I beet the dredful traffic caused by high winds to Loughborough, arriving early I took this time exposure of 4141 and 49395 by the shed

Simering in the platform we look across the cab to the many controls on the firemans side. This is a crampt footplate and the gauges are mounted on the side wall. The Injectors are operated by the pull handels above the boiler, whilst the steam brake near the roof blows emulsified oil all arround.

This is a close up of the expansion blocks and other levers of the Joy Valve gear. Moving up and down rods are directed in their osilating movements by the pitch of the blocks which have a curved channel clearly seen here. The vertical rods connect to the valve rods just bellow the blocks and are anchared bellow the cylinder casting and by a swing link on the piston rods

The righthand inside crank and big end. The vertical rods of the valve gear can be seen in the far left where they conect to the swing link on the piston rod and the link rod to the forward anchar pin bellow. The expansion block are just above.

It was a horible wet morning as the crew oiled arround in, appropriatly, oil skins

The gaurd has arrived and is inspecting his train

With the promis of a blue sky the Super D makes her first departure from Loughborough

A shaft of favourable light reflected on the front of the engine to start with

49395 explodes from under Great Central road

Comeing from the platform the smokebox is once again highlighted

Another departure amoungst the maze of pointwork

The wind has got up again and is snatching the exhaust straight off

49395 begins to cross over to the up line

The Super D now makes a departure from the avoiding loop

Back in murk our train drifts down the main past a fine display of signals

Empty mineral train rumbles south

Our train comes from the loop and crosses the down line to reach the up main.

We now begin to power away from the busy station

In this colour shot the shunt signal is highlighted by the steam behind. The highest signal is the the furthest left road, lowest to the furthest to the right

Another picture I can't decide which is best. B/W version

The last sunlight this morning highlights the train as it continues to the south

Blowing out of the loop.

The wind batters the trees and snatchest away the steam as the train heads out of town

49395 accelerates on the up main out of the south yard

Our minerals cross the tracks again

A mineral train annonomusly passes through the good avouding loop at Loughborough central station

The train steam out of the loop and has the road on the main

A spot of reflection in the copious puddles

Our south bound train takes water in the north yard before continuing through the loop

Past the old goods

Classic activity arround the engine. Thanks Russ

The Super D has an unrestricted passage through the next section

The wind blows the exhaust away at right angles

49395 clanks past Quarn goods shed

A Look down the yard at Quarn as the next train approches. The diamond plate on the signal post shows it is protected by a track circuit indecator in the box

The wind still blows hard as the train passes the starter

49395 splits the semerphores at Quarn

Heavy rain lashes across the train as the steam is blown infront of the signals

The windcutter passes a local mixed freight as the wind has died a bit so we can see the signal box

A clear road south under thretening skies

Steaming through the station at Quarn

The super D blasts under the Woodhouse road

Back for an early lunch the platform is deserted of people sheltering from the weather. The tender tarpoline has been blown off

I looked round the works during lunch time to find Sir Lamiel haveing some boiler stays repaired

Britannia pacific Oliver Cromwell is now starting to go back together, Mikey Mouse 46521 behind

Close up of 30777s piston valve chamber

Black 5 5305

The N2s rear wheel, looks like she will be green this time round

This southern suprimo has a Scotish heritage

N2 4744 is now coming back together shown here with the Rapier crain, Boscastle and Witherslack Hall behind