A Curator's Life

Moved on!

2010-06-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

Well it's happened folks - I'm now at: http://nationalrailwaymuseum.wordpress.com/ and will begin blogging again as soon as I get to grips with the slightly different format there. I hope you'll join my colleagues and I there - we're in for a busy summer!

Quick round up of this week

2010-06-13T14:05:00.000-07:00

A quick canter round the week's events. Mallard moved into the workshop in readiness for her holiday in Shildon, Richard Pearson and the Shildon team preparing the engine by examining all axlebox underkeeps, pads etc and removing the connecting rods. In the Great Hall, "Mallard" and the dynamometer car's place has been taken by "Gladstone" and the class 31 until another shunt later in the month brings the SECR D class 737 and Pullman "Topaz" into that position.

Here are an an example of a worn out pad from Mallard with a new one in the foreground ready for fitting. Most of the A4's ones needed replacement, and I had to fetch two pads for the Cartazzi truck from Grosmont and the A4 Society later this last week.

Later afternoon, and the coupling rods on the left side have been removed for cleaning and examination and were then refitted.

The Shildon team with the aid of two lifting trolleys refit the rods. This could be an entry for a caption competition...

The rods back on, the team is ready for a wash, a quick cuppa and the trip home.

Thursday saw a Management planning day in the GWR inspection saloon on the NYMR, undertaking two full line return trips to allow full time for discussion and debate. A shed tour during the run round had been arranged, and we were lucky enough to see Black 5 45428 passing classmate 44871 at Grosmont during the morning.

At New Bridge yard, I was pleased to see our NER Stores Van had been safely unloaded and awaiting the short trip to Pickering carriage & wagon shops where it will have roof repairs and bodywork before going on display at Pickering station.

A major project for the NYMR has been the replacement of Bridge 30 over the winter. Here, 30926 "Repton" forges uphill towards the new bridge, with NRM Director Steve Davies enjoying a cab ride.

The sun came out in the end as we arrived from our final trip at Pickering, with the Schools class loco and inspection saloon on the end of the service train awaiting to work back to the carriage sidings before the loco went to New Bridge for stabling overnight. A very productive day, despite the appearances of us having played trains all the time!

On the Move

2010-06-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone, and apologies for the lack of updates recently - time has been at a premium and I'll try and get something up soon. In the meantime, a news item - this blog will soon become part of the official NRM blog site http://nationalrailwaymuseum.wordpress.com/ so if you don't want to miss out, I suggest you move your favourites to that site - where colleagues are also blogging, so a better picture of what we're up to can be obtained. See you there!

Great Western 175 - the Cotswold Festival of Steam

2010-06-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we headed for Toddington for a full day of Great Westernry - and were not disappointed! As well as the operating railway, there were several extra displays, from model railways to road vehicles and seemingly everything in between. A major exhibition was of Great Western and Western Region railwayana organised by Neil Booth of Railwayana Auctions Limited, including a full set of Western shedplates and many items never displayed in public before. Further Western oddities included permanent way inspection vehicles...

Whilst in another marquee is our replica broad gauge loco "Iron Duke".

Due to the unfortunate landslip between Gotherington and Cheltenham, services ran to Gotherington only, plus an auto-train ran northwards from Toddington over Stanway viaduct on the extension towards Broadway - of which more later. Here's the Auto-train in platform 2 of Toddington station.

We travelled the line as far as Gotherington, where the former station is now a private house, belonging to Bryan and Sunita Nicholls, who had very kindly opened their gardens and collection of railwayana for the festival. Before we had a look around, 9466 was caught banking the train we arrived on out of Gotherington back towards Winchcombe. The restored station can be seen on the left.

Bryan has amassed a superb collection, but displays it in context - including a short length of line with a classic GWR Pagoda halt platform and building at one end, known as Gotherington West. For the duration of the festival, steam operation on this line took place for the first time on record, using the Gwili Railway's RSH 0-4-0ST "Olwen" made up as former Swansea Harbour and GWR loco 1144. In this picture, the atmosphere of Bryan and Sunita's garden can be seen as "1144" prepares to take us on a short trip to Gotherington West. One of the real gems of the festival, and the Nicholls are to be thanked for taking the risk and opening their garden to so many visitors.

In a marquee in the garden are a selection of railway road vehicles and a couple of displays, this pair of Scammell Mechanical Horses remind us that the story of railways and goods went beyond the rails.

A star turn for many was the debut of the former Turkish Railways LMS 8F, allocated LMS number 8274, but appearing as 8476, a Swindon built example, showing how the 8Fs were built in the workshops of all the big four railway companies during the Second World War. It is seen here taking water at Winchcombe.

In the station yard at Winchcombe was an Aveling & Porter steam roller with railway credentials. Owned now by Nigel Keene, this is the famous roller that took part in the duel with 1401 in the film "The Titfield Thunderbolt".

Moving back to Toddington, 9466 arrives at Winchcombe to take us North.

Leaving Winchcombe, we passed ex Port Talbot Railway and GWR 813 coupled to GWR Royal Saloon 9007.

Back at Toddington, we took a short ride on the North Gloucestershire Narrow Gauge Railway to Didbrook loop. The train paused at "California Crossing" on the way down, headed by a Hunslet diesel.

Due to a track problem, we were then taken back to Toddington by steam, this being a Feldbahn type 0-8-0T, a very pleasant extra to the afternoon.

Another of the marquees at Toddington included the most incredible display of large scale GWR locomotive models, the biggest of which was this amazing 10 1/4" gauge 47XX 2-8-0, something I'd never seen modelled in live steam before.

In the yard at Toddington, another exhibit had been shunted into place, this being the pioneer GWR gas turbine loco, 18000, jokingly known as "Kerosene Castle".

In the loco yard being prepared for the following day were 7802 "Bradley Manor", 92203 "Black Prince" and the NRM's 3717 "City of Truro", here getting a clean and being lit up.

A particular highlight for me was the granting of a footplate permit for use during the day, thanks to Andrew Goodman of the GWSR. Time did not allow us to take it up on a full line trip, so instead, a ride was arranged in an autocoach on the auto-train over Stanway viaduct, and here the driver eases open the regulator in the leading coach of the train, controlling 1450, the auto-fitted tank loco behind us.

And the view out of the driving compartment as we head north over the viaduct towards Laverton. Notice the immaculate permanent way.

Back at Toddington, there was time to see another visitor being watered, GWR Mogul number 5322 which saw service in France on the First World War, and recently overhauled at Didcot to wear the Railway Operating Division khaki livery.One could not of course have a celebration of all things Great Western without a nod to the man who started it all, Isambard Kingdom Brunel - seen in front of 5051 "Earl Bathurst", which is carrying the "Cheltenham Flyer" headboard.

Next to the Castle and 18000, the ex-Barry condition 3845, giving a very vivid idea of what work has had to be undertaken to restore the majority of the stars of the Festival to operation after years in the South Wales scrapyard.

A nice touch was the GWR saloon in the yard, offering manicures etc should they be required!

My last picture shopws the final departure of the day, pannier tank 4612 making a spirited depature from Toddington with another well-filled train, giving pleasure to hundreds as evidenced by the photographer in the foreground. What an event, well done GWSR!

An hour in York

2010-05-27T15:05:00.000-07:00

I needed to attend a meeting at 3pm this afternoon at York on my way back from Wales, so took the chance to have a quick scoot round to see what colleagues are up to and bring blog readers up to date with some of the happenings there.

In the next month, Mallard will leave for Shildon, and during Half Term week there are a series of events planned to say farewell - but it WILL be back!In the South Yard, visiting Jinty 47406 is covering Half Term steam operations, whilst "Rocket" is at the Great Central. This is the Jinty's first visit to anywhere after its restoration, and it's here cooling down after passing a steam test and Fitness to Run exam today.Finally for today, we had a preview of the new exhibition, Great Western Reflections, our contribution at York to the GWR 175 celebrations which opens on 29th May - do come and have a look.

A morning with Hefin Owen and Wild Aster

2010-05-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

At the suggestion of Julian Birley who was on the Welsh Highland train yesterday, I made my way back to York today via the Llanberis Lake Railway where I found 1904 Quarry Hunslet "Wild Aster/Thomas Bach" raising steam. The loco's second name is in honour of a former driver at the quarry "Little Thomas" rather than any engine with a face on it! Its regular driver is Hefin Owen, son of a Dinorwic Quarry loco fitter - the railway nestles in the shadow of the quarries - and through the good offices of Julian, it was arranged for me to accompany Hefin on a 9.50am special extra departure. Hefin is here watering the loco at Gilfach Ddu station.

Some seven years ago, the line was extended to Llanberis village, giving the railway a much needed shop window on the main road, and diverting off the trackbed of the former Padarn Railway which it follwed along the lake. "Wild Aster" is seen here about to cross the main access road to the Padarn Country Park complex, which includes the Welsh Slate Museum, part of which can be seen on the right of the picture.

Runnig back to Gilfach Ddu along the lake shore, it can be seen again that Snowdon is in cloud as it was yesterday. That said, the view from Hefin's "office" is particularly fine and his company was very enjoyable - it's a lovely railway and a very unexpected experience, diolch yn fawr iawn Hefin.

Take me to the Bridge

2010-05-27T13:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a momentous day for the Welsh Highland Railway, opening the line to Pont Croesor from Hafod y Llyn and now giving over 20 miles of line from Caernarfon and leaving only 3 more miles to open to get through to Porthmadog. Steve Davies was unable to attend and thus I was asked to represent the NRM. This was a particular delight for me as a narrow gauge enthusiast and also as I had yet to travel on the Welsh Highland line beyond Waenfawr. Our special train left Caernarfon at 10am and was hauled by Garratt 87, seen here rounding the curve into Rhyd Ddu station.

We paused at Beddgelert to pick up local VIPs and prepare to journey through the Aberglaslyn Pass, one of the spectacular parts of the line. The concrete pillars in the middle of the picture are the supports for the old water tank from the days of the original Welsh Highland line.

At Pont Croesor station, we were welcomed by schoolchildren and shortly after, the station was opened by Dr Dewi Roberts, seen here with the microphone, alongside John Prideaux of the Festiniog & Welh Highland Railway Company.

Travelling back to Beddgelert, we paused at Nantmor for Dr Dafydd Gwyn to open the station there and dedicate it to the memory of the late Dr Ben Fisher, a staunch supporter of the railway project and maintainer of an excellent website devoted to the railway.

As the train exits Aberglaslyn Pass on the way to Beddgelert, it crosses the Brynfelin bridge, a sympathetic replacement of a 1920s original and a classic location.

Guests were treated to an excellent buffet at Beddgelert's Royal Goat Hotel, after which I nipped up to the station to have a look at 87 before the crowds returned.

Before leaving Beddgelert, two National Railway Heritage awards were unveiled by Andy Savage, Robin Leleux and a representative of the supporting Ian Allan group, David Lane.

Dafydd Gwyn invited me into the observation car for part of the return journey to meet representatives from Gwynedd County Council and Dr Dewi Roberts amongst others, a very sumptuous experience.

Leaving Rhyd Ddu, we rounded a curve beneath slate tips, and Snowdon hiding in the cloud - for once I was glad I wasn't up there!

Returning to Caernarfon, we noticed newly overhauled Garratt 138 outside the shed at Dinas in light steam - so we drove back to the yard to have a look - and very nice it is too! It'll find its niche on the newly extended railway...

Also in the station yard at Dinas is this little 3 foot gauge De Winton loco "Llanfair" built in Caernarfon for the Penmaenmawr Granite Quarries - I have a very soft spot for these locos and the De Winton company in general.

In a bay platform at Dinas was pioneer Beyer Garratt, K1, undergoing maintenance before rejoining the working fleet.

Finally in the top yard was this pair of modern diesel locos, obtained for permanent way and maintenance use, but I was unable to find a manufacturer for them or anything about where they had come from. They look to be very useful engines however!

The K1 is back!

2010-05-18T09:09:00.000-07:00

After cylinder repairs last week, NELPG's K1 2-6-0 No. 62005 was in steam today for trials at Shildon. If all is well, it will leave on Saturday for a week's running in on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway before heading for the summer season at Fort William. Here's the by now obligatory "coal drops" shot!

Major step forward for Smith Rodley

2010-05-17T13:51:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, the restoration of the 5 ton capacity Smith Rodley steam crane in the Shildon workshops took a big step forward when Richard & Johnny fitted the jib for the first time. It's only on for a trial basis, whilst we measure up for new ropes, check alignment etc, but it does look good - as well as giving us an idea of the size of the completed item. Here, with the jib suspended from the gantry crane and the other end on the fork lift truck, Johnny helps to align the jib whilst Richard tweaks the other end. Soon afterwards, all is lined up and the locating pins put in. Richard & Johnny take the strop off the end of the jib and rest the middle of it on some sleeper packing.

Long isn't it? Painting next...

A Derbyshire Dalliance

2010-05-16T12:38:00.000-07:00

Friday saw Helen Ashby & I heading for the Midland Railway at Butterley to discuss working together in the future. After a very productive meeting, we were given a comprehensive tour of the railway's Swanwick Junction site, including the vintage train in the museum where head of Carriage & Wagon, Simon Evans was pleased to show us the restored stock, including 3rd class coach number 78 of 1866, a superb restoration job. Helen & I inspected Kirtley 2-4-0 158A, part of the National Collection, with a view to working with the MRT to draw up a Conservation Management Plan.

Pioneer 1500v dc electric loco "Electra" shares the display tracks with a selection of Midland, LMS and British Railways stock.

Indulging my industrial loco interest, it was nice to see this unique Markham of Chesterfield 0-4-0 saddle tank "Gladys".

Once part of the NRM collection, this LMS "porthole" brake was transferred to the MRT's ownership and it now resides in the museum at Swanwick.

Regular readers of this blog will know that I do like to see restored wagons too, and this Midland Railway crane runner is no exception, having been symapthetically restored, with much original material retained.

50 year old "Peak" diesel electric number D4 "Great Gable is housed in the museum whilst it celebrates its anniversary of outshopping from Derby works.

The pioneer Midland Railway Pullman carriage body "Midland" gave us much thought and discussion over its future stabilisation, conservation and display.

In the heritage carriage & wagon workshop, we were able to see this example of original Mindland Railway paintwork, which has informed recent restoration works.

Across the site is the shed of the Golden Valley Light Railway, wherein we saw this 1997 built 0-4-2 inverted saddle tank, based on a Bagnall design and constructed by Allen Civil, newly repainted and renamed.

As a member of the Ashover Light Railway Society, I have followed the story of the rescue of one of of the original carriage bodies and its move to Swanwick - here it is under sympathetic rebuild - much of the old material has been kept, including the boards which state "Ashover Light Railway" along the upper body.

There is something for everyone on the site, and in the Road Transport Gallery, I discovered this 1890s Aveling & Porter steam roller, not dissimilar to our own machine at home, so I took a few minutes to look at the differences, details and similarities.If it's buses that float your boat, there are plenty too...this being a particularly nice one which took my eye.

The NRM are looking forward to a positive relationship with MRT - I for one look forward to going back to follow up progress and see how we can move forward in partnership. Our thanks as ever to the officers of the Trust who gave up a whole day to discuss, explain and show us their activities.

North Eastern wanderer returns

2010-05-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

Early last week saw a new locomotive delivered to Shildon, but not one that is part of the Collection. We are establishing a partnership with the Locomotive Conservation and Learning Trust http://www.lclt.org.uk/ to restore the North Eastern Railway designed J21 0-6-0 tender loco No. 65033, once a long term resident of Beamish museum. It is planned to get the engine under cover as soon as possible and assess the rebuild programme this year whilst finance is sought. A major strand of the bid is to include the learning potential for both schools and trainees who will work on the project. Donations are of course welcomed, and details can be had on LCLT's website.

Moonraking...

2010-05-12T13:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday and today saw Chris Beet & I heading south to visit Steam - The Museum of the Great Western Railway at Swindon - in Wiltshire, hence the moonraking of the title, a local legend. The NRM has a number of artefacts on loan there, not least several items of rolling stock. It is situated in part of the former GWR works in the buildings to the left of this photo which shows the electric traverser once used to access some of the workshops. I had not visited since 2004 and Chris had never been, so it was an ideal opportunity to meet the staff there and also acquaint ourselves with the collection items housed there. A selection of the smaller items at Steam are stored in an area called The Storehouse, very similar to the Warehouse at York, but full of Western Region and GWR related artefacts only.

The story of Swindon is intractably the story of Swindon folk, and the displays have many delightful cameos, such as these two foundrymen having a break - the set dressing makes this look like any corner of the works from its working days.

Another innovation is that of showing (or shewing,as the GWR would have written it) a GWR 42xx tank loco in dismantled state under overhaul, with female labourers and fitters as would have happened in World War 2. A fascinating display on building and repairing locos, there is a similar section on carriage building. For those who really want to know, the loco is 4248.

I needed to undertake a Conservation Assesment of the AEC GWR Railcar No.4 which is housed at Steam, a 1933 built machine from the first series of such vehicles. I fell for its marvellous interior...

...which included this super little buffet - I wonder if it ever broke even given the relatively small number of seats in the single unit railcar?

Swindon pride is exemplified in the Castle class loco 4073 "Caerphilly Castle" which is shown as a stand alone example of Swindon craftsmanship and lovingly cared for along with the rest of the locomotives by the dedicated volunteer "Tuesday Gang".

Here's the Dean Goods, what a lovely engine this is...

At the other end of the date spectrum is 9400, a Hawksworth designed pannier tank from the 1940s, when the Dean Goods of the 1890s was still in service.

Occupying prime location at the platform and station display is the last one of all, the last steam loco built for British Railways, built at Swindon in 1960 and thus 50 years old this year, class 9F "Evening Star".

After an overnight stay in the town and an evening walk around the railway village, we headed back north today via Didcot Railway Centre, 14 minutes by train from Swindon and another loan partner for us. This year is the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railway, and Didcot, based in the former GWR loco depot, has just completed a mammoth 9 day festival celebrating the fact. Here, one of the visitors, 7827 "Lydham Manor" from the Dartmouth Steam Railway, is seen at the entracne to the shed, with other rolling stock to the right.

Another pair of visitors included Bill Parker's prairie tank 5521, seen here with newly reliveried GWR icon "City of Truro" running in 1915 livery as 3717 - and Chris & I were delighted to see this one of ours as it's the first time we'd seen in since repainting.

The shed exudes steam shed atmosphere and the two Castles here, 5029 "Nunney Castle" on the left and 5051 "Earl Bathurst" on the right could have come straight out of the 1950s in this shot.

A further view down the shed shows how closely the Great Western Society have captured the feel of a GWR locomotive running shed.

In the workshop, we were interested to see progress on another GWR icon, 4079 "Pendennis Castle", being overhauled after its return from Australia. In 1923 this had been displayed alongside 4472 "Flying Scotsman " at the British Empire exhibition, so it was good to see that there is a chance we might be able to pair up these two famous engines again in the not too distant future.

Finally, we took a look at the newest engine on site, and one built mainly at Didcot, the broad gauge replica "Firefly". Words cannot describe the broad gauge set up on site now - go and experience it for yourself, there's nothing like it.

What's that doing in the workshop?

2010-05-12T13:21:00.001-07:00

Visitors to York may well be surprised to see the Stirling Single in the workshop since last Friday. I'm afraid thoughts of a return to steam are somewhat premature, but the truth is that the loco is being prepared for its starring role in the Railway Children production in London this summer. The axles were ultrasonically tested and passed on Friday and this week after gauging on Monday, some repairs were being made on the tender frame to make the loco fit to be towed on Network Rail to Waterloo where the play is being staged. If you couldn't get to the production in York the past two summers, try and catch it in London, it's an award winning gem of a play.

No.1's place in the Great Hall has been taken by Hardwicke for the time being, another late 19th Century racer.

After the dust has settled...

2010-05-08T12:33:00.000-07:00

A very quick canter through the North Eastern Giants of Steam weekend. I'll let the photos speak for themselves in the main except to say that there were some 21,100 visitors over the three day event, the busiest that Locomotion has been since it opened in 2004.

Sunday morning began at 7.30am with a photo session - early in the morning so we could let folks get pictures without crowds and create some unique photo opportunities. 60163 stands on the sidings alongside the former banana warehouse in what is becoming a classic Shildon location.
We then lined up the J72 to meet the A1...

And the visitors began to arrive about 9.30 when the J72 moved over to start the passenger service

During the afternoon, Alan Middleton and Tim Owen of the Furness Railway Trust got short of supplies, so went shopping by train and are seen departing from the Goods shed with their Co-op bags!

At the end of the afternoon before the A1 did some demonstration runs, we lined up the oldest and newest working standard gauge steam locos in the world on Locomotion's sidings - a first for both engines.

The general scene across the museum apron during the Monday afternoon - the sun finally came out after a downpour at lunch time.

I was fortunate enough to be rostered fireman for the A1 during Monday afternoon, this is the view from the footplate as we moved off the apron and on to the sidings. How many people?

Just to prove that I did do something useful - thanks to Peter Neesam for the photo

To round things off, we held a final evening photo session on the Monday, and took the A1, V2 and J72 up to the coal drops for more classic opportunities. Here the V2 has its moment of glory.

Then we disposed of the locos and went home and collapsed! A fantastic weekend and thanks to all concerned who helped in any way.

North Eastern Giants of Steam - The Prequel

2010-04-29T13:13:00.000-07:00

Very few words today. 60163 is proving a real crowd puller, 2400 visitors yesterday alone! We shunted the locos into position tonight ready for steam raising and cleaning tomorrow and here are a couple of pictures to tempt you into visiting the event this weekend, shame the sun wasn't out...

Tornado to the fore

2010-04-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

I make no apology for the predominance of Tornado and Shildon features recently - it is great to have the loco at one of our sites on display, particularly so when this is the closest stay that it has had to its Darlington place of construction since it was completed in August 2008. It is spending this week on display in the Collections building alongside "Deltic", APT-E and others, with its cab open for a small admission fee and host to a large number of schoolchildren too. Maintenance is ongoing on the engine even here, but being undertaken outside opening hours, so that visitors are not disturbed by the work. Visitors this morning take the chance to get up close and personal with the A1.An additional display piece is this very fine 5" gauge A1 model, on loan from a NELPG member, seen here with the real thing in the background.

J72 lined out

2010-04-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

Very brief update to show you NELPG's J72 tank, featured a lot recently and now lined out and lettered on one side, and hopefully in action at Shildon this coming weekend. Looks lovely!

A Taste of Things to come

2010-04-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

Today was a Covenantors' Day for the A1 Trust and a day off for me, though I needed to go in this evening to do a shunt ready for the morning. One of our shunt moves involved "Tornado", and the chance to pose it by the coal drops was too good to miss. Richard Pearson kindly obliged with positioning and then joined us with his camera. As the shunt continued, we ended up with the A1 and K1 aside each other, with the Great Eastern saloon as a backdrop!

The final vista that opened up to us was "Green Arrow" alongside "Tornado", a fine pairing of two apple green East Coast main line locomotives.

Just before we lost the sun, there was a photo call for the A1 support crew, including Richard Pearson on the extreme left and fellow Talyllyn footplate voulnteer Bob Morland on the far right.

A better chance to take pictures like this and maybe have an A1, K1 and V2 line up will be next weekend at Shildon, hence the title of this blog entry - this is only a taste, let's hope the sun shines on 1st, 2nd & 3rd May - and admission is FREE! There is a small charge for cab access to the A1 and our site train rides. See you there?

Tornado returns to the North East

2010-04-24T14:25:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we welcomed the K1, No. 62005 to Shildon - and this afternoon's sun lit the engine perfectly as it is stabled on the apron outside the collection building.
Today's main attraction was the arrival of the Darlington built A1 pacific "Tornado", built down the road at Hopetown works. The engine has worked trains through the region since it was completed in 2008, but this is the first time it has returned to the area of its construction for any length of time. It had worked a train from York this morning and came off the southbound return working at Darlington this afternoon before heading engine and support coach as 5Z28 to Shildon. Richard & I brought the loco in again today, and here it is coming off our headshunt onto the Locomotion site.

After a brief shunt to stable the support coach, the loco was positioned over the pit for servicing, and we can see John Graham inspecting the loco before finishing for the night.

"Tornado" goes on display at Locomotion on Monday, and is in steam over 1,2 & 3 May, before departing on 6th May by the main line for York.

Steam arrival at Shildon

2010-04-23T14:56:00.001-07:00

Apologies for the lack of updates recently, we had a week in Wales and this week has gone into meltdown - there will be a much larger update soon! However, I couldn't let today pass. We have over the next two weeks two Peppercorn designed locos visiting at Shildon and the first arrived today, NELPG's K1 No. 62005, known as "Lord of the Isles". It was due at 14.28, and an hour beforehand, Richard Pearson and I went to Shildon signal box to discuss the move on to our site. With the signaller's permission, I took this picture to share with you of the manual box, which controls the line to Heighington and Bishop Auckland. Please note, although it is an interesting and historic box, it is still operational, and casual visits are not permitted. Not far off time, 62005 and coach running as 5Z68 (the train reporting number), passed Richard & I at our ground frame and we reversed the train onto our site. Again, this photo was taken on Network Rail land with full PTS certification.

We then worked the engine into our sidings where it dropped the support coach and then moved over the pit for servicing, before stabling on the apron outside the museum building.

Inside the museum, NELPG's other loco on site, J72 69023 is being lined out, alongside Furness 20 whose boiler has been repainted and varnished this week.

Tomorrow (Saturday), the A1 "Tornado" is due to arrive in the late afternoon - I hope to include pictures during the evening some time.

Heritage Traction Cab It at Shildon

2010-04-10T01:09:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note to remind you of heritage Traction Cab It at Shildon this weekend 10am-5pm, free admission, DELTIC cab open, plus NER Bo Bo No.1, and the class 71 in Golden Arrow regalia for today and tomorrow only (just got back from putting it all on). Also cab rides on the Dutch shunter for a small fee - and I did see steps up to the 2 BIL this morning too - if there are enough stewards for the cabs, that'll be open as well.

Bo'ness by the sea...

2010-04-09T13:46:00.000-07:00

New territory for me today - a visit to the opening of the Manuel extension to the Bo'ness 7 Kinneil Railway in Scotland. the 7.26 from Shildon awaits departure from platform 2 unusually. Due to bridge work in Bishop Auckland, trains are temporarily terminating at Shildon.
The train north from Darlington was an East Coast 125, leading power car turned out to be "Deltic 50", part of the naming ceremony involved presenting a nameplate the same as this to Locomotion - and it is on the wall there.

At Bo'ness, our special train was to be hauled by the unique LNER D49 class "Morayshire" no. 249, owned by the National Museum of Scotland. Here it is prepared for duty.

Guests were treated to guided tours of the Scottish Railway Collection, our guide Chris Lothian being long involved with the railway, so having a unique insight into many of the exhibits. Barclay 0-6-0T No.24 worked on the NCB Waterside system in Ayrshire and is fitted with a Giesl ejector chimney, like Florence seen at Foxfield a few weeks ago. It has just had a cosmetic restoration in the museum workshop.

North British Railway Pug (Y9 class 68095) and Neilson Reid pug "Kelton Fell" form part of the display in the second hall.

Outside, a Merry Go Round hopper wagon and log wagon portray the modern Scottish railway scene.

Back inside, equal consideration is given to a fantastic array of goods vehicles and ephemera.

A Barclay crane tank stands in front of the famous North British 0-6-0 "Maude" with its links to World war One.

In the loco shed, the Caledonian tank is under overhaul

Whilst this Sentinel from Tennent's Foundry, Coatbridge, was one of a fleet of four which pretty much were the last working steam locomotives in Scottish industry, running well into the 1980s. In full working order, SRPS have three of them at Bo'ness.

Boarding our special train having enjoyed a fantastic lunch, we travelled to Birkhill, where, after speeches, David Morgan, Chairman of the Heritage Railways Association flagged the train into the paltform to break a ribbon and formally open the extension.

On return to Bo'ness, I was invited to ride in the cab of class 27 diesel 27 001 for a stock shunt to put the carriages away. 30 years ago there was NO railway or infrastructure here - an amazing achievement!
Even a Glasgow suburban electric unit is part of the collection, and SRPS have had it running on power. Full restoration is planned before long.
There is also a comprehensive diesel fleet - much more to see than my short notes allow or do justice to!
And the story brought bang up to date at Edinburgh Waverley, with class 67 "Keith Heller" in DBS livery working a passneger train to Aberdeen.
A wonderful day, do go to Bo'ness! Many people were welcoming today and helpful, including giving me a lift back to Linlithgow station - thank you all!

Mr Tilt pays a call

2010-04-08T07:24:00.000-07:00

This morning at Shildon, we have had Kit Spackman of the APT-E support group up to visit. Kit developed the tilt mechanism for the train (hence his nickname) and has a phenomenal amount of knowledge, history and stories about the train. He has been working with Richard Pearson these last few months to devise some "anti-tilt" blocks to stabilise the train now it is not in service and marshalled into one unit. Once that is done, the Support Group can regain access to the train and continue their excellent conservation work. We hope to have the cab open in June, so keep an eye out on progress. If you'd like to know more or even join the group, have a look at Paul Leadley's site at: http://www.apt-e.org/support/support.htm . The picture shows two of the blocks being trial fitted to see how they need to be trimmed to fit in properly.Kit has produced some display boards on E Train as it is known, and he had these out today whilst he was working on the train. Kit is seen on the right in the hat, as he explains the history of the train to a friend of mine, Michael Ablett, who was visiting today.

Outside, Richard Pearson had the J72 in steam for testing, and here he brings it into the platform at the collections building whilst fault finding. It seems to go well, but as ever, a few tweaks will be needed.

Having made sure that the wheels went round, and, more importantly, stopped, Richard invited me on to the engine and let me see if I could make it go. The reflection off the new paint is amazing as we drift down towards the yard throat at Shildon in this shot. The loco is a credit to the NELPG team who overhauled it, and it will look grand on the site service at Shildon this summer.

Another one in

2010-04-07T14:15:00.000-07:00

This evening saw NELPG's J72 tank loco no.69023 arrive at Shildon. It will be test steamed tomorrow and run in light on the museum's line before going inside for lining and lettering. Its first public passenger duties will be at Locomotion's "North Eastern Giants of Steam" event on 1,2 & 3 May, starring this, K1 No. 62005 and A1 "Tornado"

Day at the coal face

2010-04-06T14:48:00.000-07:00

York are running the N7 loco from North Norfolk every day this Easter holiday along with the Furness Railway Trust's North London Railway carriage. I went to York today to meet up with friends Keith Foster and Peter Kazer and have a day with them assisting the yard operations. Here's the N7 after we had cleaned the side closest to the camera. We also worked the engine during the lunch break for the rostered crew. Keith is a Talyllyn driver and a Great Eastern Railway enthusiast - and having the chance to drive the N7 means that he has now worked on all the operating GER preserved steam locos.
During the morning, we played host to the NRM's "Director of Fun"...and the television cameras, at which point we made ourselves scarce, while Tony Filby did his bit for the silver screen.

Meanwhile, over in the Great Hall, Spooner's Boat is in full sail, displayed next to the Once upon a Tide exhibition.

Easter weekend - railways for pleasure

2010-04-05T13:52:00.001-07:00

Visiting family over the weekend, I expected no railway input. Father in law had other ideas and Saturday afternoon saw us heading for the York model railway show. Lots of quality models, and a good time, but I just wanted to share this little cameo that took my eye - a part of a layout with an ironstone quarry modelled. I have never seen such a feature before, but have been interested in the iron ore industry for over 20 years - and this made my afternoon. Simple pleasures! Needing to take smallest daughter out this morning, she asked to go on a train ride (oh dear...). So we popped over the hill to Ingrow and caught the 10.31 to Keighley as we didn't have much time. To my delight, in came 25 059, my first class 25 for haulage in nearly 30 years.

We had a smashing little run to Keighley and back, arriving at Ingrow just after 11am in time for a quick look around the Vintage Carriages Trust Museum of Rail Travel. They, along with the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway are celebrating 40 years since the filming of "The Railway Children" on the line, and have an exhibition to commemorate. The little Husdwell Clarke loco "Lord Mayor" is also decorated for this - it wasn't in the film, but did feature in posters and publicity for the film.

Inside the museum, the emphasis is on being able to access the carriages and sample the exceptional restorations that the VCT have carried out.

Trustee Michael Cope was kind enough to show us round the restoration workshop, containing a 1924 Southern Railway corridor third "matchboard" brake on the left, and a British Railways Bulleid designed open third coach, made in 1950 and undergoing extensive work that has so far taken some 22 years!

The Vintage Carriages Trust also maintain a very important on-line register of preserved railway heritage items - carriages, wagons and horse drawn vehicles. To access it and investigate what it where, have a look here: http://www.vintagecarriagestrust.org/surveystatus.asp

Leicestershire Railway Heritage

2010-04-01T14:15:00.001-07:00

A visit to old haunts for me today, to investigate future partnership working...

For 2 1/2 years from 1999, I was Assistant Keeper of Working Life for Leicestershire Museums, and I was based at the former Snibston Colliery in Coalville. During my time there, we rebuilt the former colliery railway into the town from the pit. Having made good time down to Leicestershire this morning, I took a quick walk round the town to see how things have or haven't changed! The view from the level crossing on Belvoir Road shows the town platform and the running line with the colliery headgear in the distance.
The level crossing is a local feature and the gates and track have been retained. The line carried on behind me to join the Leicester-Burton main line which still exists in a freight only/diversionary capacity.

If you blow this picture up, you will see the level crossing gates in the distant centre - the trackbed down to the main line follows the line of trees across the car park. The track was lifted around 1986 when the colliery site passed to the Museum service.

The museum's current running line goes from the buffer stops in the first picture, through the museum site on original parts of the colliery system past the pit buildings and over another road up on to the former pit bank. There is one station alongside the main gallery building, and the main rolling stock in use is this Hunslet 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic, no. 6289 of 1966 (I can still remember that all these years on) and a BR EMU trailer car fitted with dual brakes and for push-pull working.

Inside the main gallery are displays on Leicestershire transport and industry amongst other things. One of my favourite exhibits is Brush saddle tank loco, works number 314 of 1906, which we put on display as a major project when I worked there. This machine was built new for Powlesland & Mason who worked Swansea Docks under contract for the GWR. In 1924, P&M were absorbed into the GWR, who then "Swindonised" (at Caerphilly!) the loco, which became GWR 921. It was then sold in 1928 into industry, finishing its days with Berry Wiggins & Co of Kingsnorth in Kent. Owned by Leicesthershire Museums since the late 1960s, it has mainly been stored until 2000, when it was stripped of asbestos, put on gallery and conserved.

I am particularly taken with the fact that the engine still shows its GWR heritage with the number 921 as applied at Caerphilly works showing through the paintwork of later years. You can't beat that for railway archaeology!
My final visit of the day was real railway archaeology. In all the time I lived in the area, I only managed to go past the Swannington incline on a rainy wet day inthe short time I owned a car - and the rain put me off getting out to look. What a gem I missed! The story of the Leicester & Swannington Railway is told in brief here: http://www.swannington-heritage.co.uk/pages/transport/tran_rail.html by the very active Swannington Heritage Trust, and the picture below shows the remains of the winding engine house with some relaid track heading up the incline towards the works van parked on the site of a level crossing.

I walked a section of the trackbed on from the engine house with my former boss Fred Hartley, a fellow early railways fan and this picture is taken from halfway down the incline looking back up through a rebuilt bridge towards another bridge and the winding engine site over the crest of the hill. It was a bit wet and boggy today, but is a super little walk in the summer I should imagine

In the meantime, I cannot ignore happenings at York or Shildon with it being Easter weekend. Furness 20 is in steam at Shildon, the N7 in steam at York, and at the same time, our replica "Rocket" is running at Hyde Park in London. Lots to see at both sites, and lots to do, including a fire engine rally at Shildon on Easter Monday. Why not come and have a look?

When the Boat comes in...

2010-03-31T13:36:00.001-07:00

A new arrival at York yesterday was the Ffestiniog Railway's "Spooner's Boat". I cannot do better than this cracking bit of film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jP7uTC6FIc

The Boat will be on display in the Great Hall over Easter.
In the background you may just see our Class 47 diesel, 47 798, which was ticking over having become a runner again after its failure a few weeks ago. It is the intention to loan the loco to the Wensleydale Railway over 1-3 May weekend - a busy time with Tornado visiting Shildon too!

The steam powered commuter

2010-03-29T14:02:00.000-07:00

Today saw a visit by three of our team to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, me to Pickering for meetings and Richard Pearson and Johnny Molloy from the workshop at Shildon to Grosmont to collect and steam crane parts. The NYMR is in the final stages of a learning and archive project called "Train of Thought" with a new centre on platform 2 at Pickering. Here's the fantastic new archive store and workroom - purpose built and with 70% capacity for growth of the archive collection. Fantastic!
With my meetings finished and Richard (with the van) not yet done at Grosmont, there was only one thing to do - take the train to Grosmont during which time he'd hopefully have finished loading the van! So, I obtained a ticket for the 1pm train and awaited its arrival, behind S15 number 825, arriving at Pickering just after half twelve.

It seemed almost to be a Southern themed day as on arrival at Grosmont, Schools class "Repton" number 30926 was waiting the incoming Whitby train, which it would then take on to Pickering, whilst 76079 seen alongside would work the next Whtiby departure - that will have to wait another time!

Walking through the loco yard to the John Bellwood shed to meet Richard, I passed Standard 4 number 75029 over the wheeldrop, in the throes of a heavy overhaul. The engineering facilities on the railway are second to none - they have to be for a 20+ mile line with some steep gradients to contend with.

In the meantime, 825 arrived at the shed for servicing and is seen under the working coaling plant, which saves a lot of effort. I don't believe that there are any other mechanical coaling plants in operation in the UK, other than the coaling stage at Didcot, though several others survive.

Thus I met with Richard and Johnny and headed back to Shildon to unload the van - an eventful and unexpectedly enjoyable day - and lots of emails to deal with this evening!

Foxfield foray

2010-03-28T11:55:00.000-07:00

A visit to Cheshire and Staffordshire on Friday allowed me a quick visit to the Foxfield Railway at Blythe Bridge - somewhere I'd not been for 11 years; too long! I have a few friends at Foxfield, most of whom have a share in this loco, Avonside 1563, which is undergoing a very extensive restoration alongside the loco shed. It latterly worked for Hodbarrow Mines near Barrow, where haematite was extracted and the whole railway and works was a steam powered museum piece by the time it all closed. During my visit, I was given a ride in the cab of a Bagnall 0-6-0 diesel shunter, essentially an industrial version of the class 03, even down to the Gardner 8 cylinder diesel engine. This is the station and yard throat at Caverswall Road, the headquarters of the railway.

During the shunt, 1874 built Haydock Foundry 0-6-0WT "Bellerophon" was pulled out of the shed to check some repairs to its springs.

Whilst stabled in the sidings was this unusual Motor Rail (Simplex), known as"Helen". Nice to see something a bit different - as time goes by, more of the odd internal combustion shunters on heritage lines get scrapped, hopefully Foxfield with its industrial theme to its collection will prove more enlightened to the heritage of assets such as this.

Just before I left, the shunt finished and the loco for the following day's service was positioned for preparation and steam raising - this being "Florence", a locally built Bagnall 0-6-0ST new to the National Coal Board in Staffordshire and fitted in the 1960s with the distinctive Giesl ejector chimney. I'll have to go back sometime to see how it performs - the last loco I saw in steam using a Giesl was Bulleid pacific "City of Wells" 20+ years ago. Foxfield is a gem of a railway, with no BR locos in sight, allowing the industrial heritage to shine - and their cafe and bar are excellent too - not that I sampled the latter in works time!

Diesel doings

2010-03-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

In between meetings at York on Thursday, I popped into the workshop to catch up with the team. Dave Hewson is busy onbody repairs to the class 37 and these are going well.
Steve Huggins is dealing with the collapsed bearing in the Western's transmission and here's part of the gubbins having been removed from the loco for attention.

Outside, Matt Ellis and Dave Leyshon were bringing the 52 back into the workshop for further internal attnetion whilst the transmission is out.

I had a look over the 4VEP car too with a view to drawing up a conservation management plan for it - it is essentially untouched since withdrawal in October 2005 and I'd like to keep it that way, but clean and stabilise it. Whether that means we keep the Evening Standards left on the seats, I'm not sure...

The exterior of the unit in Connex livery, representing the privatised railway.

Edward Sholto's return

2010-03-24T14:25:00.000-07:00

For a good many years, I have known railway bookseller Andrew Neale of Leeds, as he caters for my esoteric reading requirements! In 2006, Andrew repatriated the narrow gauge former Penrhyn Quarry Hunslet saddle tank loco "Edward Sholto" from the USA, where it had been sold to in the 1960s and with a dedicated team carried out a fabulous restoration, the engine steaming late last year. Today was the day of "Sholto"'s launch, at the amazing Statfold Barn Railway in Staffordshire, the creation of Graham Lee and the modern day Hunslet Engine Company. I was fortunate to be invited to the rededication ceremony, and on entering the loco shed was greeted with the immaculate fleet of steam locos, the O&K "Max" below being one of the more recent restorations.
Outside in the fitful sunshine, was the star "Edward Sholto". Andrew has worked hard to ensure that the locomotive has been conserved and restored, using as many original components as possible, and the result is a superb restoration with a loco that looks lived in and true to its long-lived status. It was nice that the two new Hunslet quarry tanks that live at Statfold were also in steam, allowing a three loco line up during the morning.

After a fine speech by Andrew and a blessing of the loco, I took a quick look around the railway, escorted by Phill Bates, one of Graham's employees, who I knew as one of my voulnteers at Snibston over ten years ago. Here is a small turntable with two South African Funkey mines diesels flanking Roy Etherington's compressed air loco "Issinsid", a replica of a 19th century loco by Lishman and Young which worked at the Lambton Collieries in County Durham. Roy hankers after a visit to the North East by the engine - we shall have to see about that!

Hunslet also undertake commercial contract overhauls and rebuilds, here a Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 side tank converted from a saddle tank awaits its turn in the workshops. Built as works number 1631, it began life as a sister to "Renishaw" on the Tanfield Railway.

Under contract restoration was Hunslet Austerity 2868 of 1943, later rebuilt as Hunslet 3883 of 1963 and the test bed loco for the Gas Producer combustion system and mechanical stoker.

I briefly swapped hats to have a look at The Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Trust's Baguley 0-4-0 petrol mechanical loco number 774, on loan for display at Statfold as it was built down the road in Burton on Trent. The loco was cosmetically restored at the Amerton Railway and it was the first time I'd seen it since it has been done.

New into service with the paint still tacky and smelling fresh was Fowler "Saccharine", once part of the scheme to run a railway at Kielder in Northumberland by my friend and predecessor Jim Rees. The coach behind the loco was also part of the plan. They are seen at Oak Tree Halt, waiting for "Edward Sholto" to pass with a slate train

A further reason for my visit was to acquire the Hunslet underfeed stoker from 2868 for the NRM and here it is, being lifted for loading into our van in the background.

Just as I was about to leave, I was shown this Great North of Scotland Railway carriage under restoration - a very fine job, and an underframe is under preparation for it.

And this amazing new build Midland style signal box for the narrow gauge station. Great care has been taken to make it look traditional and handcrafted - and I think it works!

A splendid day, and thanks to Andrew Neale for the invite, and Graham Lee and Henry Noon for their time and hospitality. The Statfold Barn Railway is on private land, but has three open days a year - keep an eye out for them!

Mini Shildon, a Chinook, a shunt and the Golden Arrow

2010-03-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

This weekend just passed saw the very popular Modelmotion event at Shildon, showcasing model railways from around the North East and with many trade stands allowing that special purchase to be made for the layout at home. Despite having lived in Shildon for 6 years now, I had never seen Shildon Model Railway Club's 00 gauge model of our local station as it was in the 1930s, and I couldn't resist taking this picture to compare with photos of the real thing. On Saturday 27th March, there is a "Help for Heroes" event at York to raise awareness, funds and assistance for the servicemen and womens' charity. There's lots going on, including the arrival of a steam charter, hopefully hauled by "Oliver Cromwell" posing as sister locomotive "The Territorial Army" and possibly "Scots Guardsman". There will also be a visit by a GB Railfreight class 66 diesel named "Chinook" and to go with this, a full size Chinook helicopter also will be present in the Museum car park. In preparation for this, a trial landing was made in York yesterday lunchtime and here's a picture of the Chinook as it comes down to land. The NRM has never seen or heard anything like it!

After York's business was done for the day, I headed back to Shildon to help with a shunt to re-arrange vehicles in the workshop. This included the Smith Rodley steam crane out in the open for the first time during its restoration. We'll not be able to shunt it out once the chimney is on, it will be too tall for the doors...

Now in the workshop and properly accessible from all sides is the prototype HAA "Merry Go Round" hopper wagon. Richard and the team can now assess and repair the wagon before Phil Anderson comes in to add the finishing paint touches of lettering in the appropriate style.

With a Heritage Traction Cab-It event looming at Shildon on 10-11 April, I asked to borrow the Golden Arrow headboard and one arrow from York for the event. Once we have found suitable flags, the class 71 will be decked out at one end in Golden Arrow regalia for that weekend only - but of course, I just had to try out the arrow and headboard in advance to make sure that they fitted...

The Roaring Monster takes on Shap

2010-03-20T05:56:00.001-07:00

It's true to say that there's never a dull day at work, but theyn ,it's not all play either. Yesterday was one of those pleasant days where I was out of the office - and yes, the emails began to stack up, but sometimes one gets to really enjoy the collection - as well as thousands of others by the look of the lineside. It was the Cumbrian Mountain Express, heading north over Shap with the National Collection's Britannia "Oliver Cromwell" tackling that route for the first time since Boxing Day 1967. We picked it up at Preston, meeting a beaming Steve Davies who had been on the footplate since Crewe!So here we are, acclerating north out of Preston - there's Steve's orange GPS in the next window! Our part of the trip was to meet and enjoy the company of the German Enthusiasts who look after DB Pacific 03 1010 stationed at Halle and operated on the main line in Germany. It is known as the Roaring Monster, so the Germans looked forward to hearing how 70013 compared - and hence the headboard as an unofficial twinning exists between the group and the 5305LA who look after Cromwell.

Well, what can I say about the trip up Shap? No doubt it will be minutely pored over and written up in due course, but we looked to have a fantastic ascent, as we blasted through Oxenholme with an eye watering blockade of sound from the engine, but sadly the brakes soon came on for a temporary speed restriction at Tebay. This is all there was, taking speed down to 20mph, but the crew did their best, getting 70013 back up to 55mph before the climb settled in. We went over the top at 21mph, not bad for having accelerated from the TSR with 12 coaches and no diesel in tow. Applause broke out in the support coach as we crested the summit, and there is some very fine film on Youtube of it all.

Belwo on arrival at Carlisle, German enthusiast and artist Peter Bomhard poses with his painting of 70013 and 03 1010 at Halle. Prints of this will soon be available to help support 03 1010. Look at www.eisenbahn-bilder.de for more of Peter's fine work.

Crowds gather around 70013 to shake the crew's hands as two DRS class 20s and a class 47 pass by on the other line.

70013 backs the train out of Carlisle station for servicing. Where have all the crowds gone?

Three hours later, the engine has brought the coaches back into the station ready for the trip south over the Settle & Carlisle line and then runs to its position at the front of the train.

A gathering of the faithful was passed at Birkett Common...

...and once over Ais Gill, we crossed Ribblehead viaduct, always a highlight of any trip over the S & C.

After a splendid southbound trip and then a cracking climb of Wilpshire bank up to Blackburn, we arrived at Preston again, where 70013 was taken off the train to return to Carnforth for servicing. Once again, as the engine pulled off, it was greeted with a round of applause from the platform!

And finally, just before setting off for home, I tried a quick shot of 70013 in platform 7 at Preston, taking on water before heading for Carnforth.

So, thanks to all on the train, the stewards, crew, 5305LA guys, 03 1010 group and Tony Streeter for their hospitality and companionship - we NRM folks had a great time, and look forward to the rematch with Shap in due course...

Loan check with a difference

2010-03-18T12:42:00.001-07:00

At the kind invitation of Simon Layfield, I went down to the Rutland Railway Museum at Cottesmore today to see the NRM's restored 1954 Shildon built Iron Ore Tippler wagon finally lettered and, surprise, surprise, in use for a photographic charter alongside the RRM's own wagon fleet. Here it is, right behind the loco, Peckett works number 2000, on loan from Barrow Hill - where I saw it last week!
For those of you unfamiliar with photo charters, these are private events where photographic opportunities are made to raise money usually for the host venue. On this occasion, 3 locos were in steam, resident Bagnall 0-6-0ST "Cranford No.2", which has an ironstone quarrying pedigree, Peckett 2000 and Hunslet Austerity No.22, Hunslet 3844 I think, just restored at Scunthorpe Steelworks and making a one day appearance on its way to the Nene Valley Railway for the summer. The United Steel Company's Ore Mining Branch used identical locos, so the Austerity looked quite at home in the Rutland landscape. Here, the Bagnall and Peckett play to the gallery.

A bit further down the demonstration line, the Peckett performs a spirited run past for the cameras - and yes, it sounded as good as it looked.

However, it proved a little too spirited for the lineside vegetation, and the crew of the Austerity following used the slacker pipe to put out the flames. A further fire in the adjacent field was beaten out by a volunteer, photographer and myself. All part of the fun!

Having put out the fire, No.22 made a more sedate pass, looking well at home with a set of iron ore hoppers on the back.

At lunchtime, the three locos were coaled and watered in the museum yard alongside other resident steamers, making an atmospheric scene that could have dated back 50 years.

After lunch, Simon was kind enough to invite me to ride on Cranford, which translated to "drive". Here's the view from the cab window as we double head up the line, pulling the Peckett behind us.

Similar hospitality was then offered by Alan Freebury and Malcolm Castledine on the Peckett, suffice it to say, we pleased the photographers, but no more fires were started!

The spirit of the East Midlands Ironstone industry lives on at Cottesmore, and should you wish to find a warm welcome and an alternative to the main line scene, do give them a try - you won't regret it! http://www.rutlandrailwaymuseum.org.uk/

Finally, thanks again to Simon, Malcolm and Alan for their welcome on the footplate, and charter organiser Russ Hiller for patiently having me around. It's nice to see a part of our collection so appreciated as the tippler is.

A day on the road

2010-03-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

This morning I pointed the trusty van south and ended up not far off the M1 looking at this 2 foot gauge Hudswell Clarke, Number 1238 for conservation and restoration advice purposes. A real challenge which I know its owners will rise to, and more details here:
http://mrt-news.blogspot.com/2008/05/historic-steam-loco-travels-from-africa.html
After a splendid fish & chip lunch, it was off to Barrow Hill roundhouse near Chesterfield where there are four items of NRM rolling stock on display. Two are seen below around the turntable, the LNER J17 0-6-0 on the left and the Great Central Railway Director Class "Butler Henderson" on the right. Between them stands the Drury family's A2 Pacific "Blue Peter". None are currently in working order, but the atmosphere is still fantastic as a working shed should be.

Outside the roundhouse in the sidings is our unique 1948 LMS dynamometer car 45049, and I just had to go and have a look inside to assess it and get to know about the collection!

What a fantastic object - the interior of the dynamometer car, now to find out what it all does!

Finally a quick look at our class 84, an electric loco which worked on the 25kV system and now in the care of the AC locos group. Electric locos are few in the collection, but it is right for the AC group to look after the 84, as they have now examples of 81, 82, 83, 84, 85 and 89 at Barrow Hill, good to know that someone is looking after recent heritage.

It feels like it's been a long week...

2010-03-10T12:54:00.001-08:00

In a week dominated by the news that Mallard is moving to Shildon for a year or so, and that has been greeted with mixed feelings, I will begin with a rare break from my decision not to state personal views and add this short statement about the matter which I hope will make critics think again about the move of the loco:

We have tried for a long time to achieve a sort of "Treasures of the NRM" rotation of exhibits between the two NRMs, so 4472, Truro, 92220 and the V2 have all spent time at Shildon. Some folk speak as if Shildon is the poor relation and doesn't deserve to have Mallard on show for a time (and it won't be forever!) - far from it, and should there be further outstations in future, who knows what will go where. The exhibits belong to the nation and the nation has a right to see them - wherever - hence our very active loans programme. Shildon is less than an hour by train from York if you get the right connection - and makes a different visit. A step too far? I think not, but then I would say that, wouldn't I? It has been thought about for a long time - and has not been a decision taken lightly.

So, stepping off my soapbox, here's my recent round and about from York and Shildon.

On 25th February, Scotsman's front bogie went in and a press call occurred, and set forward a timescale for the rest of the restoration, which can be read here: http://www.nrm.org.uk/AboutUs/PressOffice/PressReleases/2010/February/flyingscotsmanrestorationsteamsahead.aspx

Elsewhere in the workshop, the second replica Liverpool & Manchester Railway 3rd class open is being painted and lined out after completion of body repairs and fitting with new air brakes. The 1st class replica "Huskisson" has also had air brakes fitted at Alan Keef Ltd and will soon be in traffic for the first time in many many years. It arrived back at the NRM today.

Every time I arrive in York by train and walk over to the museum, I see this relic on the wall of what is referred to as the "bullnose" building just outside the NRM gates. Once part of the goods depot, this must be one of the last remaining pieces of British Railways North Eastern Region tangerine painted notices still in situ. I wonder how long it will stay there?

Wandering through the museum this morning having spoken to Ray Towell, I thought I'd include a quick picture of the Class 20, undergoing engine and radiator work. Our diesel fleet have a very bright and active future and I'll hope to reveal more in the coming weeks.

After removal from the paint shop (and no, it isn't finished yet!), class 40 No. D200 awaits a slot in the workshop for work to be undertaken on a disintegrated bearing which should then hopefully herald a return to active service. Outside, D1023 is also under repair with the help of a crane which has removed damaged transmission parts for examination and mending.

Meanwhile, up in Shildon, Richard has had the prototype HAA Merry Go Round hopper wagon shotblasted prior to repair and repaint and it is currently living in the workshop pending further attention.

Tornado, Mallard & Shildon

2010-03-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

Pending a full update/report from this week if I get chance, here's today's big news - on 23rd June, new build A1 pacific "Tornado" will haul NRM icon, A4 pacific "Mallard" from York to Shildon up the East Coast Main Line for display for the forseeable future. More details once they have been settled upon, but this paves the way for a fantastic Annual Steam Gala at Locomotion in September with an East Coast/ Great Northern flavour...

Through Train 2

2010-02-27T09:14:00.000-08:00

Today's entertainment was Spitfire Railtours trip through Shildon and on to Stanhope. I went down to see it pass and ended up using Andy Mills' Dutch shunter 663 as a photographic vantage point. Here the tour arrives at Shildon, with 37 038 leading 37 617 (I think - I didn't make a note sorry!)
47 826 was bringing up the rear as it would lead the train back from Stanhope as the loop there is not long enough to take such a long train as this. The train was well filled, sadly only 40 odd passengers dismounted for Locomotion, but we hope that the passing enthusiasts who came to see it might have dropped in for a cup of tea at least!

I understand that several more through charters are planned; let's hope this is the start of a revival for the branch from Darlington past Shildon and up Weardale.

"The Best Day Ever" (quote)

2010-02-26T12:48:00.000-08:00

On a foul day which saw snow, sleet and rain in equally heavy measure, NELPG test steamed their BR class J72 tank loco 69023 at Darlington today. At lunchtime a group of staff and volunteers from Shildon popped over to see what was going on. Below, Richard Pearson tests the loco's safety valves before moving on up to the running line of the Darlington Railway Preservation Society.
Some of our group at the entrance to the NELPG compound at Hopetown as the J72 passes, crossing over to the running line.

With all points locked and secured, the J72 begins running up and down to test various bits. It runs very smoothly, with nicely set up valves, but as ever a few niggles have shown themselves! These were not bad enough to stop play, so in the pouring rain, a few cab rides were offered.

During the course of my ride, our driver was Fred Ramshaw, NELPG stalwart and one of our Shildon volunteer team. Below, Fred eases open the regulator and sets off to the other end of the demonstration line.

The view from the fireman's side as we approach the limit of run, with a group of NELPG members and the folk from Locomotion looking on. The quote "Best Day Ever" comes from Locomotion's Events Officer Pam Porter, after having a drive. She now tells me that 69023 is her favourite engine, even beating "Oliver Cromwell"! Well, I think everyone has a soft spot for this little loco - I certainly do as my first train set was a J72, thirtysomething years ago...

69023 is now to be fettled and the top coat of paint added before it moves to Shildon for lining out and varnishing and proper running in. Watch this space to find out when it is due to make its first runs at the Museum.

Progress on all fronts

2010-02-23T14:07:00.000-08:00

Late last week, Richard at Shildon began to assess the Stirling tender which is to be restored to go behind the Single. He's been measuring tyres, using a thickness tester on the platework and scraping back the paintwork. Below you can see the result of this latter activity as the LNER black gives way to the Great Northern Railway livery of pre-1923. A wonderful piece of transport archaeology which will help us no end in documenting the repaint.
In blizzard conditions on Saturday, Furness 20 was being run for Half Term Shildon operations by Tim Owen and Merling Loco Group stalwarts.

In York yesterday, I noticed that the use of the turntable for the "Once Upon a Tide" exhibition opened up this new vista of GWR Star class No. 4003 "Lode Star". What a lovely machine!

And finally, for everyone who wants to know what's going on with "Flying Scotsman", the Cartazzi truck went in under the cab today...

...whilst alongside the wheel drop, the front bogie awaits refitting, hopefully later this week!

Through Train

2010-02-20T14:50:00.001-08:00

Yesterday (Friday) back at Shildon saw the first through train from London Kings Cross to Shildon since 2004, and more historically, the first train beyond Shildon on to the Weardale Railway to Stanhope since the line was closed to cement trains in the 1990s. An hour and a half stop at Shildon meant that all passengers had a chance to visit Locomotion before continuing on their journey. Here the passengers await the return of the train, which had been stabled at North Road, Darlington, to keep the line clear for service trains. Class 67 "Royal Diamond" leads the charter into Shildon where the passengers were waiting.

At the other end of the train was 67 002 "Special Delivery", seen alongside Shildon signal box as Aycliffe & District Bus Preservation Society's Bristol single decker passes on half term site shuttle service. There's another charter next Saturday going up the dale with a pair of class 37's on the front. I hope it'll be just as busy!

Snow in the Forest

2010-02-20T14:26:00.000-08:00

A complete change of weather on Thursday morning as I headed west on the M4. As I crossed the Severn Bridge, I couldn't see the river for fog, and as I left Chepstow for the Forest of Dean, the snow began to fall and roads quickly became atrocious. Nevertheless, I eventually made it to the Flour Mill workshops at Bream, there to look at the NRM's LSWR T9 loco, number 120, or 30120 as it will be after restoration to British Railways livery. Geoff Phelps gave me a welcome cup of tea - these have been a feature of the last 3 blogs I know! Out in the snow was 120's boiler, having had a new foundation ring, lower portion of backplate and numerous other repairs, including patch screws. Tubing will await warmer weather! Meanwhile alongside 120 was this Hunslet Austerity boiler with a makeshift shelter over the firebox where stay work was progressing.

Inside the workshop were the frames and wheels of 120, almost complete apart from brakes and a very nice job it looks too.

Elsewhere in the works is this former Swindon Works wheel lathe, on loan from the NRM to the Flour Mill and still earning its keep.

Finally, I was able to indulge my narrow gauge interest by seeing this 2' 6" gauge Manning Wardle "Chevallier" in the last stages of overhaul. Formerly used on the Chattenden & Upnor and Bowaters systems, it is privately owned and should run later this year.

Bright future at the Mid Hants

2010-02-20T14:01:00.000-08:00

Having looked at Woolmer at Milestones, where it looks very much at home, Wednesday morning saw me land at Alresford station on the Mid Hants Railway, where a vintage bus service had been laid on to fetch us from a local school where we had parked. Seeing a plume of steam from the bus, we had to investigate before signing in to the reception. There was Peckett 1555 in the guise of "Ivor the Engine" giving brake van rides to all and sundry in station limits between service trains.
Eventually after much chat and a cuppa, we boarded the MHR's "Watercress Belle" dining train set, headed by "Lord Nelson" and driven by my friend Chris Smith, we arrived at the very temporary platform outside Ropley works and went inside. Speeches were made by MHR directors, the HLF officer and finally, Pete Waterman, who unveiled the plate to open the workshop, now known as "The David Snow Building" - David Snow being the driving force behind the project. Here, Pete has just performed the ceremony.In this picture taken from one end of the carriage and wagon shop, you can see that the roller shutter doors into the boiler shop have been opened and the boilers of 31806 and 30506 are visible beyond. A smashing facility and the railway has taken on two apprentices as well, one to work on boilers and the other to learn Carriage & Wagon work. The boilersmith is another friend, fellow Talyllyn volunteer Sam Rowbotham, so it was good to catch up with him too during the day.

The Mid Hants Railway has a growing fleet of restored goods wagons, and here is the latest to be outshopped, an 8 plank open in the livery of a local coal merchant from Winchester. Hopefully the new facility will see more restorations such as this in the years to come.

Guests were then treated to a superb 3 course meal on the train, the best I have ever had, compliments to the MHR team of volunteers who run the Watercress Belle. On return to Alresford, I took this picture from the footbridge of our engine "Lord Nelson", running round the set of coaches prior to shunting the stock away for the day.

Green Badger country

2010-02-20T13:31:00.000-08:00

Tuesday last saw me set off bright and early for Hampshire again, this time to visit Knights Rail Services at Eastleigh Works, check on Woolmer at Milestones and then on Wednesday represent work at the opening of the Mid Hants Railway's new workshops at Ropley. An early afternoon arrival at Eastleigh in the rain, and after a cup of tea and chat with Bruce Knights, he gave me a quick tour of the works on a very busy day. Plenty of potential for working together in the future, especially for some of our Southern Region vehicles, but great to see such activity going on in a works which was until KRS took over, a sad empty reminder of Eastleigh's railway past. KRS have over 50 staff now on site and a lease on the buildings for 40 years - and hopefully a bright future. Here is a 444 unit on jacks undergoing work.
Whilst KRS are fully engaged in main line railway work, a small space in the works is given over to the 71A Loco Group's class 33 D6515, a very thorough overhaul is being undertaken, more details on: http://www.71a.co.uk/index.htm

Another link with the past is 4VEP unit 3417 "Gordon Pettit" owned by the Bluebell Railway, but stored safely under cover at Eastleigh and occasionally operated on the 3rd rail (or "juice") within works limits, one of only two units to remain operational in heritage ownership.

Outside was the works shunter, 07 007 (originally D2991), now main line registered and resident at Eastleigh under both BR and KRS regimes, and here for over four decades - still in daily use. Parked next to it is Bruce Knights' own class 73 Electro-Diesel "Borough of Eastleigh", also still live on the juice.

Several Direct Rail Services locomotives are stored or maintained here, this is 47 841 outside the Test House, with the former works offices behind it.

I'd like to conclude this blog with thanks to Bruce Knights for his hospitality and time taken to show me around this amazing facility. I hope it grows and prospers, it was good to see rail engineering carrying on into the 21st century at this historic site.

Rocket runs

2010-02-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

Having another day at York today, I took a walk into the yard after my meetings and lunch to have a look at "Rocket" undertaking trial runs and crew training. Here, Steve Piper under the guidance of Rod Lytton drives the loco back into the NRM's South Yard having run out beyond our gates to the limit of shunt where we are allowed to operate to. Please note this photo was taken from a non-public area and I hold a full Personal Track Safety card.
Back it the loco preparation area, "Rocket" contrasts with the Southern Region electric 2HAP unit that is stored in the yard along with a few other items of rolling stock. "Rocket"will be in service for the whole of Half Term week with "Locomotion" as stand by.

In the Great Hall, a new exhibition "Once upon a Tide" opened last night, about the railway operated Harwich-Hook of Holland ferries, for which the turntable has been transformed into a cross channel ferry - and yes, we can still turn locos on it!

Back at Shildon briefly this afternoon, the crane has had its bufferbeam fitted, more parts painted and the newly relined brake bands will be refitted tomorrow. We were sorry to hear that our regular volunteer John Shiel, stalwart of scraper and paintbrush, has had a mild stroke, and we wish him well for his recovery and look forward to him coming back to help drink the tea before too long.

North Norfolk

2010-02-10T13:49:00.000-08:00

A visit for various reasons yesterday and today to the North Norfolk Railway, a super little line and many kind folk who looked after us. Here's a gem from the Carriage & Wagon workshop at Weybourne, a Midland & Great Northern Railway riding van from a breakdown train, dating from the 1880s, a superb restoration nearing completion.

Further down the works is the Wisbech & Upwell Tramway coach, sister to the one that starred in the "Titfield Thunderbolt". In homage to the film, this rebuild includes a bar very similar to the one propped up by Mr Valentine in the 1950s classic comedy. "Wines and Spirits first!"

Next door in the loco works, was the N7, Number 69621, so Chris Beet and Richard Pearson gave it an inspection before its visit to York over Easter.

Outside in the yard was a part of the National Collection, LEV 1, looking much happier than when I last saw it 6 years ago. All windows replaced, seating renewed and it runs - good news!

Just before leaving, we nipped up to Holt to see the LNER Quad Art carriages, but on our way, we were all taken with this Colman's mustard van, beautifully restored by a community group but awaiting a proper roof. Thanks to all at the NNR who facilitated our visit, I'm sure we shall be back!

Rocket fired

2010-02-08T12:45:00.001-08:00

In the South Yard at York today, "Rocket" was lit up and being warmed through in preparation for crew familiarisation tomorrow.

Rocket has landed

2010-02-05T13:55:00.000-08:00

Still warm after its steam and running trials at the Avon Valley Railway, the newly rebuilt and reboilered replica of "Rocket" arrived at York this morning and I went for a quick look at it at lunchtime before it was shunted into the yard in preparation for steaming and crew training. Firstly here's a look in the firebox and we see fewer, but larger diameter tubes in the new boiler than the loco had previously. We already know from the experience of the Flour Mill team that the loco's steam raising ability has been transformed.

After the new boiler was designed to follow more closely what we knowof the original after Michael Bailey & John Glitheroe's survey of the 1829 loco, there is now no longer a dome on the engine too - and quite a few other interesting changes. However, it's still "Rocket" and I look forward to the crew training and steam trials next week.

Another major change which can be made out if you look closely is the fitting of a rivetted copper firebox. The chimney folds down for transport by road, it's quite a lift to get it vertical for operation - and even worse to lower when hot!

Round and about

2010-02-03T13:14:00.001-08:00

At the end of last week, this was the state of play with the steam crane, nearly all painted and ballast going back into the ballast boxes after new wheel arches were made and fitted to the frames.
Over the weekend, we visited family in Morecambe, and during a walk on the prom, I took advantage of the January sunshine to photograph the Midland Hotel, with LMS ancestry dating from 1933 and being an icon of art deco design. More info here: http://www.midlandhotel.org/

I had a call from a friend who is a freelance industrial conservator on Monday, he was going to visit Washington "F" Pit in Washington, Tyne & Wear for its annual condition survey. As someone with an interest in industrial archaeology, I was keen to have a look, so went up yesterday morning and met up with Paul Jarman, curator of transport at Beamish in order to discuss some matters of mutual interest which you'll find out about when they take place! Paul has put photos of the winding engine on his blog http://beamishtransport.blogspot.com/ . In the yard of the museum in the shadow of the headgear is this unique Ruston & Hornsby mines loco, LHU class number 392157 of 1956, a 2 foot gauge machine. Paul can be seen behind the engine recording it for posterity and he's caught me doing the same!

Heading in to York by train today I caught "Tornado" being prepared outside the museum this morning in readiness for its Royal Train duties tomorrow. That's Richard Pearson, our workshop manager at Shildon climbing into the cab, he having taken this week off to assist the A1 Trust with the run to Manchester where Prince Charles will visit the Museum of Science & Industry on the last day in post for their Director Steve Davies before he begins as the NRM's new Director next week.

Half term will soon be upon us, and the major attraction at York will be our newly rebuilt and reboilered replica of Stephenson's "Rocket", which you can seen here on test after the work was undertaken at the Flour Mill, Bream and Alan Keef Limited and is due to arrive at York later this week:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nulzwWq-dR8 Alongside "Rocket", we have borrowed "Locomotion", the 1975 built replica from Beamish, to run as well. Here it is arriving with James Milner at York this lunchtime. The chimney has been taken off for transport and the motion has been arranged to be at its lowest height to get under the Leeman Road bridge just before the museum. Should be interesting to see the two in steam in a couple of weeks!

Steam Crane progress and hidden treasures

2010-01-27T14:05:00.000-08:00

When I left Shildon last night, Richard and the team had managed to get the crankshaft and hoist drum back on the body of the crane - excellent progress and good to see it going back together. Pipework has been lagged and is going back on too.
After a meeting with the APT-E support group today: http://www.apt-e.org/ I grabbed a quick sandwich before leaving York to come back to Shildon, and on my convoluted way out, popped into the Warehouse to check on the exiles from the Great Hall whilst exhibition construction work is going on. The two locos are "Hardwicke" and "Aerolite", looking strangely at home amongst the cornucopia of smaller objects from the collection. Behind "Aerolite" is the loco preparation bay, where "Tornado" was being steamed ready for a steam test tomorrow and a test run out on Saturday.

I arrived back in Shildon just in time to see the boiler being replaced on the Smith steam crane, it makes a real difference and allows us to keep plumbing up the myriad pipes which came loose with the machine. We'd better not put the chimney on just yet as it won't fit out the door otherwise. Now for the jib and new ropes...

Lunch wanderings at York

2010-01-25T13:19:00.000-08:00

In between meetings at York today I took a walk around the museum and took a couple of pics I thought I'd share. Here are two East Coast thoroughbreds, side by side after recent shunting operations and making a super contrast in front ends. It's been a while since "Mallard" and the Stirling Single have been so close, but don't they look good?
Recently returned from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for bodywork and other repairs, Class 37 No. D6700 stands is the triangle area awaiting entry into the workshops once "Tornado" has gone back on the main line.

In the workshop itself, "Tornado" was separated from its tender this morning to allow the loco to be moved within the works, whilst in the foreground, Rod Lytton, Chris Beet and Dave Leyshon prepare to lift one of "Flying Scotsman"'s wheelsets to investigate further the recent issue we have found with the uneven back to back measurements on the engine.

Over the hills to Appleby

2010-01-21T13:46:00.000-08:00

Back in October, I went to Tyseley to see progress on the South African Sharp Stewart loco which David Shepherd brought back from the Zambezi Sawmills Railway in 1975. It returned with a sleeping/day coach built by the Midland Railway Carriage & Wagon Company in 1927. Since 2008, the coach has been under restoration by Tony Vollans at Appleby Heritage Centre, and today, Richard Pearson & I went over to see how he is getting on with the rebuild. The coach is in a purpose built workshop and Tony & his team are working wonders on it. We're now at the repair and replacement stages, but I was rather taken by this emergency stop handle on one end, it destroys the vacuum in the brake system and the brakes come on, stopping the train.

Here's a general view of the coach in the workshop; you can see how little new material has been required during the course of the rebuild, but all window mechanisms have been repaired and interior fittings are going back in. With luck, at the current rate of progress, it will be ready in the middle of the year, giving us the challenge of where to put it, until NRM+ is ready for it!

At the back of the Heritage Centre is a polytunnel just long enough for a coach. Walking over to it we found our friends from the Furness Railway Trust working hard on Great Eastern Railway saloon No.5. There is some fantastic work being undertaken on this, including some ingenious repairs to the teak panelling, which I have filed away in the memory bank for future reference. If all is well, this is another coach that will be ready for service this summer.

At the entrance to the site, the Furness Trust's Great Western Railway Hall Class No. 4979 "Wootton Hall" stands, publicising the Trust and the Heritage Skills Training Centre as it waits its turn in the restoration queue.
We stopped off at Appleby main line station for Richard to drop off some NELPG railtour publicity, and in the booking hall I noticed this - a Midland Railway loco chimney, recovered in the 1980s from the embankment near Dandry Mire viaduct by Terry Sykes, and now displayed at Appleby. There are numerous stories of buried engines, on this occasion nothing was attached, but a fascinating exhibit which I didn't know was there.
We didn't come away empty handed! At the Centre was a complete 5 inch gauge railway in store which hasn't run for a long time. We have agreed with Tony to borrow it to see if we can get it to work for use on site at Shildon. It consists of this battery powered 08 diesel shunter, one coach behind it and 160 feet of steel track. Another challenge for Richard and the workshop team...it'll be fun if we can get it going!

Woolmer comes home

2010-01-20T12:49:00.001-08:00

Last Friday we loaded "Woolmer" on to a low-loader for her return to Hampshire and display in the railway goods yard at Milestones Museum in Basingstoke. After an overnight stay in the Midlands, the engine arrived at the museum on Sunday afternoon and once there had been a quick press call, Andrew Goodman and his team from Moveright International set to work unloading the engine in the 1930s street. It was lowered on to a skate upon which it would be rolled on steel plates across the tarmac and cobbles, fortunately Senior Curator Gary Wragg and his staff had worked hard to prepare the environment, removing road vehicles and fences so that the loco had an unimpeded route across to the goods yard.
Having got the engine on to the skate, here it is being skidded sideways on the steel plate so that it can be squeezed through the Council Yard from the 1930s to the 1910s. The whole operation was being filmed so that a DVD can be made documenting the engine's return to Hampshire.

About 9pm on the Sunday night, "Woolmer" is moved through the Council yard, evoking a few memories of lines such as the Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Light Railway which ran through street sections!

I had to leave to return North at lunchtime on the Monday, by which time the loco was moving round the corner past the tram which had been removed from the rails to allow "Woolmer" to pass. Elected members from Hampshire Council which runs the museum were viewing the loco at this time so for safety, work stopped for an hour to allow the Moveright team a much needed break.

And finally at around 9pm on Monday night, "Woolmer" was finally lowered off its carrying skate on to the rails in the goods yard at Milestones. After a clean and replacing of fences and all other exhibits displaced to make way, the museum re-opened on Tuesday morning for the public to see "Woolmer" back in Hampshire for the first time in four decades, and I am indebted to Curator Stephen Hoadley for kindly sending me this picture of "Woolmer" on display today for use in this blog. Stephen has worked long and hard organising this move and his effort has paid off. Without him, Gary Wragg and Andrew Goodman, the move would not have happened, and we are delighted that there is a new loan venue for a National Collection locomotive. Do please go and see it - it looks very much at home there!

Mid Hants meanderings

2010-01-20T08:39:00.000-08:00

This last weekend saw me return to Hampshire, firstly to drop off a driving wheel spring at Ropley for "Lord Nelson" - seen below, and also to oversee the installation of Avonside saddle tank "Woolmer" into Milestones Museum in Basingstoke. Here's 850 getting some cleaning attention in Ropley yard on Sunday morning.
I was met and taken round the shed and works by Bob Millard and driver Chris Smith, there's some really good stuff going on and excellent quality engineering - of which maybe more in a couple of weeks. In the end of the shed beyond the wheeldrop, the restoration of Black 5 No. 45379 is in its final stages - just look at the work on that backhead!

Chris Smith & I have known each other for years as Talyllyn footplate volunteers, and he was kind enough to arrange a footplate ride for me on his engine for the day, 9F class number 92212, here we accelerate out of Ropley past the new workshops and boiler shop heading up the hill for Medstead and Alton. I was particularly keen to do this trip as I've never managed to ride on the Mid Hants line yet, and the last time we looked in at Ropley yard was 1987!

After a quick run round at Alton, the 9F attacked the climb up towards Medstead, the gradients showing why the line's nickname is "The Alps". Here, Passed Cleaner Alex gets busy with the shovel as Chris takes the engine up the hill with great style. It was a bit warm!

After changing ends of the train again at Alresford, I left the loco at Ropley so I could head on to Basingstoke to await "Woolmer"'s arrival. On the way back to the van, I paused to get this picture of the other MHR train in service, a 108 class DMU leaving for Alresford.

Woolmer's move comes soon...!

The Freeze continues, but work carries on.

2010-01-15T08:43:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that it's now a month since the first snowfall, but inside the Shildon workshop, Richard Pearson and the apprentices and volunteers push on with the steam crane restoration. This week they have removed the cover of the other ballast box and cleared it of rust before leeting it dry out and then applying primer. The hoist and winch drums have now been painted red, and elsewhere in the workshop, the crankshaft and connecting rods have also been painted. John Shiel has worked like a trojan cleaning the underside of the crane and painting it, his work will not be seen by many but is a vital part of conserving this machine. Here's the crane as of Tuesday night.
A long but necessary NRM+ meeting was held on Wednesday at York, after it I popped down to the workshop to catch up with the team, and Chris Beet & Rod Lytton in particular. I picked up a spring to take to the Mid Hants Railway for "Lord Nelson" and had a chat with Chris about the work on the NRM's class 36, D6700 which was in transit to York as we spoke, returning from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for bodywork over the winter months. As I left, I grabbed this picture of Tornado, now re-united with its front bogie, but with plenty of work still going on.

Thursday morning saw Richard and I take the van into Darlington for servicing, on our way back we called into Hopetown works to see NELPG's J72 No. 69023, which you may remember we recorded having its boiler refitted back in November. Progress has been excellent and steaming is but a matter of a few weeks away, before the loco is transferred to us at Shildon for running in and lining out. Here's the view from the cab window, something I hope to see a bit more of in the coming months!At lunchtime on Thursday, our Education Officer at Shildon, Tony Attle, launched his exhibition "Railways At War" which runs until the end of February. Tony has worked hard with his colleague Sarah Goldsbrough from Darlington Railway Museum to produce this very effective display which incorporates memories from folks involved, one of whom, Alan Holmes, was principal guest. Alan was a fireman at Darlington during World War Two and some of his stories are amazing, including his experience of being a fireman on a train chased into Darlington by a Messerschmidt - where the train took shelter under the station roof whilst the aeroplane was forced to fly up and away before it hit Darlington power station's cooling towers. Tony, Sarah and Alan have produced a booklet of these stories to complement the exhibition and this will be available from Locomotion once printed. The display will tour County Durham and hopefully wider after it has been on show at Darlington Railway Museum. The photo shows (from left), Sarah, Alan & Tony at the launch event. Do come and see it - it's well worthwhile seeing alongside our other temporary exhibition "The Art of Robert Stephenson".

Finally for this week, we were up early to say goodbye to the first locomotive restored in the workshops at Shildon back in 2007, the Avonside saddle tank "Woolmer" built for the War Department's Longmoor Military Railway. "Woolmer" is returning in its centenary year to Hampshire and from Tuesday next week will be on display at Milestones Museum in Basingstoke http://www3.hants.gov.uk/milestones Here you can see "Woolmer" being winched onto the lowloader as Johnny Molloy from the workshop follows it up the ramp with a chock. It's sad to see the engine go in one respect, but good that the restoration will be appreciated by more people - and of course it gives us a little more space to work with for the collection. I hope that we can get pictures of it in position sent to us in time to put them on the blog during next week.

Steam Crane discoveries and the Sneltic

2010-01-08T13:10:00.001-08:00

Richard and the workshop team at Shildon continue to make good progress on the steam crane restoration despite the weather and a multitude of tasks which they tackle with vigour! The crane body has been turned through 90 degrees to allow access to the ballast boxes and frame for cleaning and painting.This morning, Johnny took off the cover to one of the ballast boxes so it can be cleaned out, allowed to dry then corrosion addressed, the box painted and the ballast replaced.

Here's what he found when he emptied the ballast box - all sorts of bits of iron: rail chairs, fishplates, fire grates, broken cast boiler washout plates, handrails, nuts and bolts - plus two bin loads of rust! These parts will all be pressure washed and stored before being replaced. We also found that the cranes frames have rotted through in places so will need repair before painting.

Yesterday, staff at York made a snow "Mallard", and the challenge went out to us to follow it up, so this afternoon, we set out for an hour's "team building" in the arctic conditions! Here, Dale, Johnny, Richard, Pam, Jason and Sharon get down to making our creation.

Just around 3pm, we were able to launch our snow loco - the SNELTIC (Snow DELTIC). Here's most of its' creators in front of the museum with it. Well, it's something like!

Tornado in the Works

2010-01-07T03:31:00.000-08:00

Having been daft and made it down to York yesterday for a meeting, I had just time for a quick trip afterwards to see the workshop team before fighting the snow on the A1 back north. I found another A1 taking shelter - "Tornado" is having its winter maintenance programme this month in the NRM workshop before going main line again in February. In front of it you can see "Flying Scotsman"'s frames moved forward so 60163 can use the wheel drop.
On the workshop floor, Peter Neesam (left) and John Graham (right) discuss progress on the front bogie, which has been removed with the aid of the wheeldrop and is being worked on elsewhere in the works. Look out for "Tornado" visiting Locomotion at Shildon from 24th April until 6th May!

Outside, York enjoyed some winter sun before another few hours of blizzards, very good for Christmas Card photos, but not so good for visitor numbers - this was the car park at 2.50pm yesterday.

A Freezing New Year

2010-01-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

2010 is upon us and I'd like to wish all a Happy New Year, though after 3 weeks of snow and ice now it's not been particularly joyous for many. On Boxing Day we went for a steam fix and took the girls for a ride at Tanfield, where a good time was had by all - once points and brakes had been unfrozen! There were a good number of folk around and the complimentary mince pies were very welcome, here No.49 at the rear of the train awaits departure for East Tanfield.

Signalman Neville Whaler exchanges the single line token at Marley Hill, where the warmth of his signal box awaits until the passing of the next train.

Meanwhile back at work yesterday I popped into Rail Restorations North East to see this Class 122 "Bubble Car" in the first stages of restoration - the LMS BG having moved to Weardale a few weeks before Christmas.

Another local call this morning in the snow was to see Michael Bowman, a good friend, who runs Vintage Vehicles Shildon http://www.vintagecommercials.co.uk/museum.html which whilst concentrating on road vehicles has some with railway connections and also this Fowler diesel shunter on loan from the Furness Railway Trust, built in 1939 and known as "Fluff". If you have an interest in wider transport heritage, do call into this friendly museum when you visit Locomotion, there is a very modest entry fee and lots to see.

A snowy postscript

2009-12-24T02:52:00.000-08:00

Well, I know I'd signed off with Christmas greetings, but the snow and hard frost have persisted and remained for our shunting operations this last week, so here are a few images from Tuesday to get us in the festive spirit! Here's the signal and wheels on the road island at the main road junction into town.

And the view from 663 as we head up the yard with Green Arrow, GE No.3 and 75s in tow. Almost good enough for a Christmas card.

With there having been a hard frost, I was rather taken by the cobwebs on the vehicles parked outside - the bogie bolster and GNR tender being particularly good as you can see below.

And I'll leave you with the shot of the day - Green Arrow and the Great Eastern saloon on the running line out of the way whilst we shunted in the building.

So, one more time for this year, Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year! More to come in 2010...

Ho ho ho

2009-12-21T12:48:00.000-08:00

This weekend was the last of the Santa Special events at Locomotion and to add to the festive feel, the temperatures dropped and the snow stayed - indeed, more fell on Saturday night. It got so cold on Saturday that one of Furness 20's injectors that had frozen on Friday night never fully thawed out. We therefore elected on Saturday afternoon to bring the engine and Dutch shunter in overnight to prevent any more frost problems and make sure the diesel stood a chance of starting on Sunday morning to pull 20 out. The nice warm museum interior provided an impromptu caravan site for Tim Owen and Alan Middleton - with temperatures below -4 degrees Centigrade, it was no weather for engines or people to be outside.
Sunday morning dawned very cold but bright, and fortunately we had put a hosepipe into 20s tender overnight from inside as the external hose used for watering stayed frozen all weekend. With a chimney lid on, the engine still had steam from the previous day so Alan set to work lighting the fire whilst we pulled 20 out and put her over the pit for preparation. Here's the view from 663's cab as we head down to the water tower.

After 20 had been oiled and steam raised, she moved off to begin her work, but not before we posed her in the snow for next year's Christmas card pictures!

1348 visitors later, I don't know how many trips to and fro, and floors mopped, bins emptied and tickets clipped; plus 1 1/2 hours as relief driver, it was time to pack up. We took pity on the poor frozen 03 which looked like an iced cake and put it inside along with 663 and 20.

Tim, Alan & Kate spent another night in the museum (and watched on a video "Night at The Museum"!) and found a use for the 03 as a wine cooler for their dinner bottle of white...

With the museum now closed until 4th January, we are shunting tomorrow to put the Stirling tender inside and also move the HAA Merry Go Round hopper to the workshop so it can join the queue for attention - then of course still paperwork and other things to get on with.

In the meantime, I'd like to wish you all a Happy & Peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year, let's see what 2010 brings!

Let it snow...

2009-12-18T13:02:00.000-08:00

Wandering around the NRM this week, I noticed that in the Triangle part of the Great Hall was one of our most unsung exhibits and also one of our hardest working on the York site. Class 02 diesel shunter D2860 usually lives outside in the North yard and is seldom seem by visitors, though passengers on the East Coast Main line often get a view of it in the yard. With cold weather looming, the loco was brought into the warmer climes of the Triangle where it risks less chance of frost damage. Nice to see it inside for visitors to see as something different.
This week has been one of learning certain corporate aspects of the job, along with some long hours on the computer and phone beginning to deal with collections issues, loans and maintenance matters. It was good to have a cup of tea yesterday with Andrew Goodman, haulier, corporate partner and custodian of "City of Truro" - especially as there has just been released a 00 gauge model of the loco: http://www.nrmshop.co.uk/product/276887.html and I will admit to pushing the boat out and Dad & I have bought one to share between us!

Meanwhile, we awoke in County Durham to snow storms and several inches of snow, a lot having fallen last night anyway. Knowing we had to shunt Furness 2o out for Santa Special steaming this weekend, I wondered who we'd have to help as some staff were stuck trying to get in. The 03 refused to start it was so cold, and we breathed a sigh of relief when the trusty Dutch shunter fired up. We treated it to some fuel later this morning in gratitude! Here's FR 20 and the two shunters on the museum apron ready for coaling the steamer.

I rather liked this view of our running line and Shildon station as seen from the cab of 663 as Jason and Dale cleared the yard points so we could take FR20 over the pit.

Inside in the relative warm, Phil Anderson was putting the finishing touches to the lettering on the new bufferbeams on NER electric loco No.1. Here he's trying to dry the paint a bit faster with a fan heater so he could come out to lunch with the workshop team! A beautiful job has resulted from a true craftsman - look out for it next time you visit Shildon.

Coming back from lunch (ok, it was more like afternoon tea by the time we got to Darlington with the train delays for the snow...) I rather liked this view from the level crossing by Shildon station. I'll hopefully see a bit more on Sunday as I'll be in at work with all our team on the Santa steamings, and maybe as relief loco crew. Better look out my woolly hat!

A Shepherd, a Centenary and a Scots interlude...

2009-12-13T13:46:00.000-08:00

This week was the week my cover got blown and a picture appeared of me in Steam Railway magazine, so I am now going to shave my head and grow a beard... It's been another busy week of meetings in York & Shildon, plus writing of conservation management plans and one or two little surprises, including a positive future for the class 306 electric unit that has been stored at Kineton for the last few years.

This has also been the week that the Stephenson Locomotive Society celebrated its centenary, and as part of this, there's a small display at York until 3rd January, of the class 87 electric named "Stephenson", the LBSCR loco "Gladstone" which the SLS preserved back in 1927, and the 9 1/2" miniature locomotive "Orion" which is normally kept and demonstrated in steam at Shildon. Below are "Orion" and "Gladstone" on display together.
The SLS display was formally opened on Friday 11th December with a centenary dinner (at which "Orion"'s caretaker Derek Cobby was made a Vice President and the gathering addressed by Sir William McAlpine), and talk and tour the following day. The talk was by the eminent railway artist David Shepherd, and Ed Bartholomew & I were privileged to have lunch on Friday with David and show him photos of progress on the restoration of the loco and carriage that he brought back from the Zambesi Sawmills Railway in the 1970s and gave to the NRM about 5 years ago. He was delighted and we then took him to see some of his work in the collection, including the sketches below that he made at the old Clapham Transport Museum in the 1960s. He showed great interest in the works of Terence Cuneo, saying that Cuneo was the real master of railway pinting and that his (David's) efforts were mere daubings in comparison - which I had to dispute! Anyhow, a fascinating half day in the company of a legend!

This weekend we've had a christening to attend in the Scottish Borders, so travelled up to stay overnight in Edinburgh on Saturday. On our way up the A1, we took a short detour to see this Peckett in a garden at Beal alongside the East Coast Main Line. It was sold on eBay from the Swanage Railway last year, and whilst I doubt it'll run again, it's nice to see it in one piece and loved albeit in a different setting to normal. Thenumber on the cab "1611" is its works number. I regret that typing this late on a Sunday night, I can't tell you what year it is, other than 1920s, nor without my Peckett works list, who it was supplied to...

Having arrived at our accommodation, we took a bus ride into Edinburgh en famille and then I'm ashamed to say I abandoned the family to shopping whilst I shot up to the National Museum of Scotland - never having visited before. What a place, I shall have to go back! However, I'll share two highlights (the Lewis chessmen don't really fit in a railway blog...). The first was to see "Wylam Dilly" on display in the old Royal Scottish Museum gallery, a wonderful link to the earliest days of steam traction:

The second was the locomotive below. With my industrial railway fetish hat on, I had long wanted to see "Ellesmere", built by Hawthorn's of Leith - and there she was, built in 1861 and worked in Lancashire until preservation. Restored for display in the NMS by an acquaintance, Geoff Hayes, she flies the flag for the story of railways and locomotive building in Scotland and is a joy to behold. I can't promise the same excitement for this next week - but who knows...?

First week survived!

2009-12-04T12:38:00.000-08:00

After the wet weekend, I began this week in my new position and have had a REALLY busy time, which has been great, and very challenging already! On Wednesday, I had a York day and popping into town over the Lendal Bridge took a picture of the River Ouse, looking towards the Scarborough line bridge. The waters were going down, but I really feel for anyone affected recently - it gets very high in York...

Back in the warm and dry of the NRM, one of the less recognised stars rests in the Lean To next to the Station Hall. South Eastern & Chatham Railway "D" class 737, an absolute piece of mechanical artistry, which, if all is well, will get a better airing next year - as ever, watch this space! It's a beautiful engine, set off by the amazing SECR livery and repays careful study if you are at the NRM in the future.

Today was another York day, and part of it consisted of having to examine "Hardwicke" on the turntable to answer a query and I took the chance to photograph some of the collection from a slightly different angle. Here are the Chinese 4-8-4(left), the Southern Railway Q1 0-6-0 and the British Railways class 76 electric loco taken from the footplate of "Hardwicke". The line up still remains rather special - and now it's all my responsibility...

I am trying to get my head around the collection and what is going on with it, so I was pleased to get the chance today to meet Alex Williams and some of the team working on Deltic 55 002 "King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry". The loco is currently in the Flying Scotsman exhibition, awaiting a move into the workshops to allow heavier work to be undertaken.

A major milestone has been reached today with the delivery of the refurbished radiators for the loco, and the group hope to get the loco back into working order during 2010, which will be fantastic. There's still a lot more to do, but further info can be gleaned from the group's website http://www.55002koyli.com/ and I am sure that they'd welcome more assistance if anyone feels able. I stood in the South Yard at York in 1998 and watched the loco leave for its abortive restoration and finally it's all coming right for the loco - please have a look and give the group your support.

Making the grade...

2009-11-29T13:54:00.000-08:00

A little personal indulgence and side-track...

I have been a member of the Talyllyn Railway Preservation Society since 1985 and a Loco Department volunteer since 1990. I was made up to Passed Cleaner in 1992 and have made regular visits ever since, although since moving North in 1997-8, I have not had as many occasions to get there as I once did. Marriage and children meant that the TR took a back seat actively until the last couple of years when I have made a bit of a practical comeback! I had 3 weeks in Wales this year, with several days booked on the footplate. On a beautiful July afternoon I was on a firing turn with Terry Gurd driving, and this was the view from the footplate of No.2 "Dolgoch" climbing Cynfal bank, with Cader Idris in the distance.

Whilst nothing to do with work, today was the annual Drivers' Meeting where all loco department volunteers are assessed and promotions made, cleaner to passed cleaner, fireman to passed fireman, and so on. I was delighted to hear this evening that I have been made up to fireman grade, subject to a rules exam (funny, I only had one at Easter this year!), so two promotions in a weekend is really rather special!

Of course, a major piece of TR current concern is No.2 "Dolgoch". Her boiler has now expired and a major fundraising initiative is under way to reboiler and overhaul her in time for the 60th anniversary of the railway opening as a preserved line. The loco's significance has been well documented in the railway press recently but if any readers would like to help the appeal in any way, please look at: http://www.talyllyn.co.uk/dolgoch-appeal . The picture above shows No.2 drifting through Pendre yard, slowing for the token exchange in August 2009.

A long day closes...the ups and downs of railways

2009-11-27T12:38:00.000-08:00

Well, more report writing this week, meetings and visits to and from folk. Discussions of new loans, new books, sharing colleagues in other museums joys and frustrations and assisting with advice on loco restoration projects. All part of another busy week, along with the need for me to learn Microsoft Project, which will be a challenge for techno-numpty me! Richard Pearson, Shildon's Workshop Manager has been to Tyseley to collect the last bits of Duchess of Hamilton left over from the streamlining and has worked very hard with his team this week over some unsociable hours - and today has been no exception.

And so to Friday, Richard and the lads set off by road to York to take Orion, the 9 1/2" gauge Ebb Compound loco model owned by the Stephenson Locomotive Society, down to York for their centenary dinner in a couple of weeks' time and assist with the major task of the day of which more anon.

I went by train, and it was delayed outside Darlington and arriving into the station we were told the train would terminate there due to a derailment at the south of the station. On the adjacent track was a Network Rail train headed by this yellow class 31. I presume this was part of the breakdown gang or to do with assessing and repairing damaged trackwork. Every train was otherwise passing though platform 4, in both North & South directions and a delay ensued. My train to York was only 7 minutes late though, giving me just enough time to spot the derailed train just at the end of platform 3 - I am told it had passed a red signal and fell victim to the catch points.

Whoops!

Eventually arrived at York, still in time for my 9am meeting to check out potential cab access to the streamlined Duchess for next year, then down to the store to unload "Orion" and just for a while, it's stored alongside a 9 1/2" gauge Great Northern Atlantic. Hope they don't breed!

Outside, Richard, Johnny and Jason were assisting Ray Towell, Duncan & James Milner to load the Great Northern tender that has been in store for the Stirling Single loco. It has deteriorated badly over 40 years in store, and has been moved this afternoon to Shildon, where we will move it inside this next week for assessment for future restoration to display it with the loco (which currently is paired with an 1850 Sturrock designed tender). This picture shows it being manouevered by crane and lorry to the loading position.

Once the tender was loaded, a quick cup of tea to thaw out before an important meeting, which I walked out of to see "Tornado" leaving light engine and van from platform 10, having just brought a train up from King's Cross. I love the lighting at this time of year if it works right!

We very much hope that "Tornado" will grace Shildon with its presence in 2010, and talks have begun. A final note from today on a personal level - the lunchtime "important meeting" alluded to above was an interview for the position of Senior Curator of Rail Vehicle Collections - and I'm delighted to say that all went well and I have been appointed thus on a permanent basis, starting on Monday!

A steady week

2009-11-21T06:16:00.000-08:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

One era begins...another ends...

2009-11-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

We will remember them

2009-11-11T12:49:00.000-08:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

A day with the Director (elect)!

2009-11-06T14:03:00.001-08:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

Cab It, Shildon style

2009-11-05T08:25:00.001-08:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

November in York

2009-11-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

Out and about

2009-10-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

It's nearly half term...

2009-10-23T05:21:00.000-07:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

York wanderings

2009-10-21T12:24:00.000-07:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

Crew test and workshops

2009-10-16T08:17:00.000-07:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

Southern Sojourn 2

2009-10-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

Southern Sojourn 1

2009-10-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

Big Shunt 2

2009-10-13T06:10:00.001-07:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

Pre-weekend postscript

2009-10-08T14:38:00.000-07:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

Mother Ship

2009-10-08T07:04:00.000-07:00

You can read this post at its new home in the official National Railway Museum blog.

The Big Shunt part 1

2009-10-08T06:42:00.000-07:00

As part of our ongoing work in the conservation workshop, we needed to make space to bring our 5 ton Smith steam crane undercover to allow our workshop team to work their magic on it in the dry over the winter. Seeing as the workshop is at the very bottom of the museum building, it was mega shunt time! Some rare views of stock were to be had as vehicles moved around last night and adjacent roads cleared. Here's the North Staffordshire tank from the side that isn't usually visible.

Having pulled all of road 6 out, we then fetched the Peckett "Merlin" and the steam crane out of the back of the workshop in readiness to put the rest of the vehicles back on road 6! My 00 gauge models of 30 years ago were much easier!

One of the engines exhumed was the Avonside "Woolmer" formerly at Longmoor and latterly Beverley. It's going on loan soon back to Hampshire to be part of the excellent Milestones museum in Basingstoke. Here it catches the last of the evening light before being put back inside.

The stalwarts of the evening, other than the staff and volunteers who were part of the shunt were our two diesel shunters, 03 090 and 663 (the Dutch class 11 equivalent belonging to Capt Andrew Mills and on long term loan to us). The 03 awaits its next move as dusk falls on Shildon.

Now well and truly dark, here's my view from the cab of 663 as the team put something else back inside with the 03. And we do it all over again tonight to get Sans Pareil out of the workshop and on display to replace it with the crane!

Ok - so I have yet to learn how to rotate a picture once I've posted it...sorry! (Now learned how to do it but not delete the old pic!)

A sleeping Standard and rallying madness

2009-10-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

On Saturday lunchtime I needed a distraction to take the girls (my daughters) to; fortunately I remembered that the Darlington Railway Preservation Society were having an open weekend, so we decided to go and see what was going on at North Road. Long overshadowed by the Head of Steam Museum and more latterly the A1 project, this group have been beavering away for 30 years preserving a goodly amount of local railway hardware, most of it housed in the old goods shed adjacent to the Head of Steam Museum.

We arrived and I was pleased to be met by Alan Usher, one of the stalwarts of the Kirkby Stephen project, who is also an active DRPS member, and a fine railway modeller as we discovered, seeing his layout inside the shed. Fortified with a welcoming cup of tea, we had a good wander round, the girls getting a look inside the cab of the ex Cleveland Bridge Fowelr diesel shunter "David Payne" and me gricing the industrial locos present - you will find over the duration of this blog that I have weaknesses - two being miniature railways and industrial ones. A Triang 10 1/4" gauge train set catered for the former too!

One that it was good to learn about was this overhead wire English Electric loco which took power from a 550volt DC system at a chemical works in West Auckland.

Venturing outside, the girls were delighted to have a free ride on a 7 1/4" gauge line set up for the weekend, then with Isobel protesting that she "wanted to look in the workshop", we moved on to see what is regarded as the star of the collection, British Railways Standard Class 2 No. 78018, a 2-6-0 tender locomotive that unwittingly starred in the classic film "Snowdrift at Bleath Gill" (incidentally on show at Locomotion ever day next to the snowplough). After a spell in Barry Scrapyard in South Wales and an abortive perservation attempt in Leicestershire, the DRPS brought 78018 back to the town it was built in and have spent most of 3 decades patiently restoring it and amazingly not owing anyone a penny. Now it is just the boiler that remains to finish the job, and I believe an HLF application is being made to try and speed up the final stages. This will be a very useful little engine once done, well done to the DRPS, and thanks for your hospitality - it's rare my girls complain at having to leave a railway venue!

The following day, Sunday 4th October, saw a chance to indulge another of my passions - but at work. I have had an interest or involvement all my life with vintage road vehicles, especially road steam as those who know me will testify. An annual event in th Locomotion calendar is our end of season rally, this being our 6th. The sun shone and the crowds came - we entertained over 3000 visitors on the one day, and as ever, the quality of exhibits was second to none.

Some of my good friends from the road steam fraternity brought their vehicles. Here we see (left) Mark Sutherland's Wallis & Steevens traction engine, then Alan Borthwick's Aveling roller, Anthony Lister's Clayton & Shuttleworth traction engine and Ronnie & Ruby Linsley's Sri Lankan Aveling & Porter oil engined roller. We took the Aveling stemer and the Clayton for a lunchtime run out to Michael Bowman's Vintage Vehicle museum around the corner from Locomotion where a pleasant half hour of tea an a natter was had before bringing the engines back. The roller is unusually fitted with rubber tyres to the rolls, a modification made this last winter - it's kinder to one's backbone and fillings and was an interesting experience.

Across the museum apron was this fine line up of commercial vehicles, including a Scammell ballast tractor on its first day out. Elsewhere were over 120 classis and vintage cars and a never ending stream of classic motorbikes. Now I know what a Brough Superior is and why it is called the Rolls Royce of motorbikes!

And added attraction were our friends from the Furness Railway Trust and our own Merlin Group volunteers providing train rides along the site. Here Furness 20 approaches the coal drops with Shildon signal box in the distance. FR 20 will be providing steam rides at York over half term along with the FR Trust's North London Railway coach - do pay a visit and see this amazing machine in action.

This morning I've entertained a party from the Nairobi (Kenyan) Railway Museum, who are on a fact finding mission and I may catch up with them again tomorrow in York. Wonder what else I'll find when I get there...?

5Z13 and a Red Wheel

2009-10-01T05:29:00.000-07:00

I've just had a pleasant half hour in the company of Geoff Morris, David Wright, Chris Cubitt and 70013 - making 5Z13 from Shildon to Grosmont. I "bailed" at Darlington where my colleague Pam Porter had kindly agreed to pick me up. It was the first time I'd footplated over the Shildon line and also on steam - and mercifully it was a bright day. Having got the train out of our site, I joined the crew before we crossed over on to the down road. I was amazed how good the track is, and got a new view of the old S&D line from Cromwell's cab. It's all downhill from Shildon to Bank Top, so very little chuff was needed, and very soon I left the train awaiting the road onwards to Eaglescliffe where it would turn, then on to Battersby and Grosmont. There are some perks of the job! In case anyone gets too worried - I do have a full PTS card and have been main line support crew in the past.

Leaving Shildon with visitors and staff watching with green eyes!

David Wright puts a round on as we head for Newton Aycliffe

Looking back out of the cab as we pass Heighington. It was here in 1825 that "Locomotion" was put on the rails and steam raised for the first time.

Having dropped me off, Chris Cubitt opens the regulator and heads through Darlington Bank Top station to the home signal and wait for the road.

One of the other newsworthy items of the last week has been the presentation by the Transport Trust of a Red Wheel plaque to be mounted on Timothy Hackworth's house. This is the transport equivalent of a Blue Plaque, and recognises Hackworth's contribution to the early days of steam locomotion. The picture shows Jane Hackworth Young receiving the plaque with Councillor Brian Stephens outside Hackworth House.