A Saturday Day Visitor - Keith Turley's 'Abbie Jane' - 6" Allchin" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Ian & Chris Clipston with their 4.5" Foden" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"A 4" Burrell and 4" Garrett" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Brazil 'Trangkil' Meets The 6" Burrell Roller" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Beautiful 6" Roller 'Distraction' by Andy Attwell" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Chris Webb's 'Wendy' - 4" Burrell" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"The Wonderful 'Isibutu' the Tongaat Bagnall" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Foster 4" Crane Engine" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Adrian and his fine Crane Engine" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Fergal Roche's 6" Savage Little Samson" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Hudswell 'Alpha' Meets The Samson" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Phil and dog Freddie with their 4" Burrell Road Loco" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Just Part of the Massive Saturday Line-Up" (Pic - S.Brandist)

"An Interesting One - 4" Burrell SCC in WD Livery" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"A 6" Burrell Devonshire and 4.5" Foden" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Two 6" Burrell's - Agricultural and Devonshire" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"A Foster Road Loco - 4" 'Shirley B' by Tony Baldwin" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Visiting Fowler Showman's 'Repulse', ex-John Murphy" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"A 4" Foster" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Two Garrett Brothers Meet" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"The Popular 4.5" Foden Fire Engine" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Another Fowler Showman's - 'Sir Henry' by Hugh Stannard" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Statfold Station" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"The 6" Garrett 4CD 'Pegasus' by Adrian Nutting" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Another 4" Foster On The Move" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Andy Marshall and his 4" Burrell" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"The Popular 9" Tasker" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"The Riley's 'Maud' - 4" Mac" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Early Arrival 'Errol' by Jerry Turner" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"A 3" Aveling Steam Tractor" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"A Fairground Scene" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Two 4" Burrell Showman's" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Another 'Isibutu' Capture" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"A Garrett and a Hudswell" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Little Samson Pulling a 6" Burrell DCC" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Popular 6" Sentinel Steam Lorry 'Bessie' by the Booth Family" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"Rare Foden Six-Speed in 3" Scale" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"The Foster Crane Engine" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

"The Fine Organ" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

On Saturday evening we had another successful 'Exhibitor Evening Out' at the Roundhouse. The three evening trains were hauled by chunky Peckett 0-6-0 "Harrogate" which I drove on the first round trip. Here she is at Oak Tree on a light engine move prior to our return to Statfold to collect the passenger train...

After a cracking drive of "Harrogate" (I love that engine) I returned to the Roundhouse to help with proceedings at the evening party. That went off very well again so that's good. Following a very late Saturday night we swiftly moved into an equally fantastic Sunday. The sun shone again, we had many happy visitors and on the whole the day went without a hitch. All in all it had been a wonderful weekend...

I grabbed one or two quick shots during our busy Sunday. Here, "Trangkil" waits at the station having arrived from Oak Tree...

Lunchtime was very busy in the catering area...

During the afternoon I had a trip standing in the middle on the beautiful Savage centre engine which hides within the confines of Ashley's Steam Gallopers. What a lovely old thing. I was really impressed with the whole set-up...

Finally, to round this post off, it can only be a sunny shot of "Isibutu"...

After a manic couple of hours getting things packed up and exhibitors onto the road home, the job was done. What a fabulous weekend but I tell you what - every single one of us is totally, totally shattered! Thank you to everyone that helped with the event in any way shape or form, thank you to the many visitors who kindly supported us and thank you to everyone and anyone that has given me any moral support over this - we couldn't have done it without any of you! It was just great, really lovely. My words and pictures don't in any way do it justice - it was just fab. Thank you all again and thank you to Malcolm Ranieri for sending in all of these images for use. I'm very proud to say that "Giant Miniature Weekend" will return in 2019 over May 11th/12th - we look forward to seeing you. Thanks all, Sam...Zzz...

Setting Up "Giant Miniature Weekend" 2018...

Well folks...here we go! After months of planning, worrying and hard work "Giant Miniature Weekend" 2018 is finally here. It's been another long road this year, battling uphill to get everything ready for the big weekend. Even the weather has been doing its best to thwart our efforts this time around and the cancellation of local rally Rushden Cavalcade really knocked my confidence the week before last. Thankfully though the sun decided to shine and a few days of hot weather resulted in two nicely dried fields ready for set-up to begin yesterday, on Thursday. A dozen of the 100 engines planned to attend arrived. Thursday gets more popular by the year, particularly with the long distance exhibitors who want to get booked in and settled...

Thursday, as always, was far more leisurely than Friday. The first engine arrived at around 10:30am with the last turning in at 6:30pm. I spent most of the afternoon on foot, marching back and forth up the field with wristbands, checklists, welcome letters - you name it. By Thursday evening things were slowly starting to shape-up. Ashley's Steam Gallopers had arrived and their large Scammell tractor unit had been busy shunting trailers. We couldn't wait to see the Gallopers all built up...

Alex and his team had been busy throughout Thursday getting the six rostered SBR steam locomotives ready for their weekend. "Isibutu", "Alpha", "Howard" and "Fiji" are seen basking in the evening sunshine on the shed...

In the running shed, Nick's team had also been busy, clearing away masses of tools and equipment to make the shed tidy for tomorrow's stand exhibitors to start arriving. This year we chose the 1899-built Krauss to stand as the centrepiece engine over the pit amongst the stands: I do like her...

I stayed over at Statfold on Thursday and we soon found our way into an early start for Friday. I was on the move at 6am and made my way into the running shed to chalk mark the floor for the arrival of the stands. Friday is always manic from 10am until late but this year was really something else. Down in the bottom field, known as the 'rally field', the first arrivals were enjoying the calm before the storm...

The various staff of the on site businesses started arriving from 7am and kindly parked in the field to allow the tarmac based exhibits to set up when they arrived later in the day. From 9am it really was absolute pandemonium of the highest order! Engines, exhibits, campers and lorries were turning up in their droves and without the invaluable assistance of the volunteers and staff of Statfold we couldn't have pulled this set-up off to the high standard which we did. In honesty, though it was manic, it went very smoothly. Engine after engine came through the gate and I believe there were 60 or more miniatures in the bottom field alone! It was shaping up to be quite a show but by mid-afternoon my adrenaline fuelled enthusiasm and energy was already beginning to fail. Every year I say I'm going to wear a pedometer and I forget! By the evening, as stands and engines continued to arrive, the bonfire was lit at 7pm alongside visiting Fowler Showman's engine "Repulse"...

With "Repulse" generating and her lights burning bright, not to mention her organ playing cheerfully across the way, the whole atmosphere - though still manic - was just what we wanted. I love "GMW" and it's been a pleasure to do it for the last 3 years. "Repulse" and the bonfire were popular right into the evening...

Meanwhile I was still marching back and forth across the fields, getting the last exhibits in. I think the last engine arrived at around 9:30pm in the end, though we did stay up and about until 11:30pm to let some of the final staff out. By then the rain was pouring but we hadn't had a drop all night so it worked out beautifully really - couldn't have asked for more. Despite the madness, stress and trauma the set-up really did go without hitch and it's always a great rush when a plan comes together. Just a few more exhibits to get in in the morning and we're away. Roll on tomorrow! Zzz...

Sunny Slow Moving Steam On The Road...

I've never made any bones about the fact that steam railway locomotives are 'my thing'; that is the way it's always been and that is the way it'll no doubt stay. This doesn't mean however that I can't appreciate the strange iron steamers of the road and the different circles in which they move. Today involved a very pleasant outing spent in good company with a pair of steam rollers. My friend Phil owns 1925-built Aveling & Porter 'F-Type' "Louise" and she is currently living in Quorn yard, adjacent to the GCR. "Louise" and her crew had planned to use this sunny Sunday to take a circular trundle around the lanes through Swithland, no doubt calling at a pub on the way for some liquid refreshment. The temperature was already rising well as I left home just after 8am, taking in the M1 and A46 route into Leicestershire to reach Quorn. "Louise" was already lit up and Phil was in the cab buffing up the brass work. When Phil bought the engine a few years ago she was named "Stortford Roll" and was looking a bit sorry for herself. Over the years he and his committed crew have transformed the renamed "Louise" into a very pretty and well maintained machine...

The weather this morning was quite unbelievable really after the long drawn-out winter we seem to have had. The sun was shining down from a bright blue sky and out of the shade it was already baking even before 10am. The rest of the crew soon arrived and we shared efforts cleaning the roller up for her day in the countryside...

Phil then uttered "you've not met Thomas yet have you?" and no he didn't mean everyone's favourite blue tank engine...myself and the various impersonators of the latter have met many times! "Thomas" is actually a 1924-built roller that would be accompanying "Louise" on her trip today and very nice he (she?) was too. By 11am we were starting to get ready to leave and the jobs of moving cars and shunting trailers about began. It's quite an interesting venue Quorn yard as on GCR running days there is regular activity through the platforms over the way. We did view a very steady departure by a shining Modified Hall before we pulled away. Watered up and coupled up, Midday saw "Louise" ready to...well...roll...

Clambering up onto the trailer behind "Louise", we perched atop some sheets which Phil had kindly laid out atop the mountain of coal. With a blast on her Great Western whistle, "Louise" pulled out of Quorn with "Thomas" following behind. From the station drive we took a right and proceeded towards the village centre. I could not get over the weather! It was a perfect scene rumbling through the quiet Sunday streets with "Louise" merrily chuffing along as we surveyed the garden of England from the trailer...

The life of a trailer passenger (or 'trailer rat' as they know them in the trade) is one where there is time to take in the sights. You spend a lot of time waving at happy onlookers who are glad to see the rollers in action, or as a complete opposite you marvel at the ridiculous impatience of certain road users who perform dangerous moves to overtake in all the wrong places. Some of the actions witnessed from the trailer are quite sobering to say the least: the world is in such a rush! After chugging through the village centre: where a crowd in a beer garden cheered at us as we passed: the Aveling duo had to climb some good hills on their way to Nunckley Hill: home of the Mountsorrel Railway. From the engine you rarely hear a steam rollers chimney: there's too much grinding and rumbling going on: but from the trailer you can hear all. After a strong pull the engines had earned themselves a break and we retired for an ice cream at the Nunckley Hill café. It's all quite civilised you know...

Sitting on a picnic bench in the sunshine with an ice cream on such a lovely day chatting with mates about steam engines was quite nice to be honest! Returning to the rollers I was asked if I'd steer "Thomas" for the run to Swithland..."of course!". "Thomas" is slightly smaller than 10-ton "Louise", at 8-tons...

With "Louise" leading again, off we went with "Thomas". After a few yards I was already finding it very pleasant aboard this 1924 'D-Type': what a lovely machine. Rumbling through the countryside with "Louise" chugging along in front, what's not to like? I particularly enjoyed the section passing Swithland Reservoir where the pleasant breeze making its way through the warm cab was most welcome on this hot day. In Swithland we came to rest at the pub where "Thomas" is pictured taking a breather...

Following some liquid refreshment we rejoined the rollers for the final slog back to Quorn. This time I'd be on the footplate of "Louise"...

Both of these rollers are compound machines, meaning that the steam is used first in the high pressure cylinder and then again in the low pressure cylinder. I did wonder why rollers required compounding seeing as their design purpose was mainly to shuffle back and forth rolling out the roads and many didn't cover great distances as they do now in preservation. Phil did explain however that there were considerable fuel economy improvements with the compound engines over the singles and as fuel was of course money the councils did prefer the 'fuel friendly' option. Neither engine is lacking in power and both go very well. During a brief servicing stop on the final run home I did manage to grab this shot from the cab of "Louise", showing the valve gear and main crank. When she's in motion this lot flies round at a right rate of knots...

It's definitely a different life with steam on the road: everything is that little bit slower and you can enjoy it more. The social side is definitely worth the trip. One interesting quirk is the lovely peppering of oil you get as the engine tears around in front of you: a welcome sunscreen in this weather! Soon enough we were pulling back up in Quorn yard after a very pleasant run with these road making machines...

What a very pleasant day indeed: great engines, great weather, great company, great fun. As I said at the start of this post these engines are a different breed to my rail mounted steeds but they are equally impressive and enjoyable to be involved with. I must thank Phil and his team for the invite and the experience and also say thank you to Andy (owner of "Thomas") for letting me have a go on his very nice engine too. A lovely day: couldn't fault it, very nice. Cheers all, Sam...

Tyseley: An Eastern And An "Earl"...

Evening all. Today was another pleasant volunteer Saturday at Tyseley Loco Works in Birmingham. In beautiful sunshine and under bright blue skies I arrived at the former 84E at just after 10am. There was already much activity in the yard near the turntable and the focal point was a brief Eastern visitor: the K1. 62005 "Lord of the Isles" is the sole survivor of the Thompson/Peppercorn K1 Class moguls which were principally a two-cylinder version of Nigel Gresley's earlier three-cylinder K4 Class. Only six K4's were built whereas the K1's eventually numbered seventy locomotives. A boiler pressed to 225psi feeding 20" cylinders driving 5ft 2" wheels gave the class a considerable tractive effort and they were versatile machines which, like the K4's, were mostly associated with the West Highland line. 62005 is owned by NELPG and spends a lot of time on the West Highland route between Fort William and Mallaig working the "Jacobite" excursions made famous by the route's inclusion in the Harry Potter movies. This morning, with rods dropped, 62005 was being collected by the Class 08 shunter from the main line depot next door for tyre turning on their floor mounted lathe. I believe the K1 is the biggest wheel they can do...

"K1 'Lord of the Isles' Alongside 7812"

Slowly disappearing from view, "Lord of the Isles" left us in the sunshine. What a nice old thing and I'm sure a very useful tool. In the works today we were continuing with maintenance on the beautiful Castle Class No5043. The "Earl" is a pleasure to work on and it's always nice to be amongst the various steeds which make up the Tyseley fleet. Behind "Edgcumbe" stands the equally lovely 4965 "Rood Ashton Hall". Hopefully we'll see her in steam again at the upcoming June open weekend...

I left Tyseley at around 5pm after another very enjoyable day with the lads. I have a busy few weeks coming up now as the ever looming "Giant Miniature Weekend" draws nearer - can't wait. Thank you all for reading, cheers, Sam...