Day out with Thomas: 2009

Children help the Conductor to fill buckets of 'Special Water' for 'Thomas's' side tanks as Sam stands ready.

The Battlefield Line normally run 'Thomas and Friends' events on a number of weekends during the year. I've written about these before and you can find all the posts (including this one) here.

June 'Thomas' events

In June 2009, 'Thomas' appeared on the 6th, 7th, 13th and 14th. I wasn't rostered on a steam locomotive on these dates but I did get a footplate ride on 'Thomas'(a Butterley 'Jinty' on this occasion). I did have a day "Driving Miss Daisy", the 2-car DMU (pictures). The 'Thomas and Daisy Shuttles' where 'Thomas' is attached to 'Daisy' for a short trip up the running line have become very popular, so most of the DMU trips were like this, with 'Daisy' providing power from Shackerstone to Headley's Crossing and 'Thomas' bringing the train back. One entry fee lets the public take advantage of all the attractions and a ride with 'Thomas' is always appreciated. Since 'Thomas' spends a lot of the day in the station taking part in races, playlets or simply being admired, another locomotive hauls most of the service trains to Shenton. This year, that's the immaculate 'Mayflower' (pictures).

The 'Thomas and Daisy Shuttles' give everybody a chance to have a short ride behind 'Thomas' and make best use of the railway infrastructure. 'Daisy' and 'Thomas' are coupled together in Platform 1 and load passengers so that, as soon as 'Mayflower' arrives in Platform 2 with the service train from Shenton, they can depart into the recently-vacated single line section for a journey of about a mile. Any other locomotives have to move out of platform 1 so that 'Mayflower' can run round, ready for the next Shenton departure. By the time 'Thomas' has brought the 'Thomas and Daisy Shuttle' back to Shackerstone, 'Mayflower' should have run round, leaving Platform 1 clear for the arriving shuttle. The departure of 'Mayflower' is intentionally delayed to give time for passengers from the 'Thomas and Daisy Shuttle' to cross over the bridge and join the train for Shenton. 'Thomas' uncouples from 'Daisy' and is ready for more fun and games in the station whilst 'Daisy' shunts into the DMU siding to await the next shuttle service. All this requires smart working from the operating staff involved.

Working the Shuttle

'Thomas' is vacuum-braked for working passenger trains and the 'Modernisation' DMU were also fitted with vacuum brakes, so it's possible to work 'Thomas' coupled to the DMU with braking controlled from the leading vehicle. The DMU were designed for intensive stopping services with frequent station stops, so they are provided with a special 'high speed' vacuum brake where a second pipe runs down the train to enable vacuum to be re-created quickly, even when a number of units are being worked in multiple. When coupling 'Daisy' to 'Thomas', the shunter has to remember that the vacuum hose on the DMU with the red-painted coupling is the vacuum brake which is coupled to 'Thomas'. The other (blue) coupling remains on the stopper.

When 'Daisy' is leading, the driver on 'Thomas' shuts off the steam supply to the vacuum ejector and the brake application valve is placed in the 'Running' position so that 'Daisy's' driver has control of the brakes. 'Daisy' is driven normally, with the vacuum created by the exhausters, and 'Thomas' is just 'tail traffic'.

At Headley's Crossing, 'Daisy's' driver shuts down the cab and moves to the other end of the train. The cab next to 'Thomas' is opened up and the vacuum brake application valve is placed in the 'Lap' position. The DMU driver also needs to activate the 'Deadmans' device, otherwise 'Thomas' is unable to create vacuum. The DMU is normally placed in 4th gear with the engines left idling. 'Thomas' is then able to haul the DMU back to Shackerstone as if it were hauling normal coaches.

October 'Thomas' events

In October 2009, 'Thomas' appeared on the 10th, 11th, 17th, 18th and 19th. I was on 'Thomas' on the first two days, then on 'Daisy' on the third day. This time, 'Thomas' was the 'Hunslet' we'd used in 2008 (pictures). Since then, 'Thomas' has had his wheels re-tyred and now makes a faint 'whirring' when in motion, like a small electric motor. The engine steams well and pulls well. In addition to the normal 'Thomas and Daisy Shuttles', the races (against a diesel electric) and the playlets, 'Thomas' took the first and last service trains to Shenton. The last train is 'Tea with Thomas' and a childrens' meal is served on the journey, so 'Thomas' has to be on his best behaviour not to jerk the train whilst the children are enjoying their teatime. 'Fergus' was also in steam, pottering around the station at Shackerstone (pictures). There were lots of other activities including Face Painting, Model Railways, Balloon Modelling and a Children's Entertainer. The weather was generally kind, attendance was quite good and I think everybody had a good time. A few pictures of the October event are here.

STRail Corporate Day at Peak Rail

STRail are a manufacturer of sectional, moulded panels used to provide a road surface at level crossings. Production is in Germany but the system is actively marketed in the U.K. (see U.K. Website). STRail held one of their Workshops at Peak Rail on 7-Oct-2009.

Derek and Jan were rostered as the '8F' loco crew and since the engine was required for 9:00 a.m. this meant an early start. After attaching the stock, we went 'Empty Stock' to Matlock Riverside and ran round, ready to pick up those STRail guests who'd travelled to Matlock by train from Derby. These passengers alighted at Darley Dale for the short walk to the Whitworth Centre for presentations by STRail. The '8F' carried on to Rowsley and ran round again, ready for the next trip.

Returning to Darley Dale, we picked up all the delegates who were then served lunch as the train moved through the Derbyshire Countryside. After two round trips of the line, the guests were suitably 'fed and watered' and alighted at Rowsley.

At the north end of the loop line, STRail had set up demonstration panels of the various level crossing solutions they manufacture so that the delegates could receive practical instruction in installing the equipment.

Two impressive SRS Rail System road/rail work vehicles were also in attendance near the STRail demonstration panels. Swedish Rail Systems (SRS) produced their first design in 1976 and the U.K. website gives details of the current range.

The delegates then returned to the train for coffee and biscuits while Derek and I moved the '8F' to the south end of the train for our final trip. At Darley Dale, delegates with cars left us and we carried on to Matlock Riverside where the remaining delegates left us to catch the diesel service to Derby. A final run round and a romp up the bank brought us back to Rowsley. We uncoupled from the stock and took the locomotive back to the outside pit for disposal. The weather had been kind, the locomotive had performed flawlessly and I think the day was judged a success by everybody involved.

I took a few pictures - they are here. I also took 'technical' shots of the '8F' which I've added to the collection here.