4953 Pitchford Hall at Tyseley.
80 years old this year.

Some more detailed shots of 4953 taken during a long overdue visit to Tyseley

WOW

Newly restored to running order - 70013 Oliver Cromwell takes water at Loughborough before hauling its final passenger train of the afternoon to Leicester.

John Evans had organised a cleaning day on the locomotive for Saturday at Tyseley. In chatting with him I suggested that Pitchford Hall MAY be ideal as a substitute for 34007 at the GCR steam gala at the GCR. Merchant Navy 4-6-2 34007 Wadebridge had been seriously damaged at the MHR when wood that had been left on the footplate to dry overnight had caught fire and caused severe damage to the loco's cab. John scoffed and said that there was no way JFK would allow his loco onto a trailer. Then on Wednesday I read a posting by Tom Ingall on the GCR weblog announcing that 4953 was indeed going to be the late substitute!

On Friday I was planning my visit to join the cleaning party at Tyseley with renewed interest when I received a telephone call from John Evans. He told me that 4953 was being picked up and delivered to Quorn that very afternoon so could I go to Quorn... Well YES!

With grateful thanks to David Weake for the use of his images. He captured a couple of shots of 4953 reversing out of the Tyseley car park en route to Quorn

I paid a visit to Tyseley last Sunday morning. Here are a few shots of our locomotive wearing a topcoat of frost on a bitterly cold but sunny morning.

More shots to be uploaded soon... Interior shots of the cab.

At the recent Barrow Hill LNER Celebration I picked up a catalogue from one of the stands - J N Beesley of Berkhamsted which lists many of the standard requirements for Locomotive operators. I thought it may be of some interest to Society Members.

A couple of shots of 'OUR' locomotive taken during an early morning visit to Tyseley to witness the preparations of 4965 for the mainline with "The Lincoln Imp"

The fire was lit and all was in order for the LE move to Kidderminster at 9am Thursday 20th September in company with 4936 Kinlet hall.

I finally got to ride on the footplateof MY engine (Sorry John I want it)! Only a short 100 yards trip but nevertheless a first for me.

I paid a visit in the early morning sunshine to witness the preparations for The Duchess Bristolian. However I found 4936 & 4953 in glorious sunshine around the back of Tyseley Locomotive Works.

Pitchford Hall was scheduled to haul a Steam Dreams excursion today - double-heading with 4965 Rood Ashton Hall. However for one reason or another 4936 Kinlet Hall was substituted. I took several shots that included 4953 during the preparations for the light engine move from Tyseley to Bescot where the 2 Halls took over the Chester bound excursion

Pitchford Hall was invited to be displayed as a static exhibit by Maintrain Tyseley at their Family Open Day. There were three steam locomotives taken over on Friday evening - 4953 Pitchford hall, 7029 Clun castle and also GWR pannier tank no. 7760. They were stored overnight within the Maintrain works. I arrived at 7.30am and was able to take several shots before 4953 was shunted out into the pouring rain to be displayed in 10 road.

Later in the morning 4965 Rood Ashton hall was shunted over by 08 shunter Cookie. The fire had been lit ready for use on the following days Shakespeare Express.

A cleaning party worked on 4953 to prepare the locomotive for display at the adjacent Maintrain depot on Saturday 30th June.

Photos of Pitchford Hall being prepared to haul the Vintage Trains excursion from Tyseley to Kettering followed by the Harringworth Shuttles on 24th June.

Here are a few shots of John Evans engines. These photos come with interesting domestic backgrounds.... Nice one John.

Following an exchange of e-mails with John Evans regarding steam engines I decided to upload a few shots of our own steam engines. If other members have any shots of their own locos then send them in to me....