Ivor: The best laid plans...

'Dai Station' reads the local paper's report on 'Ivor'.

In my previous 'Ivor' post in 2008, I described how we spent the day giving shuttle rides with one car of the 2-car diesel railcar. A similar operation was planned for the following Saturday, 23rd August, but plans don't always work out as intended.

This time, I was 'marked' as driver on the Diesel Multiple Unit (back to a two-car formation with the brakes repaired). Preparing the DMU for service isn't quite as simple as 'turn the key and go' but it's much quicker than on steam, so I had the luxury of signing-on around 08:30, instead of a couple of hours earlier for steam. Before running passenger trains, an inspection run is normally carried out along the length of the line, visually checking that the track and route is safe. My arrival time allowed for the DMU to carry out this inspection.

'Mayflower' was to operate the service train. On arrival at the shed I found the '02' diesel mechanical shunter next to 'Yvonne' not in steam, then 'Ivor', wreathed in smoke and finally 'Mayflower', with its crew completing preparation. There was no driver present for 'Ivor' and the trainee fireman had 'blacked-out' the fire so as to produce plenty of acrid smoke but not a lot of heat. So my thought of having a nice, clean day went out of the window as we set about improving matters in Ivor's firebox. It was clearly going to be some time before 'Ivor' would be in steam, so I made my way to the DMU siding to get the 2-car unit ready. Gerald said that the '02' would not start and I knew that, if the worst came to the worst, we could shunt with the DMU. However, Gerald had located a battery charger, allowing the '02' to be put on charge for a while. Eventually, the '02' started-up so I moved the DMU to the north end of platform 1. This allowed the '02' to drag 'Yvonne', 'Ivor' and 'Mayflower' into the south end of platform 1. 'Mayflower' was uncoupled and made her way to platform 2, ready to take the first Shenton service at 10:55. The '02' propelled 'Yvonne' and 'Ivor' to the outside pit. 'Ivor' was still struggling to make steam but I had to leave again to make the inspection run to Shenton with the DMU. On my return, 'Ivor' was 'off the mark' but steam pressure was rising only slowly. It had been suggested that the smoke tubes were blocked and, although I was dubious, we carried out a quick 'tubing', after the '02' had returned to the shed road with 'Yvonne'. The 'tubing' dislodged very little soot but, at long last, we had a decent, bright fire and pressure started to rise.

Now it was time to "oil-round" 'Ivor'. Most of this was carried out by the trainee under instruction as, once 'Mayflower' returned from Shenton, I was scheduled to take the DMU on a shuttle trip up the line to Headley's Crossing. After the shuttle trip, the DMU was 'stabled' in platform 1 and I returned to a much happier 'Ivor'. Once the second Shenton service had left, 'Ivor' was able to move into platform 1, where all available hands made the locomotive a bit more presentable. Before 'Mayflower' returned, 'Ivor' had to be parked out of the way, allowing 'Mayflower' to run round whilst the DMU was on its second shuttle trip to Headley's.

So, for the rest of the day, this pattern repeated, with the DMU dashing up to Headley's each time 'Mayflower' arrived back and 'Ivor' standing in the platform (or steaming up and down the platform) but moving out of platform 1 when 'Mayflower' returned. When 'out of the way' was the north end sidings, the coal bunker on 'Ivor' was replenished. There was a variation when the service train arrived back after the fourth trip. This time, the DMU had been positioned in platform 2 so that 'Mayflower' could arrive in platform 1. Once the DMU had disappeared up the line on the fourth (and last) shuttle, 'Mayflower' could run round, pausing at the water column at the south end of platform 2 to take water. Whilst 'Mayflower' was down the line on the fifth run, the DMU was disposed in the DMU siding. Finally, 'Ivor' made a final appearance in platform 1 before heading for the outside pit for disposal. Disposal of a steam locomotive is always rather hot and dirty work, particuarly at the end of a shift when everyone is getting tired. Once the job was done, it only remained for the '02' (still coupled to 'Yvonne') to pick up 'Ivor' and put 'Yvonne' and 'Ivor' in the shed for the night. The '02' was stabled just outside the shed.

After working on 'Ivor' and the DMU on Saturday, I was happy to have a day off on Sunday. But I was 'marked' as DMU driver again on Bank Holiday Monday, 25th August. The weather was kind and we had lots of visitors. This time, 'Ivor' had a driver, so I was able to stick to my rostered 'diagram', doing a line inspection trip and four Shuttles to Headley's Crossing, coupled to 'Ivor', who pulled the train back to Shackerstone each time.

My pictures in 2008 of 'Ivor'.

My post on the 2007 'Ivor' events.

Ivor the Engine: 2008

Rob, Sam, Andy and Dai Station chatting before the shuttle departs.

Following a succesful visit to the Battlefield Line in July and August 2007 (See post), 'Ivor the Engine' returned to Shackerstone in August 2008.

Out of the two famous engines, 'Ivor' and 'Thomas', it must be admitted that 'Thomas' is the better-known locomotive. Thomas's originator, the Reverend Awdry, sold the rights to Britt Allcroft, who developed the 'Thomas' television programmes and a range of tie-in products. Having created a successful international 'brand', the rights were disposed of to Hit International, which zealously guards its investment. Licenses issued to preserved railways to operate Thomas Events involve significant costs to the railway and require compliance with arduous and detailed conditions. I can't help wondering what the Reverend Awdry would make of the commercial empire his stories have spawned. In contrast, 'Ivor the Engine' remains a rather more innocent creation. Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate produced a series of relatively unsophisticated but charming animated stories for television which still have appeal.

The idea of creating a real, working steam locomotive with the rather improbable outline of the original animated 'Ivor' is delightful. Steve, the owner of the working 'Ivor', has succeeded admirably in implementing the idea. So, purist that I am in most matters of railway restoration, I was nevertheless happy to have an opportunity to drive 'Ivor' again.

On Sunday, 17th August Sam and I prepared the locomotive and trundled down to the station nice and early. This left the inspection pit free for 'Sir Gomer' to use. 'Sir Gomer' was to operate the 5-coach service train during the day. Willing as 'Ivor' is, handling the service train is a little beyond his capabilities. But 'Ivor' was allowed to operate a one-coach diesel shuttle during the day.

Normally, 'Ivor' would have been coupled to the 2-car Diesel Multiple Unit, but there was a problem with the brake cylinders on the one coach. So, when Rob the DMU driver arrived, 'Ivor' helped out with shunting the defective coach to the siding for repair. Then 'Ivor' was coupled to the good DMU coach and stood in platform 1 to await passengers. Each time 'Sir Gomer' arrived in platform 2 with the train from Shenton, Rob took the train to Hedley's Crossing, about a mile out of Shackerstone, with 'Ivor' being pulled backwards. Then it was the turn of 'Ivor' to do some work and pull the coach back to Shackerstone. Meanwhile, 'Sir Gomer' had run round the train and was ready to set off for Shenton.

On our last trip of the day, 'Dai Station' accompanied us on the footplate of 'Ivor' and you can watch his splendid video by clicking below.

To see more still pictures of Ivor's visit, Click Here.

Hotels of the World

It's never been so easy to travel, for which many of us are grateful. But I can't help feeling that a certain elegance and excitement that attended travel in the past has been lost. Wouldn't you have liked to do the 'Grand Tour', learning about the past glories of Europe? Or, more recently, travelled on the great liners, staying in a succession of classic hotels? Perhaps I'm just a romantic. Certainly, these pleasures were restricted to a much smaller group of people than today.

When I'm on one of my jaunts, I try to seek out Hotels with a bit of history so as to learn a little about what travel once represented, before all remnants of the past are eliminated in the uniformity of modernity. My collection of photographs is fairly undiscriminating, and I've included a number of unremittingly modern hotels, but my preference is always for somewhere with a little history attached.

Bristol Hotel, Panama City, Panama: This is a modern hotel with fairly classic styling situated in the hotel district of downtown Panama City. The staff are friendly and helpful. Pictures

Santa Isabel Hotel, Havana, Cuba: The Santa Isabel is a long-established hotel in a Spanish-style building, overlooking the Plaza des Armas and a few minutes from Havana Bay. Many of the original fittings have been retained, giving a genteel charm which, combined with the friendly service, gave me an enjoyable (if brief) stay. Pictures

Iberostar Grand Hotel, Trinidad, Cuba: The building, in Spanish Colonial style, has been thoroughly modernised and is an excellent base for exploring Trinidad and the surrounding area. Pictures

Saratoga Hotel, Havana, Cuba: The Saratoga Hotel is a 'classic' hotel with a city centre location adjacent to the Capitol and Parque Central. It has been extensively modernised and has a rooftop open-air swimming pool and cafe commanding stunning views of the city. Pictures

Mayaland, Chichen Itsa, Yukatan, Mexico: The Hacienda which included the Chichen Itza site has been developed into three resort hotels. 'Mayaland' adjoins the World Heritage Site and has a private entrance to the site. Pictures

The Wynn, Las Vegas: A large Casino with Golf Course, Theatres, Restaurants and accommodation attached. Pictures

Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand: I spent one night at the Shangri-La in March 2008, en route from Yangon (Myanmar) to Las Vegas. I'd stayed there once before (Round The World One, I think). Pictures

Trader's Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar: Trader's Hotel in Yangon, Myanmar is housed in one of the relatively few high rise buildings in the city. Pictures

Strand Hotel, Yangon, Myanmar: The Strand is the famous hotel established by two Armenian brothers, the Sarkies, in what was then known as Rangoon. Pictures

Park Hyatt, Tokyo: The Park Hyatt is a modern hotel in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo. Pictures

Iwaso Ryokan, Miyajima, Japan: The Iwaso is a Japanese-style hotel ('ryokan') with a long history. I was able to stay in one of the 'cottages' adjacent to the main buildings. Pictures

The Brighton Hotel, Kyoto, Japan: A modern hotel in a quiet part of Kyoto, near the Palace. Pictures

Marriott Hotel, Nagoya, Japan: A modern, well-appointed hotel in a tower block above Nagoya railway station offering excellent service. Pictures

Imperial Hotel, Tokyo, Japan: This is the second building occupied by this classic hotel, preserving its reputation for excellent service. The Reception of the original building is preserved at Meiji Mura building museum! Pictures

Duxton Hotel, Perth, Western Australia: Modern but friendly, like much of the city it serves. Pictures

Heritage Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand: The former Farmer's Department Store has been fairly sensitively converted into a comfortable and friendly hotel near the centre of the city. Pictures

Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York: A classic hotel now in its second building. Pictures

Imperial Hotel, New Delhi: Nowhere is more evocative of the British Rule in India than this elegant 1920s hotel. Pictures

Cecil Hotel, Shimla, India: Another 'classic' hotel, originally favoured by the British in India, recently refurbished by the present owners, the Oberoi Group. Pictures

Heritage Hotel, Christchurch, New Zealand: Most of the accommodation is in the well-appointed but characterless new building. However, the hotel incorporates the Old Courthouse building, somewhat better. Pictures

Glenfern Villas, Franz Josef, New Zealand: The long-distance bus from Greymouth will deliver you to these well-appointed self-catering villas, a couple of miles North of Franz Josef itself. Pictures

Mena House, Giza, Egypt: Who could resist a hotel room with a view of the Pyramids at Giza? The old part of the hotel is a former palace with an impressive list of past guests. The modern enlargement of the hotel is less satisfactory. Pictures

Raffles Hotel, Singapore: Traditional hospitality, Singapore Slings, Afternoon Tiffin and "I'll see you again" played at 8.00pm. A treasure, indeed. Pictures

Windsor Hotel, Melbourne, Australia: Facilities excellent, helpful staff, and a bit of history - my kind of hotel. Pictures

Radisson Hotel, Tahiti: The facilities were good but I'm afraid I didn't feel as welcome here as some places. Could it be the French management? Pictures

Hotel San Francisco, Quito, Ecuador: A fairly sensitive conversion and extension, preserving the facade and many Spanish Colonial features. Pictures

Hotel Casa Vieja, Mexico City: A boutique hotel which really seemed like home-from-home. Pictures

Lake Palace Hotel, Udaipur, India: This gets my award for the Most Romantic Hotel in the World. Excellent accommodation, friendly staff. The marble-clad hotel, originally built as a summer palace, occupies a small island on an artificial lake, appearing to float on the water. Outstanding. You may remember it from the James Bond film 'Octopussy', with Roger Moore. Pictures

Oriental, Bangkok: A classic hotel with a distinguished history. Pictures

Copacobana Palace, Rio de Janeiro: One of the world's classic hotels and the first hotel to be built on Rio's Copacabana Beach. Pictures

Anantara Resort, Golden Triangle, Thailand: The one where I did my Mahout elephant course. Pictures

Luangsay Lodge, Pakbeng, Laos: An overnight stay on my cruise down the Mekong in Laos. Pictures

La Residence, Louang Prabang, Laos: An Orient Express hotel set on a hillside a few minutes drive from downtown Luang Prabang. Pictures

Settha Palace Hotel, Vientiane, Laos: A pleasant two-storey hotel right in the city. Pictures

I haven't included links to the individual hotel websites, but you should be able to find them easily. Many sites include fairly eleborate photographs or virtual tours. My list of hotels will be expanded as I deal with the backlog of photographs and also, hopefully, as I continue to travel!

You can browse all my hotel pictures by going to the Hotels of the World Collection Page.

Jean Martyn Organathon

What is an 'Organathon'? It's an organ marathon. Brewood Parish Church, Saint Mary and Saint Chad, has an electrically-operated pipe organ which is in need of major maintenance. A fund-raising programme is currently under way. As part of this programme, the Church's Director of Music, Jean Martyn, performed a 12-hour organ marathon on Thursday 14th August 2008. She played both the church organ and her own electronic organ which she uses for commercial concerts at various venues around the country.

The Organathon was divided into different music styles:- Big Band Era, Childrens' Hour, Classical, 60s Juke Box Jury, Music from the Movies, Ivor Novello and Opera, Classic FM, Music of the 20s-30s-40s, Requests and Dedications, Blackpool, Favourites, Grand Finale Concert. There was a wonderful atmosphere in the church with plenty of audience partcipation on the familiar numbers. Refreshments were provided so that visitors were able to stay for as long as they were able and children were welcome.

The video clip below shows Jean Martyn playing 'Oh I do like to be beside the seaside' on the church organ. Everybody rated the day a great success and thanks are due to all those involved in the organisation of this unusual event, particularly to Jean Martyn herself, who demonstrated not only her musicianship but also her stamina!

Peak Rail 1940s Weekend: 2008

The Peak Rail 1940s Weekend has become a very important feature of the year. Not everybody is in favour of re-creating scenes from wartime. My own view is that the educational benefits to people like me, who didn't experience the Second World War first hand, justifies the attempt.

This year, just a few days before the event, the coaching stock suffered a graffiti attack, the second such attack this year (see report), creating even more work in the already-major build-up to the weekend.

The poster above shows all the attractions but, since I was the driver on Sunday 3rd August, I saw very little of these other activities. An intensive service of seven round trips during the day left the loco crew with little free time. The battle re-enactment was deliberately scheduled to occur when the passenger train was safely out of the way 'down the line'. Peak Rail stalwart 'Royal Pioneer' (click for lots of detail pictures of this locomotive) was to work the service train throughout the day. Because of the heavy expected loading on this weekend, we were to run with a seven-coach train (the maximum that the run-round loop at Matlock Riverside can accommodate). Arrival at 7.45 a.m. gave me time to 'oil round' and examine the engine, so as to be ready to come off shed at 9.30 a.m., although the morning fireman, Robin, had to make an earlier start to prepare the fire. We travelled 'light engine' to Rowsley to pick up the stock and were ready to leave with the first 'Up' service at 10.15 a.m. A stop was made at Darley Dale in the 'Up' direction but all 'Down' trains ran through non-stop. We ran very close to right time all day. At lunchtime, Robin was relieved by Chris, who fired during the afternoon.

Jan models the ubiquitous 'tin helmet' - rather heavy and uncomfortable after a while. It's sobering to consider the privations that civilians, let alone service personnel, endured during the war. Uncomfortable protective equipment was the least of the problems. Because of food rationing, many people were permanently hungry but were still required to work long hours. Additional work, like Fire Watching, was commonplace. Because of air raids, there was the continual worry of eventually returning home to find your house destroyed and family injured or dead. All this, on top of families being torn apart to provide the fighting forces overseas and left with only sparse and intermittent communications.

Chris, who was fireman in the afternoon, wearing a respirator similar to those issued to railwaymen. It was thought that there was a real risk of gas attack and the civilian population was issued with a simple design of gas mask. Servicemen and workers like railwaymen were provided with a slightly more sophisicated form of protection. Imagine the problems of carrying out your duties encumbered like this. In the event, gas was not used - fortunate, as the effectiveness of the respirators, particularly the civilian version, has been seriously questioned.

It was a satisfying day, but I always find the war weekends very thought-provoking (as, indeed, they should be).

I took a few pictures. Click to view them.

In 2007, I took a few pictures of the battle re-enactment. Click to view them.

There are more pictures from the 2006 event. Click to view them.

Day Out With Thomas 2008

The 'Day Out With Thomas' events at the Battlefield Line form an important part of the railway calendar. On the 13th and 19th July, I was booked as the Driver on 'Thomas'. He was a little poorly, some concern having been raised about the condition of his springs, so he was generally confined to pottering about the station at Shackerstone and being admired by all the children. An extension to the whistle chain allowed children to actually sound Thomas's whistle from the safety of the platform! This was very popular (except with the loco crew).

From time to time, there were little 'playlets'. In one, Thomas appears to be poorly until the Conductor uses a fishing rod to catch and remove a fish from his water tank. Thomas cheers up considerably after the removal of the fish (no letters of protest, please - real fish are not used). In another playlet, children bring real water in small plastic buckets to fill Thomas's tank. The enthusiasm of the children is wonderful to watch, although the conclusion is usually that the unfortunate loco crew get water thrown at them.

There were also 'Races', with two locomotives running parallel along platforms 1 and 2 (whilst the main train was safely out of the way down the line). Both 'Fast Races' and 'Slow Races' were undertaken, involving 'Thomas', 'Percy' (a.k.a. 'Sir Gomer') and 'Yvonne' (the Cockerill Tram Engine). At other times during the day, 'Fergus' (the Aveling Barford) clanged up and down giving brake van rides.

The first and last trains of the day to Shenton were hauled by a Class 47 (I'm not sure what part of the 'Thomas' Canon that represented) and 'Mayflower' (as the 'Big Green Engine') handled the other departures.

In addition to all this activity, 'Daisy' the Diesel Multiple Unit was giving passenger shuttle rides from Shackerstone to Hedley's Crossing and back (a round trip of about two miles). On the 19th of July, it was agreed that 'Thomas' could accompany 'Daisy' on one of her shuttle trips. 'Thomas' was 'tied on' and 'Daisy' hauled 'Thomas' down to Hedley's Crossing. 'Thomas' then pulled 'Daisy' back to Shackerstone, greatly enjoying the opportunity to do some useful work.

I was booked on again on the 20th July, this time as the driver on 'Daisy'. On some of the shuttle trips, the 2-car DMU was filled to capacity and we had to turn people away.

The July events had been advertised on television to try to improve the numbers attending - there certainly seemed to be lots of people there. All the visitors I spoke to thought the event good value, with a ride on the main train, a brake van ride, a trip on 'Daisy', engine races, playlets, face painting and a 'Thomas' bouncy castle all included in the ticket price.

Pictures of 'Day out with Thomas'.

Detailed pictures of the locomotives:

'Thomas'
'Fergus'
'Mayflower'
'Daisy'

'Percy'
'Yvonne'

Graffiti

In June 2008, Peak Rail's normal passenger rake was the target of graffiti 'artists'. To enable the vehicles to be returned to service (Peak Rail does not enjoy the luxury of a spare rake of coaches), the graffiti has been removed professionally, but the necessarily aggressive nature of the cleaning process has resulted in large areas now showing the original blue British Railways livery. It will cost over £25,000 to reinstate the lined-out maroon preservation liveries.

Tragically, there has been a second attack, at the end of July, just before the popular 'Warring Forties' weekend. Apparently, the same 'Tag' was used in both attacks.

It's hard not to become dispirited or angry at the wanton destruction of an attempt to preserve the past so as to inform the future. It would appear that 'the future', as represented by the vandals responsible for the damage, have no interest in the past. A gloomy prospect for us all.

The police are seeking any information which would allow them to identify the miscreants - call 0845 123 33 33.

Peak Rail's Pictures of damage.