Loose_Grip/Pete's photos with the keyword: Black

It takes years of real neglect to get as filthy as this unidentified Stanier Black 5. The cleaners (if there were still such things at Newton Heath loco shed in 1968) hadn't been near the cylinder and wheels of this example & no doubt it went to its grave with the accumulated grease & grime. The scrap men (and look away if you're sensitive) would set fire to the grease before cutting the engines up. This would burn away everything first so that their torches didn't start fires while they worked.

Two signs. One bridge. Broad Street Tunnel or Black Sabbath Bridge? The rock group are from Birmingham & this bridge which spans the canal on Broad Street in Birmingham city centre has been renamed in their honour. In fact the four shapes on the bench are silhouettes of the band members! The fence conveniently stops passing Brummies from falling "Into the Void"... HFF to everyone and have a great weekend.

On a grey rainy (pre-Covid!) day Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 45305 runs round its train - the 11.15 ex-Loughborough - in Leicester North station. 45305 is currently undergoing a 10-year overhaul by custodians the 5305 Locomotive Association at Loughborough. If you wish to contribute financially and/or physically please get in touch via: www.facebook.com/5305LA www.5305la.org.uk

I have just lit up British Railways Standard 5 4-6-0 73156 on shed at Loughborough but with no pressure in the boiler yet I can't operate the blower to clear the pungent green/brown smoke that is escaping from the firehole door as the fire gets going. Still it makes for an atmospheric scene.

Neil adjusts the regulator and glances at the boiler water level as we climb out of Birstall on Stanier Black 5 4-6-0 45305 with the 14.00 train from Leicester North to Loughborough. The top gauge is the steam chest pressure gauge which is showing 100psi while the lower one is the vacuum gauge with 21 inches of mercury indicated.