BMES: Another Driving Turn..

Hi all. Today saw me once again down at the Riverside Miniature Railway operated by members of the Burton Model Engineering Society for April 'Steam Up' day which are held on the third Sunday of the month from April to October from 11am-pm weather and volunteer availability permitting. For more information see the club's website here. Unlike more usual trips out to heritage railways which usually entail a 6am wake up, today would see a 7-8am wake up which is rare due to the nature of visiting heritage railways. 

I arrived at the club at around 09:30 am and found the gate to the site open, on my arrival I discovered one of the members Dave was on site preparing his engine for service. I quickly leaned my bike up against the side of the club house and went to help Dave with moving his Steaming up kit from his car to the steaming bay for his engine.

The next task would be to fetch the water hose pipes from the containers to and set them up one in the steaming bay and the other near the water tower, situated next to the raised level track platform area. Soon after Keith, the club chairman and his wife arrived followed by several others, soon there was a fair amount of locos in the steaming back including a lovely 5 inch model of a N7, seen in the photo below. I'm not gonna ramble on too much as I don't have enough photos to do a full 'steam up' report blog post on here sadly. Please click the link here for a full post from a previous steam up from August last year. 

During the day there were many conversations had between all who attended including myself as well as a chance to have go at driving the club's 7 1/4 inch ground level Battery diesel shunter hauling passengers. Over all a fantastic day, thanks again to all who made it enjoyable..Till next time..cheers all, Jake...

Five Friends Reunited...

"Smile Now" (Pic - K.Evans)

Hi all. Today saw me joining the usual duo of my girlfriend Jenny and her best friend Alice for a trip up to York to meet our good friends Kieran and Casey before spending a day at the National Railway Museum in York. My day started at 06:00, catching the train from Burton to Derby at 07:50 to meet Jenny and Alice in Derby before catching the train from Derby to York at 08:40 eventually arriving at York at 10:34... What a long journey... On arrival at York we were met off our train by our friends Kieran and Casey who were feature in my post from our visit to Ecclesbourne Valley Railway last year, see post here. After getting off the train in York, we went over to get a group photo in front of 68024 "Centaur" which was parked up in the bay platform. 

"York Station front" (Pic - J.Davies)

After taking a group photo, we went out the station and headed for the National Railway Museum home to worlds famous LNER racing thoroughbreds 60103 "Flying Scotsman" & 4468 "Mallard". 

We entered the NRM via the Great Hall where both 60103 & 4468 can be found, although the first engine you see on entering the museum is 35029 which has been sliced in half as a demonstration to help explain how steam engines work.

Having walked past No.1 Stirling Single which can be seen in the photo below sat on the Turntable. We slowly made our way to the Flying Scotsman exhibit. We soon discovered that the exhibit was reasonably quiet. so decided to make the most of it.

The girls were quick to pose for a photo on a specially constructed platform splitting 60103 from her tender. Thanks to Kieran for allowing me to use some of his photos in this post.

"On The Footplate Of Flying Scotsman" (Pic - K.Evans)

After taking multiple photos of Flying Scotsman, we headed over to the workshops to have a look outside on the outside viewing gallery looking towards York Railway Station.

Of course couldn't resist a overall high up photo looking across the Great Hall with the two main centre pieces being 4468 "Mallard" and 6229 "Duchess of Hamilton" both currently in streamlined condition. 

After taking a few photos, we wandered up to the workshop viewing gallery where we saw 60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" which can be seen in the photo below currently in pieces for a 10 year overhaul.

After looking around the workshop viewing gallery, we decided it was time for lunch so headed back into the Great Hall before wandering over to the other hall "The Station Hall" for lunch.

Course I couldn't miss the opportunity to take photos of the iconic LNER A4 Pacific No.4468 "Mallard though. 

For those interested, 4468 Mallard was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and built at Doncaster Locomotive works on the 3rd March 1938. In July the same year she become the first and only steam locomotive to reach 126 mph record (Miles Per Hour), interestingly though a fellow class mate 4464 "Bittern" was allowed to do a 90mph run on the East Coast Mainline in June 2013, the same route used by Mallard in 1938.

After having lunch in the Station Hall, we decided to wander round the hall before venturing out into the unusually hot sunshine for April. While looking round the exhibits, I was lucky to get a photo of Jenny, Casey & Alice (pictured above) on the footplate of one of the older style Midland Railway / LMS Steam locomotives. Great photo girls.

In the photo above, Jenny poses in front of one of the tank engines which can be found in the Station Hall, giving us a great perspective of how big even a tank engine is at track level.

We slowly made our way outside to find a little 0-4-0 saddle tank Acecroft No.1 seen in charge of Steam Rides up and down South Yard. We were quickly joined by fellow enthusiasts Xav and Tayger. Kieran and the girls decided to have a ride on the train leaving me, Xav & Tayger to keep an eye on their stuff. 

After their ride behind No.1 we decided to get out the sun for a few minutes and wandered into the diesel depot or as I call it "The Pop Up Tent" which was empty with just a DMU Railcar, a class 47 diesel, a few wagons and a Class 09 to look at. 

After walking round the diesel shed, we said 'bye' to Tayger, who disappeared back to the Great Hall while we bought ourselves an Ice Cream before heading back into the museum. After a quick look round the gift shop before heading back to the station for one last photo in front of the Class 68.

"All lads together" (Pic - C.Johnson)

After one final photo in front of the 68 this time just us four lads: Myself, Kieran, Xav & Tayger. It was time for all of us to go our separate ways, me, Jenny and Alice headed to platform 9 kindly waved off by Xav and Tayger, Cheers lads. Another fantastic day out. Thanks to Jenny, Alice, Kieran for their company and thanks to Xav and Tayger for joining us this afternoon. Cheers all, Jake...

Coal Train Gala: Chasewater Railway...

Evening all. Today saw me and Jenny pay another visit to the delightful Chasewater Steam Railway, the post from our previous visit can be found here. Today's visit was for the railway's Coal Train Gala to commemorate 25 years since Littleton Colliery closed ending coal mining in Staffordshire. We decided to pay a visit to the railway on the Saturday which despite the poor weather forecast and the slightly dull start today ended being one of our better ideas. This morning, after a fairly drive into Burntwood, we stopped off briefly at Morrisions to grab some drinks and snacks to keep ourselves going before arriving at Chasewater Heaths at 09:45. Tickets purchased, we split up as Jenny went into the station cafe to buy breakfast while I went onto the platform to set up my camera kit for the first shot of the day featuring the small 0-4-0 saddle tank No.2842 "Kent No.2". Before long, Jenny reappeared with our breakfast. One being a Sausage Sandwich (Jenny's) and mine being a bacon Sandwich... hmm...delicious...

At 10:50, the faint sound of a steam whistle could be heard in the distance before the unmistakable sight of 2842 rounding the sharp curve into Chasewater Heaths station with a rake of HHA hopper wagons., after a brief station stop to drop off the single line token, she set off for the short distance run to Chasetown Church street which to the clever eye can be just made out from the Chasewater Heaths Carpark entrance. This would be followed by the passenger train hauled by 2 diesel shunters.

Before long, it was time for the diesel shunters to bring the first passenger service of the day to Chasetown Church Street, Stopping to allow passengers to board at Chasewater Heaths, we boarded the train and was soon on our way to the end of the line at Chasetown Church Street.

After letting the steam loco out of the loop, our two diesels ran round their train which they can be seen doing in the above photo. Before coupling up to the other end of the train for the return to Brownhills West. For those who watch my YouTube videos, you may recognise the 08 from when it was in BR Green from previous videos last year.

As we departed Chasetown Church Street I just happened to spot deer on the rugby pitch so of course just had to take a photo of them as we trundled back to Chasewater Heaths.

A brief stop at Chasewater Heaths and we were on our way back to Brownhills West, the main hub of this little railway. Where on disembarking the train, me and Jenny discovered this impressive model of a colliery inside the museum on display. While in the shed, Jenny asked if she could take photos and without spamming this post with too many photos of static engines from inside the museum, here's one of Jenny's.

"No.2780 'Asbestos' " (Pic - J.Davies)

No.2780 "Asbestos" currently in the overhaul queue. After exiting the museum, we wandered back outside onto the station platform before visiting the gift shop. 

After visiting the gift shop and getting lunch it was time to start filming, after watching the diesel shunter on the demonstration freight, along with several other movements, we decided to slowly wander back along the footpath to Chasewater Heaths.

As we made our way back along the footpath, filming the 08 on its journey up the line, we came across a swarms of midges and flies....Oh what fun.. the things we do to film gala events. After a few brief stops to film the various train workings which can be found on my video here. 

After walking back to Chasewater Heaths we decided to call it a day and headed home via Jenny's grandparents house so she could collect a jacket she had left there the weekend before....Honestly Jenny... there's always on...lol.. Once again another fantastic day in the company of my girlfriend Jenny with fantastic weather..Cheers all, Jake...