What have you done today
- Thread starter Mad4slalom
- Start date
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
Yesterday took the child out to see his first steam engine at the West Somerset Railway Christmas Market on the Minehead station. All quite nice, and coincidentally it was 7828 Odney Manor that was in the station for a while doing its thing when we were there - this is the engine I drove on the steam engine training course earlier this year. So it was nice to show the child the loco that daddy drove.
No pictures, because I don't agree with putting baby photos all over the internet.
No pictures, because I don't agree with putting baby photos all over the internet.
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Good on yer CaptainK , teach `em young to get into steam locos 
.
I really enjoyed all the years I worked on Santa Specials on the Severn Valley Railway both as fireman and then as driver . Great atmosphere with families and kids all excited by a trip on a steam hauled train to see Santa . The stations all illuminated and carols playing . The kids loved being invited onto the footplate to see the fire and pull the whistle . Roasting chestnuts on the rim of the fire hole whilst stationary in the platform was fun . 
Contrary to popular belief it could be chuffin chilly rattling along on the footplate when we had a `White Christmas` I was a project coordinator on the 9 year rebuild of soul surviving Ivatt Class 4 loco 43106 , so it was always a treat when I was rostered to drive it .
. I really enjoyed all the years I worked on Santa Specials on the Severn Valley Railway both as fireman and then as driver . Great atmosphere with families and kids all excited by a trip on a steam hauled train to see Santa . The stations all illuminated and carols playing . The kids loved being invited onto the footplate to see the fire and pull the whistle . Roasting chestnuts on the rim of the fire hole whilst stationary in the platform was fun . Contrary to popular belief it could be chuffin chilly rattling along on the footplate when we had a `White Christmas` I was a project coordinator on the 9 year rebuild of soul surviving Ivatt Class 4 loco 43106 , so it was always a treat when I was rostered to drive it .
CaptainK
CCCUK Member
That is a wonderful winter scene with the loco. Nice. And yeah, getting the child into steam early - he's only 4 weeks old, and seemed to be interested in looking at the steam locos. So fingers crossed for the future with him.Good on yer CaptainK , teach `em young to get into steam locos
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
So much to look forward to with little man .
I often found that small children were either totally fascinated by steam locos or absolutely terrified !
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Called in on the guys at Williams Brothers Speed Shop today to have a chat about having some work done on the C3 in the New Year . Always good to have a catch up with them and drool over what they are working on . Currently very busy and the premises was full . A beautiful 1967 Dodge Challenger stood out along with a Pro Street `57 Chevy , a `67 silhouette Plymouth Barracuda `Funny Car` plus several Street Rods and humungous American pick up trucks . Must be sure to have my camera handy next time !
Mr. Cricket
Committee Member
Spent too much time on the Jaguar thread
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Definitely ! It`s making my brain hurt now .
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Grabbed my self another dose of nostalgia today by going to one of my local old trainspotting locations as a boy to see Royal Scot Class loco 46100 ` Royal Scot ` coming powering through on the West Coast Mainline with the empty coaches from Southall Depot in West London back to Crewe . Unfortunately the cold clear morning had given way to a dull and dismal damp afternoon by the time it passed Ashton in Northamptonshire . Still an impressive sight though going well with the syncopated exhaust roar of a 3 cylinder loco being worked hard . Pure vintage late 1950`s early 1960`s nostalgia with period liveried ` Blood & Custard ` carriages and sporting `The Irish Mail `headboard recalling the days when Royal Scot class locos regularly hauled that express from London Euston to Holiday to connect with the Mail & Steamers sailing to Ireland . I well recall watching them pass by in the `good old days ` !
46100 has been busy over the last three days as it came south from Crewe via Northampton to Southall with the empty coaches on Monday , hauled a Private Charter train from London Victoria to Canterbury yesterday , the returned home to Crewe today. `Royal Scot ` was the pioneer of a class of 70 such locos built , the majority all named after British Army Regiments . Built in 1927 at North British Locomotive Works in Glasgow its claim to fame was being shipped to the USA in 1930 to take part in the `Century of Progress Exposition ` where it covered a total of 11,194 miles on the railroads of North America and carries the name plate to this day that records this feat . It is recorded that the American`s were amazed that such a small locomotive ( by their standards ) was so powerful hauling trains through the Rockies etc . In 1950 the entire class was rebuilt at Crewe Works with more modern tapered boilers , new cylinders and double blast
pipe chimneys that improved performance even more !
46100 has been busy over the last three days as it came south from Crewe via Northampton to Southall with the empty coaches on Monday , hauled a Private Charter train from London Victoria to Canterbury yesterday , the returned home to Crewe today. `Royal Scot ` was the pioneer of a class of 70 such locos built , the majority all named after British Army Regiments . Built in 1927 at North British Locomotive Works in Glasgow its claim to fame was being shipped to the USA in 1930 to take part in the `Century of Progress Exposition ` where it covered a total of 11,194 miles on the railroads of North America and carries the name plate to this day that records this feat . It is recorded that the American`s were amazed that such a small locomotive ( by their standards ) was so powerful hauling trains through the Rockies etc . In 1950 the entire class was rebuilt at Crewe Works with more modern tapered boilers , new cylinders and double blast
pipe chimneys that improved performance even more !
Oneball
CCCUK Member
Put my entry in for Speedfest at Brands Hatch in June.
www.speedfest.co.uk
American Speedfest 12 powered by Lucas Oil @ Brands Hatch June 2025
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Just got back from the BIG TOYS box at Loughborough . Had a day of painstakingly hand polishing surface rust off the coupling rods and connecting rods and applying a protective film of oil on our other loco 45305 also undergoing overhaul . Will go into more detail about today`s activities on `The Train of Thought ` topic later for those interested .
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johng
CCCUK Member
Luckily we haven't yet booked a holiday for next year, so I can make sure we aren't away then. The only trouble is that the Sunday is my wife's birthday, this could call for some careful persuasion as to how she'd like to celebrate the day.Put my entry in for Speedfest at Brands Hatch in June.
American Speedfest 12 powered by Lucas Oil @ Brands Hatch June 2025
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Another day spent with the BIG toys today and took advantage of a rare dry and not too cold day to get some more work done outdoors on `Sir Lamiels` boiler . Was surrounded by much activity in the shed yard with locos being lit up for a busy weekend hauling Santa Specials back and forth between Loughborough and Leicester . I was hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa and ask him for a train set for Christmas but no such luck !
Will do an update on `Train of Thought` topic with the latest news on progess for those of you following the thread .
Will do an update on `Train of Thought` topic with the latest news on progess for those of you following the thread .