Archive for Freesteam For collectors and enthusiasts of all steam engines
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MTA
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Amberley - From MTA's Point of ViewFriday
After getting back from college, I loaded up my Mum’s car and waited for a few hours as both her and my Dad were a bit late getting back from a funeral of a family friend. As it was practically dark when I got to Amberley (yes, it was that late!) I decided to get the tables out in the morning to save traipsing around in the dark and waking everyone up with a rather squeaky flatbed wagon!
A couple of our volunteers were putting on a G scale layout, and I had a fair bit of time to kill so I helped one of them out by checking the layout for short circuits etc. As the sidings were empty, I plonked my Roundhouse Beck ‘Anna’ down on the track where it stayed all weekend.
After playing around with the railway for a bit we retired to our beds at 10 past 1 in the morning, but I didn’t get a wink of sleep as the building I was in was also home to two other persons who both snored particularly loudly!
Saturday
Upon waking up at pretty much 7 O’clock on the dot I set about doing bits and pieces like moving my stuff around in where we would be for the weekend, Hove Ticket Office, so I could get some tables in. An hour went by and I received a phone call from Will (made-in-England) announcing that he was on site, so I duly unlocked the Rail Group’s ‘Rapid Reaction Vehicle No. 2’, i.e. my old bike  , and raced down to the other end of the site. They followed me up to Hove, and Will and his Dad unloaded their stuff and Will and I then set off to get the tables.
Next to arrive was Steve (Kritika), with his gorgeous and large collection of mobiles. Oh, and he brought along his boxed Bowman M122 as well! Whilst he was setting up Chris, his wife Jill and son Wes turned up with their array of mods and upgrades for sale, and the range has certainly expanded since last year when they had only just started the business.
Mike & Andy turned up whilst everyone else was having a rather nice cooked breakfast in the restaurant. The day went on, and here are the pics. Notice how Steve seems to have acquired a rather nice Wilesco Locomobile during the course of the day :
Steve's (that's him on the left  ) impressive line up of TE's
The Green TE1A's and TE1's
The unique engines of his collection such as the Auld TE, the Wells TE and the engine that belongs to Martin
My personal favourite that Steve has, the Fleischmann roller. Oh, and MY Locomobile .
The limited edition 'Old Glory' TE1A, Steve has number 1 of this limited run!
Possibly my favourite TE, the smooth canopied version.
My Mersey 54R
Andy's much modded and used Edrig. Recently fitted with some exquisite buffer beams made by Alan2525.
Will's array of Mamod engines
CJW's stand featured a Meccano ferris wheel and chair o planes
CJW will soon be/are offering a service where they will be able to modify any Mamod to your requirements. This example was very tempting
We ran many engines, and Andy and myself ran our locos on the Gauge 1 track at about lunchtime.
At about 4:30pm, Steve packed up his engines and departed for home. It was great to have you with us mate  I then had to take orders for the fish and chip run to Storrington, and I had to leave our forum members to occupy themselves for a bit whilst I went with a couple of Rail Group volunteers to collect it. We soon returned, and everyone had a good meal. Change was given out, and then it was time for Polar Bear to take on her duties for the night.
We ran from 1900 to 2130, with most of the trains being full. I think Andy took some video, but you can see his pics from the night elsewhere in this topic.
After disposing of the loco, CJW returned to the ticket office and settled down whilst Andy, Will and myself joined some of the others for some Malibu and cider with the other members for a few hours before settling down for the night at half past midnight!
Sunday
Waking up at 0825, it was time for a quick wash and turn on the phone. Blast! No battery! Oh well, I’m sure everyone who is coming would understand. Mike Jane from FreeSteam turned up, having been to Kempton the previous day. We had to leave him to it, as we went to breakfast in the restaurant. Paul and his daughter Jordan turned up whilst we were eating, and I went to fetch another table over just for them.
We all started steaming up engines, and I yet again went to steam up my Roundhouse Beck ‘Anna’. When I got back, who should be there but Ian of MFTwin fame! He had come to drop off something for me, a Cyldon 13/3 which I had bought from him earlier in the year.
I also handed him what was previously his Wormar E Elite as it was leaking from the boiler. Some BA spanners and a set of screwdrivers later, she was in bits. Guess what? Yours truly had run her dry (begins to turn red with embarrassment), so Ian asked whether he would prefer for him or me to fix it. I do not have the facilities to do so, so I asked him to do it for me. Thanks Ian!
We whiled away a couple of hours, then Alan2525 better known as Alan ) turned up with his very nice IP Jane and some stock. Unfortunately, where we were if track had been put down I envisaged engines toppling over where people were trying to step over it… Luckily one of the guys on the G Scale had an O gauge rolling road! So Alan, Will and myself used it with our locos’, with two IP Jane’s sharing it at one stage
Time moved on, and the end of the day was nearing, so it was time to fire up my Mersey 54R! The usual prepping was done, then the wicks were lit  Then, the firebox bowed out, and the fire was extinguished by a damp cloth which Mike Jane had to hand. The firebox returned to its usual state, so just the two outer and central wicks were lit this time round. Much better this time, the firebox still bowed but at least the flames weren’t emanating from every orifice and opening! Then, the water started to boil and I started to turn the engine over. Lots of water, then, thud thud thud she was away! Throttling her back pretty much stopped her, so the regulator was pretty much fully open. At least she runs! The Cyldon was reworked, and she also ran. I am now known for large fires under my engines, as the Cyldon was just as bad. Clearly I need to shorten the wicks! As Wendy was on her last trip, I grabbed Alan and shoved him up onto the footplate. He came back from Amberley all smiles, no doubt he may join us again next year? We all departed our own separate ways, and may I say thanks to one and all who turned up. Judging by what you have said to me you have all had a good time. Now, who’s up for next year? Now for the (very few) pics, and a video will be added later:
Spot the difference
A close up of Alan's loco, it has given me a few ideas to what I shall do to Ivor.
The Mersey with a fire under its belly
I'm not a drug addict, honest!
Under way
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Spokesmann
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Good work Simon, nice to see the IP Janes again . . .
Those mobiles really need steaming!
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MFSteam
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There is always room for pictures of Merseys Simon.
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avenger
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Great pics Si !!!
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John Chapman
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Excellent photos Si, thanks for sharing them.
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newts
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Superb pics, as usual
Cider & Malibu, very exotic 
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MTA
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A video of my Cyldon 13/3 as delivered by Ian on the Sunday.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ag_b0hMSfo0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param></object>
Note to self: Set the wicks lower!
And, the Mersey 54R:
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EaG-UE1IkfE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param></object>
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Spokesmann
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I didn't get a vid of the Cyldon - a very quiet little runner. I like these very much!
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