Last Train Monmouth-Chepstow Re-enactment.
Since the re-enactment, I've carried out driving turns at the Battlefield Line fairly frequently in 2019, using both steam and Diesel Multiple Units.
Before 'Pannier' 6430 left the railway, I had two days on the engine - Saturday, 16th February 2019 and Wednesday 20th February (described here).
Pannier Tank 6430: Being prepared at Shackerstone.
Once popular 'Light Prairie' 5542 returned to Shackerstone, that has provided the season's steam motive power. My turns on 31st March (Mothering Sunday), 22nd April (Bank Holiday Monday) and Sunday 28th April are described in the post here but further turns on Saturday 25th May, Sunday 2nd June, Sunday 16th June (Fathers' Day), Sunday 30th June and Sunday 21st July haven't produced separate reports.
5224 at the Battlefield Line.
Saturday 3rd August 2019
After driving the service trains during the day, I made two round trips to Shenton with the Fish and Chip Special. That day is described here.
The Driver's View (Battlefield Line: 3-Aug-2019)
Saturday 10th August 2019
Just a week after the Fish and Chip special, I was back on 5542, with Jamie as fireman. We both enjoyed the day.
Bank Holiday Monday 26 Aug 2019
The Bank Holiday weekend, which was also the Battlefield Line's Family Fun Weekend, proved very hot. I was rostered on Monday and and Sunday's driver had warned me to beware heat exhaustion. At short notice, Adrian was drafted in to fire and he was happy to fire all day. Before leaving the shed, oiling underneath was particularly difficult because of the amount of ash in the pit but once preparation was done I was a lot happier. It was hot when we were standing but, in motion, the moving air made things much better. Towards the end of the day we had some injector problems as the injector bodies warmed-up but we kept them going by running water through them them for a few seconds before opening the injector steam cock. We had a good day, with plenty of passengers.
Wednesday 28 Aug 2019
Two days later, I was back at the railway driving the midweek diesel railcar service.
DMU at Shackerstone MPD, seen during Daily Exam on 28th August 2019.
Sunday 8th September 2019
Another turn on 5542 with Stephen W. firing. My friend Mike S. from Peak Rail visited and fired a couple of round trips. The picture below shows the driver's view into the pit during oiling round when perched on the leading coupled axle.
Shackerstone, 2019: The joys of loco preparation.
Wednesday 11th September 2019
Three days later, I was back at the railway driving another midweek diesel railcar service.
Sunday 22nd Sep 2019
I'd been booked to drive 5542 on 22nd September but the previous day, 5542 had failed. A driver for the substitute DMU on the 22nd had already been found so I was not required.
Sunday 6th October 2019
It took a few days for the engineering staff to identify and rectify the fault on 5542. The problem which had eluded us for a while was found to be a leaking superheater element which finally revealed itself as the leak became aggravated. Following replacement of the superheater element the locomotive had performed had well on Saturday 5th October following repair so I was looking forward my shift on 5542 the next day. Unfortunately the "powers that be" didn't manage to find a fireman or let me know so I started lighting up, thinking the fireman was late. I couldn't raise anybody by phone so eventually I abandoned preparation of 5542 and instead prepared the diesel railcar as a substitute. We ran to the timetable without difficulty, of course, but I spent a fair while apologising to disappointed passengers.
Diesel substitution on Sunday, October 6th (Battlefield Line 2019)
Diesel Multiple Unit Operations
In addition to deputising for steam services on occasion, midweek services are normally scheduled to be operated by a diesel railcar. At present, that usually means half of a 2-car set coupled to a 1-car ('Bubble Car') whilst the other half of the 2-car set receives extensive 'Tender Loving Care' in the shed. This year, I've been rostered for midweek services on the following dates:-
Thursday 30th May, Wednesday 3rd July, Thursday 18th July, Wednesday 28th August, Wednesday 11th September, Wednesday 9th October.Although I've not added new DMU posts recently, you can find a list of earlier posts (with links) here.
50th Anniversary Steam Gala is coming...
In 2019 the Shackerstone Railway Society is celebrating 50 years since its founding. I've only been a member for around half of that time. To celebrate that event, the Society is organising a Steam Gala on the 19th, 20th and 21st October. In the booking hall at Shackerstone station, there's a photographic display charting the history of the line since preservation.
Part of the photographic display in the booking hall at Shackerstone for the 50th Anniversary (Battlefield Line 2019).
On Wednesday October 9th, the locomotive 7820 'Dinmore Manor' (less tender) arrived by specialist hauliers Reid Freight Services to take part in the Steam Gala.
7820 'Dinmore Manor' arriving at Shackerstone for the 50th Anniversary Steam Gala (Battlefield Line 2019).
Related posts on this website about 5542
Preparing 5542 (part 1).
Preparing 5542 (part 2)
There are also a number of other posts with technical content about working on 5542:-
GWR 'Light Prairie' 5542 (22-Aug-2010)
On the Footplate (5-Dec-2017)
Santa Specials at the Battlefield Line 2017 (19-Dec-2017)
5542 at the Battlefield Line (28-Aug-2018)
Battlefield Line 'Family Fun Weekend' (3-Sep-2018)
5542 at the Battlefield Line in 2019 (30-Jul-2019)
Fish and Chip Special (4-Aug-2019)
Other posts on this website about the Battlefield Line in 2019
Last Train Monmouth-Chepstow Re-enactment (1-Jan-2019).
'Pannier' 6430 at the Battlefield Line (16-Feb-2019, 20-Feb-2019)
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:-
6430 GWR Pannier Tank
5542 GWR Locomotive
Battlefield Line 2019
