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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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