A Small Prairie "Santa Special"...

Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas! This morning, early but certainly not bright, myself & JB met up at the gates of Shackerstone Station on the Battlefield Line. Signing in at 6am, we were rostered to crew visiting 4575 Class Small Prairie Tank No5542 which is spending the festive season on the ex-ANJR metals. Stumbling through the gloom to reach the loco shed, we fell in the door and unloaded our countless carrier bags in the real mess area. 5542 was stood over the pit awaiting us, complete with "Santa Express" headboard and chimney cap...

Whilst JB mercilessly punched the tea boiler into life (one of these days it'll come off the wall!), I clambered up into the cab to check the state of affairs: 3/4 of a glass in the boiler, 20psi still on the gauge and a fairly clean grate which wouldn't require too much exhaustion to clean with the irons. Time was certainly on our side this morning - for a change. I removed the chimney cap before opening the smokebox door and emptying the ashes. A thorough check around in there revealed all was well and so I swept the smokebox ring and door before locking it up and returning to the cab. A good seal on the smokebox door is paramount so as to achieve the optimum vacuum required for good steaming. After a flick around the firebox with the irons the grate was clean enough to light the embryo fire and following the usual checks (fusibles, stays, brick arch etc) I put the deflector back in before lighting up...

With a pile of rags blazing away on the layer of fresh coal I'd added, a good mound of dry wood was piled on top and then another round of coal. With the doors firmly closed and a good plume of smoke rising skyward from the warm chimney, it was time to enjoy JB's cuppa' in the shadow of the beaten remnants of the tea boiler. Whilst we supped the tea I'd put the hose in the pan wash pipe and the steady stream of water coming from beneath the engine showed it was working. JB later operated the pan doors (hydraulic you know!) whilst I scurried around in the hideous surroundings of the pit raking out the ashes. This is the true romance of steam - water in your boots, ash down your neck and grime just about everywhere it can get...but we do it for the love! With the pan done and steam rising nicely, JB passed through an oil feeder so that I could check and lubricate the inside Stephenson's motion. The Prairie carries a standard GWR arrangement with the movement of each piston valve provided by a pair of eccentrics on the driving axle via the expansion link, die-block and rocking arm. With the oiling done, JB rolled 5542 gently outside into the crisp Winter air...

Time was still very much on our side so we decided to polish the engine. I'd brought in my own metal cleaner and rags so I then buffed up the smokebox dart, door straps, handrails and of course the bonnet and whistles. We then polished the tanks, paraffin-oil washed the running boards and front step and cleaned the smokebox. By now time was nearing 9am and a quick sip of the next cuppa' was followed by a steamy stroll down to the coal pile in the North End sidings. The good luck ran out here as the Loadall refused to start meaning that we were unable to coal at the desired time when stress levels were low. Thankfully there was enough coal in the bunker to perform the 10am round trip so we put 42' over on the stock and began steam heating having watered on the column. All was ready...

5542 looked lovely all buffed up and once I'd lit the lamps (I love the atmosphere!) I wandered up onto Platform 1 to photograph her from the front. We were both worn out before the day had really started but our cleaning efforts showed I think...

"A Clean And Tidy 5542 Awaits The Off"

On time and with a train that was about 3/4 full, we departed Shackerstone in a cloud of steam. The "Santa" jobs have always been the same: slow to Market Bosworth, wait, slow to Shenton and then see how you are coming back...

5542 steamed steadily down to Bosworth through the leafless trees and we were soon waiting in the platform. "20 minutes" came the call so we stopped for a cuppa' from 'Jessie'. We also phoned ahead to Shenton to order the breakfast...

A steady wander down to the Battlefield was followed by a swift run round. Barbara kindly delivered the hot breakfast cobs to the footplate as we awaited departure with our shining steed. The Small Prairie looked lovely...

Departing Shenton we were asked to go steady to Bosworth whilst Santa himself saw the remaining families. Breakfast was duly devoured as 42' climbed steadily towards Far Coton with the needle hugging the red line and all things well...

Back at Shackerstone we went down for coal again - the Loadall had been jump started and was rumbling away to itself. Due to the time we were swamped with public from both directions - some departing, some arriving. Chris & Harry kindly stopped to help us as we couldn't handle the crowds in the yard and time was rolling around. We managed to fill the bunker, although a few lumps remained on the ground as we backed away in the panic to try to keep up time. Watered, coupled up and steam heat running, we departed Shackerstone only 5 minutes late on the Midday turn - not bad. Having performed a pretty similar operation to the first round trip, 5542 is captured simmering away at Market Bosworth with the returning train...

The engine was steaming very well, although the steam heat was gobbling up the water more than usual. Its a nice engine this - I like it...

Back at Shackerstone we ran round again, pausing for water at the column on route. Once back on the train I coupled up whilst JB fetched the Magnums. He kindly fired the 2pm train so that I could have a go on the handle. Gently did it and we were soon at Shenton awaiting the off in the right direction. The light was already fading at 3pm as the engine feathered at the head of the train...

The paraffin headlamps were still burning brightly...

After a pleasant trot through the Leicestershire countryside back to Shackerstone, 5542 was run round again before assuming her place at the head of the 4pm train. The festive station lighting was on as we awaited our late departure...

Departing into the darkness, 5542 steamed easily down to Bosworth. With less passengers on this train there wasn't much of a wait in the platform so we trotted on towards Shenton at line speed - well, we could of. Down at Shenton we ran round and recoupled to the northern end of the stock for the final time before departing homeward. Its a different world on the footplate at night: very atmospheric and somehow a lot more impressive. Back at Shackerstone we uncoupled the engine and drew away, allowing the passengers to cross into the car park via the barrow crossing. Once the hoards were clear, No7 disc was given allowing us to proceed to No11 ground frame and reach the loco shed. 5542 was soon back where she started...

"A Shining 5542 Takes A Breather In The Shed"

Cleaning the fire discovered a fairly dirty grate - thick with clinker. Its amazing really as the engine showed no signs of it with her performance and I'd put the iron through on the previous trip. David would have had a fit - there is only one rule in his mind for clinker...the incompetence of the man on the shovel! There you go David, I submit, it was clinkered mate! With the grate cleaned and embers deadened, the boiler was filled and the chimney capped before isolating the necessaries and cleaning the cab. A very nice day aboard 5542 once again, in the company of good friend and colleague JB. Thanks for reading all and, of course, Merry Christmas...

A Warley Wander...

Hi all. A short one from today. We had a quick visit to the Warley National Model Railway Exhibition for their 2017 show at the NEC. There was an impressive array of layouts and stands on offer and it was worth a few hours walking around amongst several thousand bobble-hatted show-goers. A pint and a pork pie completed the day and we returned home for a cuppa'. Warley is always worth a wander and always makes me feel like the beginning of the Christmas season. Cheers all, Sam...

Tyseley: In The Bleak Midwinter...

"In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan". Today I was over at Tyseley for another of their Saturday working parties. Various groups were in the shed today including the "Kinlet Hall" crew and the Duke brigade in their shiny green overalls. A couple of us were set to work on 84E's pioneer Castle class 4-6-0 No7029 "Clun Castle". The task was simple: to clean her up and keep her pristine ready for the winter break. After her triumphant return to steam at the October open weekend, 7029 now awaits her main line trips with the first scheduled for March next year. At around 4pm following a good day pushing some rags around the immaculate Castle it was time to head for home. Cheers all, Sam...

"The Valley Rambler" Remembers The Fallen...

"Panniers at Highley" (Pic - K.Felstead)

Tyseley's Pannier trips are a popular addition to Vintage Trains' main line steam calendar and today would see "The Valley Rambler" steaming to Bridgnorth via Stratford. Bridgnorth is of course the terminus of the Severn Valley Railway, which we would join during the afternoon. Hauling the train today would be 84E's 1945-built 9600 and her larger Hawksworth cousin 9466. Following my now traditional McDonalds stop I arrived at Tyseley at around 6:30am. As is typical when preparing Panniers for the main line, the weather was bleak: wet and windy. Wandering down through the loco shed I discovered some of the lads already gathering around 9600 whilst the Class 08 diesel shunter rumbled away outside making up air. As the drizzle came down we moved the engine across to the usual prep road whilst Hall Class 4965 looked out longingly from the shed. Soon enough the fire was lit and 9600 was coming to life...

Down the site, 9466 was being prepared by her own Support Crew. The train would leave Tyseley top and tailed for the run to Stratford, with the larger Pannier at the head. 9600 is seen just before leaving shed for turning following oiling and watering...

Our departure time was scheduled for 9:15am and so 9600 was soon on the turntable being prepared for a bunker first departure from 84E...

The next task involved dragging all of the stock up the site to allow 9466 to assume her place at the other end of the train. The bank up the yard is a strong climb and yet 9600 just picked up the train with ease. 17.5" cylinders and a 200psi boiler gives these chunky 0-6-0s a massive amount of punch for a tank engine and you can really imagine them taking trains of 12 coaches or more up into Paddington from Old Oak Common. Having warmed herself up shunting the stock, 9600 simmered away quietly steam heating. The passengers would be glad of the warmth on this chilly day...

Right on time, 9600 barked out of Tyseley up the bank and onto Network Rail metals. Once the train was clear of the museum site, the road was given to proceed down through the loop to reach the main line. We were soon ticking happily down the North Warwick line towards Stratford. The Panniers are allowed to do up to 45mph and certainly seem to settle down once they're up there. A red signal up ahead heralded a short stop at Whitlocks End where 9600 proved popular...

"On Board 9600" (Pic - A.Endsor)

Once the signal had cleared, the Pannier duo got the train quickly up to speed again as they roared on towards Stratford. 9466 was doing the lions share...

"9466 Leads The Way" (Pic - D.Chandler)

Our arrival in Shakespeare's town was as always greeted by an army of excited onlookers. 9466 would run round whilst the hoses were quickly connected up to 9600 so that watering could begin. The Panniers can manage around 30 miles on average on a tank of water and so the rambler trips do tend to turn into a 'water stop express'. Once the Tyseley engine was watered, the Hawksworth was also filled up ready for the climb back towards Birmingham. At 11am a small service and a silence took place on the platform to remember the countless who lost their lives during the war years. 9600 was wearing a poppy wreath as a mark of respect. We left Stratford on time at 11:15am, climbing the bank towards Wilmcote in fine style...

"Pannier Power" (Pic - D.Chandler)

I don't think anyone could ever argue that Panniers aren't great fun on the main line - they sound a treat with their little wheels flying around. Once we reached Tyseley it was time for another water stop in the loop. Both Panniers also had their smokeboxes emptied after their efforts on the run back from Stratford. Leaving 84E behind for the second time we steamed down to Kidderminster via Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction. At Kidderminster there was a brief operational stop in the main line platform before steaming over the cross-over onto the preserved metals of the SVR. As we came to a stop in the loop an adjacent Class 08 was rumbling away waiting to haul our train back into the platform at Kidderminster Town. Before this shunt could take place the SVR's Pannier 7714 had to come in and go out again...

Once our train was in the platform it was over to the SVR crew to water the Panniers prior to the departure to Bridgnorth. We meanwhile enjoyed a mountain of fish and chips that we'd ordered from Captain Cod's over the road from the station - they were delicious! The Pannier duo were removed from the train to be watered at the column...

"9600 & 9466 At Kidderminster Town" (Pic - D.Chandler)

2:40pm saw us depart Kidderminster Town for Bridgnorth. The steady run along the Severn Valley must have been a stroll for the two tank engines after rushing along the main line. The light was already fading as we dropped a few passengers off at Highley to visit the Engine House before proceeding to the terminus. The Pullman team kindly delivered a massive victoria sponge to the support coach as we approached Hampton Loade - that was also delicious! At Bridgnorth the two Panniers were removed from the stock to be watered and serviced on the yard. The less said about that whole experience the better I think. Our homeward departure time rolled around quickly and the Panniers prepared to leave Bridgnorth behind...

"Ready To Leave Bridgnorth" (Pic - D.Chandler)

After a steady wander back down the Severn Valley to Kidderminster, the GUV was reattached to the rake and the Panniers prepared to steam back onto the main line. They were well up to speed as we roared through Blakedown and on towards Stourbridge Junction. Having watered at Kidderminster Town the tank engines could easily get home without another stop. Here they are back at Tyseley...

The usual operation then took place as the Class 08 shunt released the locomotives. The engines then proceeded down the middle road for 9600 to be turned...

Once turned 9600 steamed back to the engine shed, passing 9466 on the lean to road. It wasn't long before she was back in the shed and settling down for the night. All in all it had been another great Pannier jaunt and it was nice to take in the preserved setting of the Severn Valley as well. I must thank Tyseley for another great day out and another enriching experience. Finally...

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them"

Robert Laurence Binyon - 1914

The "Giant Miniature Weekend" 2018...

Its about this time of year that all of the organising begins for the miniature do - or in this case Statfold's "Giant Miniature Weekend". The massive gathering of miniatures will be returning over May 12th/13th to the award winning narrow gauge railway...

From the events early beginnings as MTEW at Market Bosworth in 2013 where we welcomed 24 engines, the event grew to a whopping 94 miniatures in 2017. I hope to push this figure even higher next year...hopefully over the 100 mark! As well as the colourful abundance of scale models, Statfold will be offering rides on the steam trains and tramway as well as its popular Roundhouse museum. This is the only event in the SBR calendar to welcome all ages to the site and is now one of the biggest gatherings of miniature road steam in the UK. Don't miss it. Cheers all, Sam...

Tyseley Open Day: Welcome Back "Clun"...

"The Turntable Line-Up" (Pic - M.Tattam)

The Tyseley Open Days always boast a fabulous display of Great Western steam locomotives and the addition of the turntable provides great photographic opportunities. Today's public celebration to welcome No7029 "Clun Castle" back into steam was well attended by enthusiasts from across the UK and the six operational members of the 84E fleet were in action for all to enjoy. I arrived at the Birmingham site at around 6:30am, finding the engines dotted around the yard. I was asked to light up Pannier Tank 9600 which had only had a warming fire yesterday having not been in use. She was down by the lean to alongside a simmering 5043...

Clambering up into the cab I found a strong water level and a warm back head. It wouldn't take long for the Pannier to start bubbling away once the fire was lit. I cleared the remaining ashes from the grate before adding a sprinkling of coal. Tony & Craig kindly broke up some wood which was duly passed up onto the footplate whilst I prepared some oily rags on the shovel. A few minutes later, the ignition rags were lit before being thrown into the firebox...

With the rags blazing away on top of the coal, I added a mound of wood in bonfire fashion before closing the firehole doors. The wood could be heard crackling away as the flames took hold and a tell tale plume of smoke rose steadily skyward from the chimney. Once the wood was well underway I added a good few shovelfuls of coal to cover the flames before leaving the engine to get on with it whilst I started oiling up. All around, the other five locomotives were being readied by other members of the Tyseley team. 9600 is a variation on the 5700 Class Pannier Tank, employing 17.5" cylinders and a 200psi boiler. I like them: I always have. They make for a free steaming and, I feel, incredibly strong tank engine which can be the master of most preserved railways.

Around 9am the Ruston 88' diesel shunter was coupled up to us to drag us down to the ash pit. I crawled beneath the simmering Pannier, bent over like a split pin against the brake shaft. With much cursing the pan was eventually emptied - this is the romance of steam! A much dustier Sam then drove 9600 onto her allotted turntable road to await the crowds that were already gathering in the car park...

At 10am the public were allowed into the site and the sound of clicking cameras filled the air. I was still going around 9600 with the oil cans, preparing myself for the inevitable bout of contortionism that comes with trying to squeeze yourself between the frames. Some go in underneath, aided by the luxury of a pit, but I find it much 'easier' (a term used loosely) to go over the top as I can see better. In my younger years I found it much easier to slide beneath the tanks on these 5700s - the level of groaning has increased as time has passed! Meanwhile, up in the cab, pressure was rising steadily as 5043 backed down beside us on the adjacent road...

Shortly after 10:30am "Clun" was unveiled to her public. The immaculate Castle: the youngest of the trio: was then lined up alongside sisters 5080 & 5043. 4965 & 9600 were also part of the popular spectacle...

It was fun baby sitting 9600 throughout the morning. I love the BR lined black livery; much nicer than the plain black that is seen so often. Historically, I believe that the lining was reserved for engines which worked the Paddington ECS...

The trio of Castles made for a fabulous photograph...

"7029, 5080 and 5043" (Pic - M.Tattam)

Though six of the collection were in steam, the undoubted star of the weekend had to be 7029 herself: Tyseley's iconic pioneer. Martyn Tattam has kindly sent in a number of the images used in this post and this capture of "Clun" is beautiful...

"A Portrait of 7029" (Pic - M.Tattam)

Following the lunchtime cavalcade involving the three operational 4-6-0s, "Clun" spent the afternoon on the two-coach shuttle train, top & tailing with 7752 (L94)...

Once the double chimney Castle had dragged the red Pannier one way, 52' summoned her strength to pull the younger 4-6-0 back towards the platform...

I later had three trips firing 52' up and down, with Driver Ray Churchill on the handle. Its quite an honour sharing the footplate with a man of such experience: Ray has travelled far & wide piloting all kinds of traction during his main line steam career. Back on the shed, the immaculate Peckett 0-4-0 was basking in the sunlight. One of the W7 Class 0-4-0s, 84E's little engine shows just how lovely a well preserved Peckett can be. For me she is the benchmark of industrial steam...

Down in the platform the star of the show was waiting for another run...

I was soon lucky enough to have my first footplate ride on "Clun Castle" and to fling a few shovelfuls of coal into her firebox...

Here, "Clun" waits at the stop boards at the extremity of the Tyseley site as she looks out promisingly towards the main line. One day soon she'll be out there again and I can't wait for that day to come...

As usual the standard of Tyseley's restoration is impeccable and "Clun" is a beauty to behold. The cab is stunning: a mass of burnished steel...

The engine rides like a brand new one: firm, stable and smooth as can be. She's beautiful, just beautiful. Well done Tyseley, you've done it again...

"Aboard 7029" (Pic - M.Tattam)

After my very enjoyable couple of trips on the new Castle I went back to 9600 which was about to head back to the shed with Batesy in control...

"9600 On The Turntable" (Pic - M.Tattam)

We spent the next half an hour or so shuttling up and down the running yard before dropping 9600 onto the shed. As I drove her in, I let her coast down the yard as far as possible before halting her outside the shed on the steam brake. The Panniers have a much better chance of seating their regulator valves if they roll in to a stop so you have to resist the temptation to give it that last breath otherwise they'll tend to pass. 9600 is another lovely old thing and a pleasure to work with...

I then disposed 9600, ensuring that the boiler was well filled and the fire calmed but warm enough to prevent quick cooling. The slower you can bring these old things down the better. As the sun set and the Autumn darkness rolled in, 7029 was pictured simmering quietly outside the shed, no doubt dreaming of her imminent return to the main line. She is a lovely engine and it almost feels like Tyseley have grown a new Castle as I've never seen "Clun" in steam until now. Welcome back 7029...

All in all it had been another great weekend at Tyseley welcoming back "Clun Castle". My hat off to them: she's another fine machine. I've now been with Tyseley for over two years and its been such a thrill experiencing these locomotives on the main line. It really has changed my hobby and I'm so proud to be involved. My contribution to these engines is nothing short of insignificant compared to that of most but still I feel proud to have done my small part. Great stuff. Cheers all, Sam...