Jan on 5542 on Friday 19th October 2019: 50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line (Photo: 'Pip')
The Society
In 1969 the Shackerstone Railway Society was set up by a group of enthusiasts. Early passenger operations took place on the single-line between Shackerstone and Market Bosworth which had been left in place by British Rail (the line had originally been double-track). In 1992, the single-line was extended to Shenton, along the original double-track trackbed. The railway is now marketed as 'The Battlefield Line' since the present southern terminus at Shenton Station is adjacent to the traditional (if historically inaccurate) site of the Battle of Bosworth.
The 2019 Steam Gala
In 2019 the Shackerstone Railway Society celebrated 50 years since its founding. I've only been a member for about half of that time. To mark the 50th Anniversary, the Society organised a Steam Gala on the 19th, 20th and 21st October 2019. Three steam locomotives were in use for the Gala - 'Light Prairie' 5542 which had been resident during the summer, 7820 'Dinmore Manor' on a very short visit and newly-restored 6989 'Wightwick Hall' which should remain until Christmas. In addition, full use was made of the resident preserved Diesel Multiple Units (DMU), currently operating as the single-unit 'Bubble Car' (55005) attached to the Driving Motor Brake car of the 2-car set (51321) whilst the other half of the 2-car set (51131) undergoes body repairs in the shed.
The arrival of 'Dinmore Manor'
Just prior to the Gala, on Wednesday October 9th, I happened to be the driver on the DMU for the normal Midweek Railcar Service and saw the arrival, by road, of locomotive 'Dinmore Manor' (less tender), courtesy of specialist hauliers Reid Freight Services.
7820 'Dinmore Manor' arriving at Shackerstone for the 50th Anniversary Steam Gala (Battlefield Line 2019).
Background
During the 2018 Steam Gala, 'Staff and Ticket' working was introduced between Shackerstone and Market Bosworth. There's a brief description of 'Staff and Ticket' working in the (Part 1) post below. In 2018, 'Staff and Ticket' working allowed a push-pull 'auto' train terminating at Market Bosworth to leave Shackerstone once the earlier service train to Shenton had passed Market Bosworth. The push-pull would then scuttle back to Shackerstone whilst the service train was returning from Shenton as far as the Stop Board approaching Market Bosworth. Once the push-pull had arrived back at Shackerstone, the service train could be allowed to pass the Stop Board at Market Bosworth and continue to Shackerstone. There's a description of how this worked out in my posts on the 2018 event:-
Battlefield Line Steam Gala 2018 (Part 1)The Anniversary Gala Steam/DMU 'Shuttles'
Battlefield Line Steam Gala 2018 (Part 2)
For the Anniversary Gala in 2019 we didn't have an 'Auto' coach but we did have a DMU. It's possible to 'top and tail' with a DMU coupled to a steam locomotive where the steam locomotive does the driving in one direction and the DMU in the other. I've described this method of working in the post Operation of Steam/Diesel Multiple Unit Services at the Battlefield Line. The Anniversary Gala timetable called for a regular Steam/DMU 'Shuttle' between Shackerstone and Market Bosworth, using Great Western 'Light Prairie' 5542, but using a different sequence of movements from the 2018 Gala.
Turnback Siding at Market Bosworth
During 2018, work had started on building a new passing loop at Market Bosworth which, when completed, will allow proper two-train working.
Market Bosworth in 2018: View from foot crossing looking north towards Shackerstone showing work in progress on the new passing loop.
By the time of the 2019 Gala, work on the new loop had proceeded sufficiently to provide a 'turnback siding' which could be used to 'recess' a Steam/DMU 'Shuttle'.
Market Bosworth in 2019: View from foot crossing looking south towards Shenton with the 'Prairie'/DMU Shuttle stabled in the Turnback Siding (50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line)
Since the point machines to operate the connections to the 'turnback siding' had not yet been installed, during the Anniversary Gala the points had to be manually operated locally before being clipped and locked in both the normal and reverse positions.
Detail of Clipped Trap Points on the Turnback Siding showing Left: point clip secured by a lock. The key for the lock is attached to the single line staff for the Shackerstone-Market Bosworth section; Centre: dual point stretcher bars; Right: extended point timbers to carry a point machine. (50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line)
Format of Services during the Anniversary Gala
In general, each service train to Shenton, hauled by one of the tender engines, left Platform 2 at Shackerstone and, once clear of Market Bosworth, the 'Shuttle' left Platform 1 at Shackerstone and followed to Market Bosworth, where it unloaded its passengers in the platform and then carefully moved through the new crossover into the 'turnback siding'. It was then 'shut in' until the service train returned from Shenton, after which it was 'turned out' to pick up passengers from Market Bosworth station. When the service train had arrived at Shackerstone and 'cleared' the Single Line Section, the 'Shuttle' was allowed to return to Shackerstone. This format required the use of 'Staff and Ticket' working referred to in 'Background' above.
Operations at Shackerstone
In the post Santa Specials at the Battlefield Line 2017 I commented "The rather cramped track layout at Shackerstone requires careful choreography to manage two trains".
Shackerstone track diagram. North is to the left on this sketch.
Each time the service train arrived back at Shackerstone, the tender engine uncoupled and moved to the north end to wait whilst the other tender engine shunted to the head of the train, ready for the next Shenton departure. Thus, the motive power on the Shenton train alternated between 'Dinmore Manor' and 'Whitwick Hall'. Once this shunt was complete, the Steam/DMU 'Shuttle' could be allowed back into Platform 1.
An atmospheric black-and-white shot, showing 'Dinmore Manor arriving back at Shackerstone, with 'Whitwick Hall' ready to come 'off-shed' to take the next departure for Shenton at the 50th Anniversary Gala (Photo: 'Pip')
Friday 19th October
I was rostered to drive 5542 on the first day of the Gala, Friday 19th October. On my arrival, the fireman and cleaner had already lit-up. I was a bit worried by the large fire they'd 'set' since we were only going as far as Market Bosworth with a featherweight train (the 2-car DMU) and would be doing a lot of standing around. I'm afraid the engine had started to blow-off fiercely before we had even moved out of the shed, to the annoyance of the crews preparing the two tender engines. 5542 continued to blow off, almost continuously, for the next hour or so.
We'd not been able to fill the side tanks at Shackerstone but I judged that we carried enough water to do one or perhaps two round trips to Market Bosworth, so we completed our first round trip to Market Bosworth successfully (apart from the irritation of the discharging safety valves). There's a fire hose connection at the south end of platform 1 and we found that this would deliver around 300 gallons in about 15 minutes. Since the trip to Market Bosworth had used about 300 gallons, I was reassured that, if necessary, we could keep going without visiting the water column on platform 2. Water supplies are always uppermost in the mind of steam locomotive footplate crews. I talked about this in the section 'Locomotive Water Supplies' of the post here and described the various methods of storing water on engines here.
5542 and 2-car DMU 'recessed' in the 'turnback siding' at Market Bosworth (50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line)
Dinmore Manor' running tender first approaches Market Bosworth with a Down train, having been 'called by' the Stop Board (far left) with a Yellow Flag from the Person In Charge. The 'Prairie'/DMU Shuttle in the Turnback Siding waits for the road back to Shackerstone (50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line)
Market Bosworth station with all eyes on the approaching Down train, which has been 'called by' the Stop Board with a Yellow Flag by the Person In Charge, seen holding the now-furled flag (50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line)
Then, on our second trip to Market Bosworth, the boiler pressure collapsed so dramatically that I had to 'nurse' the train for the last mile to Market Bosworth, with the brakes starting to drag. The fireman's attempts to remedy the situation whilst we unloaded the passengers were not successful and, when we received the 'tip' to move into the 'turnback siding', there was insufficient boiler pressure for the ejector to release the vacuum brakes. A rather grumpy driver picked up the shovel and set about improving matters so as to allow us to move clear of the single line before the service train returned from Shenton. I'm glad to report that the fireman kept the boiler in a satisfactory condition thereafter.
Once back at Shackerstone, we used the fire hose to replenish our water tanks but, later in the day, we shunted our whole train (steam locomotive plus DMU) across to platform 2 to fill the tanks from the water column. Overall, a very enjoyable day.
Sunday 21st October
Although I'd been rostered for the Sunday, a change in the roster meant I became 'spare'. I had a couple of round trips riding on the footplate of 'Dinmore Manor', ostensibly mentoring a very promising young fireman, then later in the day, I did a bit of DMU driving on the Steam/DMU 'Shuttle'. This was an interesting contrast with driving 'the other end' on Friday. Otherwise, I was able to actually chat with some of our volunteers and look at the 'Other attractions'.
Other attractions
Refreshments were available in the Victorian Tea Room at Shackerstone, the station buffet at Market Bosworth, the goods shed buffet at Market Bosworth, the station buffet at Shenton and in the Buffet Car on the service train.
Gifts and souvenirs were offered by the Station Fund Stall and the Platform 2 shop at Shackerstone, where the Museum was also open and there were displays charting the history of the line since preservation in the booking hall.
Part of the photographic display in the booking hall at Shackerstone for the 50th Anniversary (Battlefield Line 2019).
The Goods Shed at Market Bosworth had further attractions: the LMS 'Patriot' Project had a sales stall and the Gauge 1 Society displayed their layout featuring live-steam radio-controlled models.
The Gauge 1 Society displayed their layout in the Goods Shed at Market Bosworth (50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line)
The Gauge 1 Society displayed their layout in the Goods Shed at Market Bosworth, including this 'Bury' L&B 0-4-0 featuring 3D printed parts (50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line)
Other posts on this website about the Battlefield Line
To see all my posts about the Battlefield Line, select Label 'Battlefield Line' or click here.
To see all posts with Mutual Improvement Class content, select label 'MIC'or click here or look at the index at Mutual Improvement Classes (2).
My photograph albums
Where necessary, clicking on an image above will display an 'uncropped' view.
50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line
To see all my Battlefield Line pictures, click here.
Related posts on other websites
5542 'Light Prairie'.
7820 'Dinmore Manor' Locomotive Limited.
6989 'Wightwick Hall'.
Other posts on this website about the Battlefield Line
To see all my posts about the Battlefield Line, select Label 'Battlefield Line' or click here.
To see all posts with Mutual Improvement Class content, select label 'MIC'or click here or look at the index at Mutual Improvement Classes (2).
My photograph albums
Where necessary, clicking on an image above will display an 'uncropped' view or, alternately, pictures may be selected, viewed or downloaded, in various sizes, from the album listed:-
50th Anniversary Gala at the Battlefield Line
To see all my Battlefield Line pictures, click here.
