Statfold: Another Fijian Santa Express...

"Festively Decorated Statfold Engines In The Roundhouse Today"

"We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". Evening all! This morning, early but certainly not bright, I was in the car and trundling along the wintry A444. The destination was once again the Statfold Barn Railway where I was booked to take the regulator of "Fiji" for another morning shift on the Santa Express trains. Last week with Steve & James was great fun and so I was looking forward to it, despite this mornings weather not being quite as pleasant. Arriving at a chilly SBR base a little before 07:00, I made my way to the lamp hut to sign in. Fireman Jon and trainee Jake duly arrived, as did the crew for "Harrogate". Whilst Jon made preparations for starting the embryo fire, I grabbed a cuppa' and had a chat with James, who would be driving the Peckett. As with last week, there was little need to rush as time was on our side. Oiling up could easily be completed at first light with plenty of time to spare...

Jon soon had a blaze on in the firebox of the 1912-built Hudswell Clarke. She must feel a world away from her former home in Fiji, where she worked at the Colonial Sugar Refining's Lautoka Mill. These days she enjoys a very different retirement, if you can call it that with hundreds of passengers to pull today...

Whilst Jon tended to the fire, I began oiling up and Jake made his way around the engine with some rags and polish. The Peckett would again be the first to leave shed, taking the coal wagon with it for the morning shunting procedure. To get to the final few oiling points, I had to draw the 0-6-0 forward a little, eventually coming to a stop on the ballasted area of the yard. This also allowed the area where we'd ashed out to be cleaned and brushed down. "Fiji" was now ready for her morning shift...

The engine was soon ready at the head of the 5-coach train, with Peckett "Harrogate" on the rear. Our departures from Statfold Junction would follow the same timetable as last week, performing runs at 30-minute intervals from 10:00 onwards. All of todays trains were pretty much sold out so we expected good loadings throughout the morning. By now pressure was nearing the red line and we were all set...

"Fiji" looks onward in the direction of travel, awaiting departure...

Right on time, away we went. The Santa operation at Statfold has to be pretty slick, otherwise time will slip and efficiency reduces. The Oak Tree departures should occur 15 minutes after the Statfold ones, meaning that you should aim for 10-11 minutes to traverse the railway, allowing time to drop off your passengers before the departure time from Oak Tree is reached. In honesty, with nothing to pass at Oak Tree or the balloon loop at Cogan Halt, time is easily kept without rushing. "Fiji" finds the job pretty effortless, doing most things quite easily in pilot valve and driven on the reverser. The only time we need to really pull well is the main bank but even then you can go up in second notch and full pilot without stress. The rear engine should always hold its own weight, testing the relationship between the two drivers. After a good first run, "Fiji" simmers with the ECS ready for the 10:30 trip, hauled by the Peckett...

The format of the day sees the first 2-3 return runs from Oak Tree run empty, filling up at Statfold Junction for the next outing. After these initial trips, the returning passengers: having seen Santa and completed the various activities: start to board the returning trains at Oak Tree, providing a busy swap over at peak times. Here, "Fiji" waits for outgoing passengers to alight on our 11:00 trip...

Returning to Statfold, I couldn't help but think how pleasant "Fiji" is to drive. I quite like it, much more gentle and responsive than you'd imagine. The large boiler and frame give the impression of a potential brute but in reality her small cylinders and well set-up regulator give her a gentle persona. Having followed the Peckett around the fields again on the 11:30 trip, Jon took the handle for the 12:00 outing. Will joined us on the footplate for that run, providing his usual comical criticism, much to Jons annoyance! This job wouldn't be half as good without the banter! For the 13:00 run I was back on the handle and the lads had the firing job well in hand. The engine was performing very well and even the earlier clouds had parted to reveal pleasant blue skies...

As we barked up towards Statfold Junction on our final run, leaving a long trail of drifting steam behind us, I felt a little regretful that we'd now got to hand the engine over. It's always the way when you're having a good day: you just want to carry on! Nevertheless, having come to a stand in platform 2, we swapped over with driver Paul and fireman Joey who would complete the afternoon shift. Handover completed, myself and Jon headed down to the roundhouse to see the latest arrival: Tasmanian Garrett "K1"...

Built by Beyer Peacock in 1909 for the North East Dundas Tramway in Tasmania, it is widely known as the first Garrett. Now usually resident on the Welsh Highland Railway, a recent agreement between the WHR and Statfold has seen this huge engine move to Tamworth for museum display. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up steaming again either! It's a very big engine on 2ft gauge tracks, even making Bagnall "Isibutu" look small. It'll be interesting to see this compound Garrett in action and investigate its performance. Anyway, after a spot of lunch, I said a grateful thanks to Jon for a great morning on the footplate and headed for home. That's my last SBR steam turn for 2019 completed and what an enjoyable one it was. Take care all, Sam... 

Statfold: A Hudswell Clarke On The Santa Express...

As the finale of the 2018 events calendar, Statfold Barn Railway introduced an intensive program of Christmas trains, providing their own spin on a Santa Special. The 'Santa Express' service proved very popular with the public and so it has been brought back for its second year this Christmas. The format was much the same as last year, just with a few additional activities for the visitors to enjoy. The timetable sees half-hourly departures from Statfold Junction station, top and tailed by two of the railways steam locomotives. The visitors leave the train at Oak Tree Halt for their Santa experience, returning on a later working. Shifts for the loco crews are split into AM and PM due to the length of the day, with the morning shift operating from 07:00 - 13:30. Today was the first of two turns for me this Christmas season, both penned to Hudswell Clarke "Fiji" of 1912. I arrived at the SBR base a little before 07:00, ready to sign in and check the notices. The two engines: "Fiji" and "Harrogate": were simmering on the shed frontage under a clear sky. What a lovely December morning...

Fireman Steve and Trainee James soon arrived too and we began preparations. I decided to remove the baffle plate so that I could give the firebox a good checking over. With all found to the OK, the refitting of the baffle proved quite troublesome as it is a very good fit on this engine, especially when she's stinking hot. For the uninitiated, the baffle plate is slotted in above the protector ring in the firebox doorway, guiding secondary air so as to provide adequate combustion as well as protecting the firebox and tubeplate from cold air flow. With the baffle finally refitted, Steve began making up the new fire. Statfold are still using the popular Scottish coal which, although it produces a fair amount of smoke, burns well and produces good results...

Whilst I made my way around the Walschaerts valve gear with the oil cans, I couldn't help but think how clean the engine was after yesterdays efforts. A good rub over with some clean rags brought her up lovely again for her Sunday on the Santa trains. "Fiji", who was built for the Lautoka Sugar Mill in the country of her namesake, has become quite an SBR flagship in recent years and is popular with visitors and crews alike. I haven't been on it as booked driver for three years or so: last Christmas I had three days on "Harrogate": and so it would be nice to take the handle of the big red engine again today. We were due to leave shed at just before 09:30 and "Fiji" was, by then, looking the part. In the image below, we can see the framing added around the smokebox and balloon stack for the festive lighting. It looks like a steam engine version of the famous Coca Cola lorry after darkness falls...

The Peckett left shed first, taking with it the coal wagon that would be required at the top of platform 1 later in the day. "Fiji" has a sizeable tender and coal space so wouldn't need this facility, but the cab bunkers of the tank engine would require a top up later on. Soon enough, the call from the signalbox came over the radio and I replied with "On the move!". Slowly but surely, with drain cocks hissing, "Fiji" moved off. The steam brake had already been warmed so was ready for service as we descended the hill to stop at the gantry near the signalbox. We were then given the road to set back up into platform 2 to couple up to the 5-coach train that awaited us...

With brakes and lighting attached, the engine was ready for the off as soon as the passengers had boarded. Todays trains were all fairly well sold, meaning that loadings would be considerably strong throughout our morning. Looking at the timings, I concluded that "Fiji" would pull four of the trains on the AM shift, tailing the other three which would be hauled by the Peckett. At 10:00, the Guard blew his whistle and waved his flag, giving us the "right away". Removing the air brakes saw us roll into action, descending from platform 2 and passing the signalbox. The signalbox is locked out on the Christmas trains, with the single line token (which I'd already been shown) travelling on the rearmost locomotive. The engine was a little cold on this first run and a little wet at the large chimney, which is of course to be expected. I did find however that she was responsive and easily in control of the job, requiring no more than pilot valve even on the steepest bank. Soon enough, we were unloading at Oak Tree...

By now the sun had made a welcome appearance and was beaming down on the footplate. A pleasant morning on the handle looked to be a certainty...

As there isn't much time for leaving the engine on this job, I'd brought along my trusty tea can (or mash can, if you will). This sat neatly behind the manifold on the firebox casing, keeping warm alongside a pot of cylinder oil...

Having dropped off our passengers, we departed Oak Tree with the ECS bound for Statfold. I like this big red engine: very responsive and quite gentle but with the power to do the job. As we pulled up again in Statfolds platform 2 ready for the 10:30 outing, I stepped off to grab a shot of the Hudswell Clarke...

I've told this story several times before but, following her working life, "Fiji" was actually bought for a tourist railway in 1985. A diesel engine was fitted in the tender and a section of the firebox cut away to make room for a gearbox. Lautoka No11 (as she was) was then effectively operated as a steam-outline diesel before finally being rescued in 2011 and brought back to the UK. The following year, it arrived at Statfold. I remember it turning up in a right state and looking very sorry for itself. Thankfully, the team at SBR performed a painstaking restoration and brought the engine back to life. Here she is awaiting the 11:00 working, back on the front of the train...

On the whole it was quite a steady and uneventful morning. The engine performed very well and we had no issues. The engine finds the job no trouble at all, particularly with the Peckett holding her own weight, as we would when we were on the rear. Here, "Fiji" relaxes in the sun on the tail of the 11:30 train hauled by "Harrogate"...

Being on the back of the train seems to keep you away from the public somewhat, allowing the important tasks such as oiling etc to be completed. Each time we came to a stand on the rear of the train, I could easily hop out and inspect the engine, topping up any points if required. "Fiji" carries two lubricators on the drivers side which provide oil to the cylinders and axleboxes respectively...

The engine is seen waiting for a tender first departure under blue skies...

Our other two trips at 12:00 and 13:00 were just as enjoyable. I did offer the handle to Steve but he said he was quite happy on the firemans side as he had plenty of driving turns coming up. To be honest, I was happy with that as I was enjoying myself immensely. It's nice to sit back in the seat and enjoy the sound of "Fiji" working away. It was actually a shame to have to hand the engine over to the afternoon crew at 13:30 but, I must admit, it's nice to have an early finish. Trundling back along the A444 at around 14:00, I couldn't believe I still had most of the day to myself! Thanks for reading all: I'm back next Saturday, driving "Fiji" again. Cheers, Sam...

7029: Bath and Bristol For Christmas...

Good morning all. For todays episode of "Through The Support Coach Window" we were off to Bath for the popular Christmas Market. After setting down passengers, the train would continue on to Bristol Temple Meads and latterly St Philips Marsh depot for servicing. I arrived at a dimly lit Tyseley just before dawn, with 7029 already having backed outside the shed on five road. The Class 47 (which would tail us to Bristol) was ticking over impatiently alongside, ready to perform a shunt release so that the Castle could move to the head of the stock. The diesel was also providing the much needed ETH (electric train heating) as some of the visiting rolling stock doesn't have steam heat apparatus fitted. Here, "Clun" is lit by the fuel depot flood lighting...

Not long after 07:00, "Clun" was feathering loudly in the middle road with the train now coupled on behind. The 47 would lead us out of Tyseley and over the canal, before we reversed to steam through the goods loop and await the signal to depart onto the main line. Departure from 84E was scheduled for 08:21...

At this point I was told I could travel with the crew to Banbury if I wanted, which of course I duly accepted with wide open arms! Chatting to Fireman Tom, I joked that it was mostly downhill to Oxford...his reply suggested quite the opposite! I've done this run before, coming the other way though, on "Edgcumbe" up Hatton Bank. I was however intrigued to see it from the opposite direction. Right on time, the 47 summoned its strength and hauled the ECS and 7029 out of Tyseley, ready to reverse at Small Heath South Jnc. Road given, "Clun" dropped down through the loop, passing a simmering 45305 with the 'Polar Express' stock as it waited in the museums platform 1 road. Coming to rest on the stiff bank, the Castle waited the signal. Signal off, away we went, with a little help from the 47 to get us up this steep climb. The heavy train is weight enough, let alone another three coaches worth of dead diesel! 

By now Tom had a huge wedge burning away in the box for the work ahead. Under the station bridge and towards the cross-over we barked, with 10 coaches and the diesel trailing behind. Once clear of the points, Ray let 7029 go and we were off to Solihull in spectacular style. The noise was quite tremendous as the Castle got to grips with the train. It's always interesting on these morning runs to hear the note of the chimney change as the steam circuit warms up. A 'cold' engine will always sound a little more woolly (for want of a better word) until everything gets hot. Having arrived at Solihull to an admiring crowd of eager passengers, Tony & Craig delivered some very welcome tea and bacon sandwiches from the Support Coach kitchen which were duly enjoyed while we waited time. Further pick-ups were made at Dorridge and Warwick Parkway before we made tracks towards Leamington. Initially we were held at a red signal just north of the station but, when we got the green, 7029 put on a spectacular performance for the assembled crowds as she marched through...

"7029 Blasts Through Leamington" (Pic - Andrew Bell)

I'd be lying if I said the hairs on the back of my neck weren't standing up as "Clun Castle" did her best to wake up Leamington Spa! Leaving clouds of white steam lingering in the air behind us, we accelerated away towards Banbury. Tom was right, this isn't an easy road, particularly with such a heavy train. 7029 was however working very well and it was a pleasure to be aboard and watch the crew at work. At Banbury, I left the footplate and rejoined the Support Coach for the rest of the run to Bath and Bristol. It's amazing to see wires now shadowing the Great Western main line. "Clun" must have hardly recognized her old stomping ground as she rounded the corner at Didcot to the sight of this mass of electrical equipment. After setting down passengers in beautiful Bath, we continued on to Bristol, coming to rest right on time at Temple Meads at 13:02, where "Clun" is pictured blowing off...

From here, with a now empty train, the 47 dragged us around the city to reach St Philips Marsh depot, whos steam roots stretch back to 1910. Most of the passenger engines would have been serviced at Bristol Bath Road, with SPM being mostly allocated freight engines. SPM eventually closed to steam in 1964 but, for today, steam was back...if only briefly. "Clun" would be serviced here before heading back to Bristol TM later on. Myself and Tom however couldn't hang around: we had to head home! Due to this trip being on a Sunday, we of course had work tomorrow and couldn't be out late with the train. VT had therefore arranged for us to travel back by service train. Kit packed, we hit the trail on Rays directions back to Temple Meads. It was a 15-minute brisk walk I'd say, through the backstreets of the city.

Temple Meads was quite awe-striking really, not just for its beautiful architecture and railway history but I've never seen such expensive sausage rolls either. I think mine was about five quid from an outlet on the station concourse! Oh well, we must eat. In the distance we could see a whiff of steam behind a building. A little while later there was a shrill whistle before 61306 "Mayflower" came into view, reversing out of the station with her Support Coach. That was a welcome sight indeed! 

Our 15:30 train soon arrived: a stuffy diesel unit: bound for New Street via Cheltenham and the Lickey. It was over-crowded, cramped and quite smelly...not at all pleasant. Oh how we missed the space and privacy of the Support Coach! Nevertheless, the unit got us home, arriving at a bustling New Street/Grand Central station around teatime. The streets of Brum were alive with Christmas shoppers, even though most shops would be closed by now on a Sunday! Arriving at Moor Street, the prospect of a final connecting journey aboard another stuffy unit made us grab a cuppa' from 'Polar Express' HQ and wait for the Black Five to come in for a ride home...

Having caught a ride back with the immaculate 45305, we made it to Tyseley. We ended up being home well before the lads with "Clun" so it did work out well, allowing us to go to work tomorrow in a rested fashion. It had been a great day, with the run with "Clun" this morning down to Banbury obviously being the highlight. You can never get tired of experiences like that! I'll next be at Tyseley on December 21st for the second York job as I have a few other railway bits to do in between. Christmas is always a busy time! Take care all and all the best for the festive season...

(Please note that I have the qualification/authority/permits to perform any of the actions described in any main line posts on this blog. Please also note that my words and opinions do not represent any words or opinions of the company or other associated organizations. These are merely my own words and opinions, spoken by a willing and enthusiastic volunteer of the group).

Tyseley: A Midland Intruder On The 'Polar Express'...

Good evening all. Another pleasant day spent at the former 84E at Tyseley Locomotive Works, helping on and around 7029 "Clun Castle". The engine is currently at rest, ready for her outing to the Bath Christmas Market next Sunday. We have three Christmas excursions lined up for December, as well as an intensive program of 'Polar Express' workings out of Moor Street. Due to "Clun"s big commitments elsewhere and the retirement of last years 'PE' engine "Rood Ashton Hall", the TOC has brought in a welcome visitor to help out. My task this morning involved finishing up some cleaning on "Clun". She was pretty much gleaming already, having spent weeks being buffed up by various hands. The Tyseley engines have a reputation for their immaculate appearance so we never disappoint on that front!...

Whilst the Castles slumbered inside the shed, out in the damp November air stood the visiting Midland engine: Black Five 45305. Operated by the 5305 Locomotive Association, the Stanier 4-6-0 is usually based at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway. Much like the 84E team, the 5305 LA insist on a sparkling appearance and so 45305 was immaculately turned out for todays duties...

The 2019 program of the Birmingham 'Polar Express' started earlier this week, with trains now operating every Thursday - Sunday evening up until Christmas. I'm told that most trains are well sold, building on the success of last years trips. Rather than the usual Santa Special format, the 'Polar Express' offers more of an on-train theatrical performance, working through various scenes from the popular 2004 film with much singing and dancing. The Black Five would work the train in the Birmingham direction, proudly wearing the home-made headlamp to give it a slightly more American vibe. A Class 20 was coupled to the rear of the stock, ready to haul the engine in the opposite direction when required. Here, 45305 sits beneath the starting signal which is already in the 'off' position in readiness for departure early on in the afternoon...

I tagged along with the 'Polar' on todays first round trip, really just to say I'd done it again in 2019. Myself and a few others had a quick ride behind "Rood Ashton" last Christmas for the same reason! It's a steady run to Moor Street of only a couple of miles, mostly along the goods line which is restricted to 15mph. At Moor Street, the Five came to rest alongside a Chiltern Railways unit...

Crewed by Ray and Phil, it wasn't long before my puppy dog eyes got me invited up for a look in the cab. Despite being a Western fan, I've always had a soft spot for the Black Five. As with the outside of the engine, the cab on 45305 was very clean...

These LMS machines were masters of their job; the true go anywhere, do anything locomotive of their region. I will admit that I was green with envy, and Phil knew it! I'd love to be up here crewing this old thing...

Having drooled over the cab of the 5MT for long enough, I returned to the staff coach for the short and steady ride back to Tyseley. 45305 is an Armstrong-Whitworth example built in 1936 and spent most of its working life in North-West England. Bought for scrap by Drapers of Hull following withdrawal in 1968, the fate of the engine seemed sealed. However, the yard owner: Alderman Draper: decided to save one of the 742 locomotives cut up at his yard for the future and, simply because it was the cleanest, chose 45305. The engine is still owned by the Draper family and is now named "Alderman A E Draper" in memory. She is certainly well looked after and it was a pleasure to see her today. At Tyseley, I alighted ready to watch the 4-6-0 steam back off towards Moor Street with the returning 'Polar Express'...

By now the time was knocking on and the cold damp air was starting to bite so, having cleared away my dirty rags from "Clun", I decided to head for home. I'll next be at Tyseley next Sunday for the Bath job and I'm actually really looking forward to it. I thought I'd end with a few lyrics dedicated to the 5MT:

"Well you're up and you're groping for coal

For the fire had blinded your eye

Feel the boilers need and the fireholes greed

As you blacken the sun and the sky

She goes hammering over the hill

And you're bloody near roasted alive

Like a hound of steel riding runaway wheels

There's a devil astride a Black Five"

(Black Five - David Goulder)

Tyseley: Drain Cocks And Steam Rollers...

Hi all. Today was, yes you've guessed it, another volunteer Saturday at the former 84E. With most of the decorating now completed after a mad few months in the new house, I have a little more time to creep out in search of steam. When I arrived a little before 10:30 (I'm getting worse at these early starts by the week!), Phil was already lighting up his 1925-built Aveling & Porter steam roller "Louise". The engine was being made ready to have the canopy roof removed for repair and I think Phil was also doing a last hurrah kind of thing before some heavy winter maintenance ensues. Leaving the roller crackling away to herself, Phil showed me some jobs on 7029 "Clun Castle" that I could complete today. In the running shed area, 7029 was standing alongside elder sister 5043, who is now missing her outside steam pipes...

I was put to work cleaning up the drain cocks for 7029. The inside ones had been done already so I had to do the six from the outside. There are three mounted to each outside cylinder: two for the cylinder and one for the valve chest. I remember somebody once telling me that the middle one drained the center of the cylinder bore...

The drain cock casting has a screwed plug on the back which allows access to the inside. The front end has a spring with a spacer and split pin which holds the plunger in the closed position when the drain cocks are to be closed. The thread is for the drain cock pipework to be attached which then ejects the condensate forward of the cylinders. The drain cock linkage from the cab is connected so as to press the plunger inward to open the cocks. Here is a fully cleaned up drain cock, upside down of course. The mounting holes for the cylinder studs can be seen...

This kind of work is really just a light maintenance/house keeping task. Over time, the drains (particularly when engines sit for a while) can become clogged up and need a bit of a clean out and brush up. It's an easy job to do with a cuppa' to hand...

The finished result later in the day: three of the drains ready to refit...

If any built up dirt gets behind the plunger when the drain is open, then they will probably pass when they're closed. You don't want to be hissing around the network sounding like an old eight freight in the last days of the Midland region! With the drains refitted to 7029, I headed outside to see how the roller was getting on. The canopy roof had now been removed and the engine was going topless...

Phil kindly let me take the F-Type for a couple of laps of the car park, although I did insist he put it in bottom gear as I'm not entirely confident on these things. I could just see me ploughing it through a nearby parked car if it got away from me! Nevertheless, I managed to go round nicely without bashing into anything. When they settle down they're actually quite nice to drive. I would never say that you can step straight off a railway engine and onto one of these, or vice versa in fact. They are very different machines entirely, but interesting in their own way. I couldn't resist a few blasts on the Great Western whistle...still big kids at heart! With that it was pretty much time for home after a worthwhile little day at 84E. Cheers all, Sam...

Tyseley: The Pipes, The Pipes Are Calling...

"From glen to glen, and down the mountain"...no, that's enough of that actually! Today, having briefly escaped from the decorating, I was over at the former 84E of Tyseley Locomotive Works. Upon arrival, I was glad to find the two roller shutter doors on four and five roads slightly open, giving a good bit more light. I was today tasked with another cleaning job, getting "Clun" ready for her next appearance on the Bath Christmas Market special on December 1st. The mechanical lubricator on the front drivers side of the engine has quite a lot of copper pipework which, when cleaned up, looks a real treat. So today, armed with Autosol and plenty of clean rags, I set to work gently cleaning up the pipes. Currently retired Hall Class No4965 "Rood Ashton Hall" was giving "Clun" a bit of a stare out from her resting place...

The various pipes which stem from the lubricator feed the cylinders, valves and regulator. The 'original' Castles carried the five-glass hydrostatic, which "Defiant" still carries. 7029 & 5043, being later double-chimney versions, carry the mechanical alternative. As you can imagine, you have to be very careful cleaning these pipes. They are fairly strong but any damage could result in a leak, which may lead to a loss of oil to crucial components. On the main line at the speeds we run at, this could be catastrophic so the words "be careful" are forever etched on the mind during jobs like this! Though a bit fiddly, the pipes came up well...

I always feel that it's these little touches that give the 84E engines their reputation. Some have commented that the engines were never this clean in their working lives. This is probably quite true, but these days we have more time to look after them. The Tyseley fleet doesn't spend week after week on the road, meaning that we have time in between to keep them sparkling. Later in the day, the final result...

My last job today, as with any brass or copper polishing, was to apply a thin coating of Vaseline to prevent tarnish. I don't particularly like this job as the Vaseline itself does dull the finish slightly, although I'd rather that than see it all bright green with condensation marks next week! Roll on our December 1st outing with the gleaming Castle. Let's hope the valleys aren't hushed and white with snow!...

Tyseley: Castles At Rest And A Summer Jub...

Good afternoon all. Having endured the pouring rain of Rail Ale last week, it was pleasant to return to Tyseley in sunnier and warmer conditions. Today, as usual, I was put to work cleaning up the cab of 1950-built Castle Class No7029 "Clun Castle". The BR (W) 4-6-0 won't be appearing on tomorrows Shakespeare Express as "Bahamas" is doing one last job for us before heading home. However, 7029 will be back in action on the next one, scheduled for two weeks tomorrow. I was quite happy with the results of todays efforts, with "Clun"s cab positively beaming...

Behind "Clun", hiding in the relatively new annex shed, was elder sister 5043. The "Earl" is now waiting for her turn in the overhaul queue and seems to look on at her younger sister with jealousy. That's the only shame with steam engines: at best they have a 10-year shelf life before they need an overhaul. The "Earl" in particular seemed to retire in better condition than most restoration jobs enter service but still needs to be overhauled nonetheless. What a great engine she has been...

Out in the hazy summer afternoon weather was "Bahamas", strutting cautiously up and down the demo line as final preparation checks were made. The engine has been polished up beautifully again following her soaking wet visit to York last Saturday. Much like the Tyseley fleet, "Bahamas" is a credit to her owners...

After grabbing one last snap of the Jubilee (she'll be gone by the time I'm next here), I went back to "Clun Castle" to finish up in the cab. The final task is always the light application of Vaseline, used to prevent tarnish. It's such a shame to have your efforts wasted by the condensation of one damp night if you forget to apply this protective coating! Thanks for reading again all. I'm next at Tyseley in three weeks time for the Gloucester job. Plenty to do between now and then mind: we're moving house next week! Wish us luck - we're going to need it! Cheers all, Sam...