BMES: Hot Summers Day Steam...

 

Hi all... Today once again saw me back down at the Riverside Miniature Railway once again on a driving turn. However this time I'd be driving steam. My steed for the day would be the club's Simplex. An 0-6-0 tank engine painted in BR Black with early crest. No.1947, numbered as the year the club was formed.

"Lighting Up" (Pic - J.Davies)

Arriving on site at just after 10 with Jen and Alice. We signed in before collecting the engine from the container. After positioning the engine on the steaming bay, I checked the engine for leaks, before filling the tanks with water and began pumping water into the boiler using the handpump. 

"Raising Steam" (Pic - M.Davies)

With water in the gauge glass, it was time to put some wood in the firebox ready to light the fire. Under the supervision of Jim, one of the club's boiler inspectors, I proceeded to light the fire closing the firebox door once the fire was lit, before putting the electric blower on the engine chimney to help draw the fire.

"Concentrating" (Pic - J.Davies)

With the fire now burning nicely, Jim instructed me to start adding small shovelfuls of coal to the fire. With the pressure slowly beginning to go up the gauge, I began the task of oiling up, preventing possible damage to the motion during the day. 

"Tiny Steam Engine" (Pic - J.Davies)

With the pressure now reading around 30psi, we removed the electric blower, and cracked open the engine's own steam blower. The pressure still going up nicely, it was time to think about getting a riding truck out. With Jenny's help I went to fetch a riding truck. 

"Station departure" (Pic - M.Davies)

Riding truck collected, it was time to venture out onto the track, the first couple of laps Jim rode behind to ensure everything was okay. After a couple of laps with Jim riding as a passenger, it was time for Jen and Alice to have a ride. With a change of passengers and a quick water stop, it was time to for another couple of laps of the track.

"Smile Now" (Pic - M.Davies)

Having completed over 20 laps of the track, I decided to call it a day and with help from Jim, proceeded to drop the fire and blown down. Having put the club simplex away I joined Jenny, Alice and Mike who were sat chatting while eating a spot of lunch beneath one of the Marquees that had been set up to keep people cool during the day. 

"Having fun Jenny" (Pic - A.Tudor-Winch)

Late lunch finished we decided to call it a day and head home.. however.. just prior to us leaving, Jen was approached by Dave and Mike and asked if she wanted a go at driving a steam locomotive.. to which she quickly agreed. With Jen driving Dave's locomotive 'Clementine' under the careful supervision of Dave and Mike, me and Alice decided to head over to the ground level to have a ride behind the steam locomotive which can be seen in one of the photos above. The end to another fun enjoyable day. Cheers all, Jake...

Please note any views or opinions expressed in this blog are merely personal and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person, group or organisation. 

A Trip To The Seaside: The Scarborough Spa Express...

Hi all.. Today saw me finally able to tick something off my bucket list that I've been wanting to do a for a while now... a trip on The Scarborough Spa Express. Having never found the time to travel on this before due to other commitments, I jumped at the chance when asked by good friend David if I wanted to join him for the day.

The day started at 6am, waking up, showering and getting dressed before catching a lift from my dad to the station to catch the 7:30am service to York, the journey to York was fairly standard with stops at Derby, Chesterfield, Sheffield... and before long...York, arriving just after 9:30am. I was soon joined by good friend and fellow Youtuber David, who is mention in one of my previous posts from 2018 which can be found here. Pleasantries over, we headed to the North end of York station to wait for 45699 "Galatea", which was due to come off York NRM Depot at 10:00am, to collect her train from York Holgate sidings which had been brought over from Carnforth by two West Coast Railways Class 37s. 

Whilst waiting for Galatea, I spotted 37402 as she trundled her way through York station on a route learner for Scarborough. With the time now well after 10, we began to get a bit concerned that todays trip to Scarborough would be diesel hauled throughout... however at around 10:40 the sound of a Stanier hooter could be heard, marking 45699's departure off the the NRM yard, as she trundled past us through the station to Holgate sidings... Phew...

Few minutes later, she returned with her train bound for Scarborough. After finding seats on the train, we settled down for the run to Scarborough. Before long we were leaving York crossing over the river with 45699 sounding in fine fettle, the guard came down to sell tickets. Tickets purchased and David busy filming for his YouTube Channel, I sat back and enjoyed the journey.

The journey was fairly standard, passing through fantastic scenery, the engine sounding in fine fettle. Malton soon came and went as we passed through the station and over the level crossing North of the station, before long we were slowing down for Scarborough itself, as we passed the turntable and sidings just south of the station, where the locomotive and coaching stock would be serviced prior to the return journey. 

As we rolled into the platform the sun was out, after donning my sun glasses, we disembarked before walking up to the engine to take photos before heading down to the seafront to get some lunch.

After taking many photos and watching 45627 propel her empty train out of the platform into the carriage sidings just south of the station, we left the station and took a steady walk down the high street towards the seafront. We soon made it to the sea front, and David directed us to a fish and chip shop for lunch. 

Lunch purchased, we crossed the road and found a bench to sit down on and eat our fish and chips while watching the hive of activity on the beach and seafront.

Lunch finished, we decided to head up to a café buy drinks and snacks, before standing on a suspension bridge to take photos of the magnificent view of the seafront. 

Lunch finished, we decided to head up to a café buy drinks and snacks, before standing on a suspension bridge to take photos of the magnificent view of the seafront. With many photos taken, some of which I have added in this post, I managed to take a sneaky photo of David photographing the views from the bridge... sorry David. lol

Before long it was time to take a steady walk back to the station ready for our return journey to York. To my surprise, the train was already in the platform, resting in the mid afternoon sunshine. With our train not due to depart till 16:41, we had plenty of time to take some more photos. 

Soon it was time to re-join the train for our return journey to York, departing Scarborough at 16:41. We were soon on our way speeding along through the countryside, leaving the sunny seaside town of Scarborough behind. Before long we were slowing for Malton Level Crossing, where we were pathed through the station to David's surprise. Leaving Malton behind, we were soon back up to line speed with the engine sounding in fine fettle. 

Before long we were slowing once again as we approached York, crossing over the River Ouse before entering the station beneath the famous train shed station canopy, leaving the train, we walked up to the engine, watch the departure as she trundled into Holgate Sidings where the 37s would once again take over the train for the final leg to Carnforth.. It was soon time for me and David to go our separate ways as my train home arrived. The end to another very enjoyable day. Until next time.. Cheers all...Jake...