Another Turn with 5542...
Hi everyone. Today I was again out at 6am, to be at Shackerstone for 6:30am ready to light GWR Small Prairie No5542. I was to be Trainee Fireman once again, with Adrian as Driver and Carl as Fireman. On arrival at Shack loco works, we unlocked the door and walked inside to discover the fleet of engine's cosy and safe. 5542 stood in front of "Sir Gomer" and "Mayflower". I climbed up onto the footplate and checked the Water Level; 1/2 a glass; good. I then opened the Firebox doors and saw a small pile of ash at the front; the result of the 'warming fire' from the day before. The ash was still very hot and there was even the odd flame here and there. 5542 was very warm indeed and it wouldn't be too hard to steam her up for the days work. It was then time to check the Firebox including the Sheets, Stays, Grate and of course the Fusible plugs. You can also check the Brick Arch and the few tubes/flue's which you can see. It is also good practise to take a look in the 'front end'; the Smokebox; to examine the tubes at that end too. All this done, you can rake the grate. The motto is: the cleaner the grate, the better the fire. Fire raked, 5542 was dragged out into the morning light by Class 02 shunter; D2867 "Diane". I then spread a bed of coal 1-lump thick around the grate before adding wood (spread diagonally) on top. Two or three parrafin-soaked rags followed; two of which were lit. You can then open the Damper(s) and shut the Firebox doors. The fire should then take hold... 
With the help of Gina and fellow CMES member Eddie, we cleaned the engine in good time and it wasn't long before she was ready. We then ran across the crossover, coupled up to the train and watered up. However, due to the unscheduled water stop, we left Shackerstone about 6 minutes late, at 10:56am. This lateness prompted Adrian to enduce some 'spirited running'. I was on the shovel for alot of the day and therefore bore the stress of this first trip in which the engine is still 'warming up' as it were! Storming up through the cutting and under the 1st bridge, 5542 was chuffing loudly; notched up too. However, though I'd made the effort of keeping a 'good back end' in the box, the pressure was dropping. The front Damper was then raised 2-notches, baring in mind that we're going backwards, and the steam then began to come back. Normally, I find that an engine really settles in after the first full round trip. However, in this case, 5542 was 'settled in' by the time we got to Bosworth on the first run; only 3 miles away from Shackerstone! This was all down to the 'spirited running' of course! From that point on, 5542 was her usual self; a Fireman's dream. Eddie came with us on the first two trips, before we were joined by 'Mal' on the third. We then enjoyed a fourth run with just three in the cab before adopting another passenger on the last run... 
In the end, I fired four out of the five trips that we did. Fireman Carl was pressed into action to fire the last one; simply because he was bored by now! I therefore enjoyed the comfort of a sit-down on the Fireman's side. I really like 5542 from a Fireman's point of view; she steams so well on so little coal. Below, 5542 leaks steam from every possible angle as we traverse the points into Shenton loop...
Here, we come across the foot crossing before continuing the run-round procedure; "Crossing Clear My Side!"...
Below, we climb Shenton Bank, working Northwards back towards Shackerstone with the 5-coach rake. In the distance, I can be spotted in the cab!...
After the last, shal we say 'spirited'(!), trip we retired 5542 to the shed and disposed. Once put to bed, she was left for the night. I had had another great day on the Prairie; she really is something. Firing four out of the five trips was very enjoyable indeed; I wasn't even very tired afterwards...surprisingly! Thank you to Adrian and Carl for a great day out on the line. I must also extend a special thanks to Mr D. Hanks, a respected and much appreciated member of our Steam Department, who took the time to capture and send in all of the images which you see in this post; Thank You very much. And, finally, thank you for reading folks; Good Evening...
Hi everyone. Today I was again out at 6am, to be at Shackerstone for 6:30am ready to light GWR Small Prairie No5542. I was to be Trainee Fireman once again, with Adrian as Driver and Carl as Fireman. On arrival at Shack loco works, we unlocked the door and walked inside to discover the fleet of engine's cosy and safe. 5542 stood in front of "Sir Gomer" and "Mayflower". I climbed up onto the footplate and checked the Water Level; 1/2 a glass; good. I then opened the Firebox doors and saw a small pile of ash at the front; the result of the 'warming fire' from the day before. The ash was still very hot and there was even the odd flame here and there. 5542 was very warm indeed and it wouldn't be too hard to steam her up for the days work. It was then time to check the Firebox including the Sheets, Stays, Grate and of course the Fusible plugs. You can also check the Brick Arch and the few tubes/flue's which you can see. It is also good practise to take a look in the 'front end'; the Smokebox; to examine the tubes at that end too. All this done, you can rake the grate. The motto is: the cleaner the grate, the better the fire. Fire raked, 5542 was dragged out into the morning light by Class 02 shunter; D2867 "Diane". I then spread a bed of coal 1-lump thick around the grate before adding wood (spread diagonally) on top. Two or three parrafin-soaked rags followed; two of which were lit. You can then open the Damper(s) and shut the Firebox doors. The fire should then take hold... 
With the help of Gina and fellow CMES member Eddie, we cleaned the engine in good time and it wasn't long before she was ready. We then ran across the crossover, coupled up to the train and watered up. However, due to the unscheduled water stop, we left Shackerstone about 6 minutes late, at 10:56am. This lateness prompted Adrian to enduce some 'spirited running'. I was on the shovel for alot of the day and therefore bore the stress of this first trip in which the engine is still 'warming up' as it were! Storming up through the cutting and under the 1st bridge, 5542 was chuffing loudly; notched up too. However, though I'd made the effort of keeping a 'good back end' in the box, the pressure was dropping. The front Damper was then raised 2-notches, baring in mind that we're going backwards, and the steam then began to come back. Normally, I find that an engine really settles in after the first full round trip. However, in this case, 5542 was 'settled in' by the time we got to Bosworth on the first run; only 3 miles away from Shackerstone! This was all down to the 'spirited running' of course! From that point on, 5542 was her usual self; a Fireman's dream. Eddie came with us on the first two trips, before we were joined by 'Mal' on the third. We then enjoyed a fourth run with just three in the cab before adopting another passenger on the last run... 
In the end, I fired four out of the five trips that we did. Fireman Carl was pressed into action to fire the last one; simply because he was bored by now! I therefore enjoyed the comfort of a sit-down on the Fireman's side. I really like 5542 from a Fireman's point of view; she steams so well on so little coal. Below, 5542 leaks steam from every possible angle as we traverse the points into Shenton loop...
Here, we come across the foot crossing before continuing the run-round procedure; "Crossing Clear My Side!"...
Below, we climb Shenton Bank, working Northwards back towards Shackerstone with the 5-coach rake. In the distance, I can be spotted in the cab!...
After the last, shal we say 'spirited'(!), trip we retired 5542 to the shed and disposed. Once put to bed, she was left for the night. I had had another great day on the Prairie; she really is something. Firing four out of the five trips was very enjoyable indeed; I wasn't even very tired afterwards...surprisingly! Thank you to Adrian and Carl for a great day out on the line. I must also extend a special thanks to Mr D. Hanks, a respected and much appreciated member of our Steam Department, who took the time to capture and send in all of the images which you see in this post; Thank You very much. And, finally, thank you for reading folks; Good Evening...
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