Firing 3803; No Better Day...

Hi everyone. I hope you are all well and feeling patient as, I tell you now...this may be a long one! Today, after a text on Friday morning, I was to be crewing GWR 2-8-0 Heavy Freight No3803 at Shackerstone, with Mic and Mark. 3803 arrived at Shackerstone from the lovely South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh last month. She will be staying with us for at least 1 year and will completing a number of day's out on the railway, hauling our passenger trains. Today was my first go on the engine and, suffice to say, I was really looking forward to it. Arriving at Shackerstone at 5:50am, with Mic on board, we unlocked the gates and coasted down the drive. After collecting our things we 'signed on' before heading down the yard into the Loco Works. Inside, "Sir Gomer" was in slumber whilst 3803 was napping warmly at the front of the shed. We clambered up onto the footplate and checked the water and firebox. Mic then lit the loco up whilst I put the kettle on. Cuppa' in hand and loco lit, we awaited the arrival of the Driver; Mark. I must admit, these early mornings do kill me (the things we do for the love of steam engines, ay?!). Anyhow, Mark and Andy (the double-booked drivers!) turned up at just gone 6:30am and we all prepared the loco as a team. Mind you, she is a beast; at 8F classification. Today, unusually, we were due off shed at 9am as we had a 'Drive a Loco' Experience Course to complete before the first sheduled service at 11:15. These courses allow the participant to take the loco to Market Bosworth and back light engine, before taking the stock out for a full-line return trip. With the loco cleaned and ready, the participant joined us right on time. We then took the loco out, or 'he' did I should say, for a run to MB and back. "Oh what a beautiful morning!", 3803 returns to Shackerstone past Hedley's, light engine... I fired the light engine trip as Mic said I should try and get used to the engine. After all, I'd never even been on her down the line, let alone fired her. So, I set to and got the shovel going. To be honest, on a light trip, you don't need much coal. If an engine hasn't got enough steam to even move itself then you are doing something wrong! The first trip went well, the participant seemed to be enjoying himself; and thats what its all about after all! After the light run, we took 3803 down into Platform 2 and coupled her up to the 4-coach train (child's play for a big '8'). With the 'Right Away' at about 10am, the trainee Driver took us out of Shack and up the bank towards Barton and, eventually, Shenton. Mic fired this run, in case we needed alot of steam. 3803 chugged beautifully out of Shackerstone with the stock, I can see today being a very good day...Down the line, we sailed through Market Bosworth; 3 miles from Shack and 1.75 miles from the terminus at Shenton. Market Bosworth will be open for the next two weekends (Easter & Mayday), and passengers will be able to join the train there and break the journey in either direction. The station really has transformed over the last few years...
After the 'Foot-Ex', we got the loco back off the stock and took her into the shed to do some more checks before the 5 public services began (you can never be too careful!). During the first trip of the day, the 11:15am, I was to be the Fireman. All I can say is; "Wow. What a dream". 3803 is such a forgiving and easy to fire locomotive. With a 27ft square grate, I was a little apprenhensive to start with but, in the end, she was a dream and I think I picked it up pretty quickly. What a beautiful machine. Main spots to watch are the sides of the firebox and the top of the slope down to the tubleplate; the fire seems to thin here the most. But, if you keep filling the holes in, you're fine. The firebox is so big, and the boiler so large, that any faults in the firing are usually compensated; providing they aren't too big a fault that is! No fire will mean no steam as with any engine of any size; the loco can't save you! Down at Shenton, after a successful trip, and with a thin fire, we ran round the loco round. Once recoupled to the train, Mark and Mic discuss GWR vs. LMS in the sunshine...
Below, we can see a quick shot of the cab backhead. The regulator can be clearly seen in the centre (the red lever). You can also see the pressure (t.l), steam heat (b.l) and vacuum (t.r) gauges. At the top of the image are the two injector steam valves, with their copper feed pipes leading downwards. You can also clearly spot the gauge glass, and test cocks. The blower is the central-right handle, with the hydrostatic GWR lubricator beneath. The Western firebox doors are at the bottom with the cylinder drain taps bottom-right. On the bottom-left you can also just spot the three Damper door handles ("yes, three on this machine...front, back and centre"!). Finally, the brake lever is the brass one on the right, near the top. This valve gives application and running positions. The ejector, unlike on 5542, is not built in. The ejector handle can be seen just to the right of the brake valve, as per pre-dual GWR design. Thats about it really; a simplistic backhead on an ageing lady. A lovely big footplate...
I fired the return of the 1st trip, and Mic took the 2nd round trip whilst I took pictures and generally surveyed the view. Of course, I also had to look out for crossings, couple up, uncouple, change lamps, change points; as per usual. 3803 gets away from Shenton beautifully, under a cloud-clad blue sky...
"Perfection at Shenton"...
On the way back, I managed to get a few video clips of us 'on the run'. First video shows 3803 leaving Shenton and continuing up the embankment towards Far Coton, with Mark Driving and Mic Firing. The second video shows us leaving Market Bosworth, and heading through Carlton towards Hedley's. Sorry for the wind noise; it is breezy at 25mph, and of course these videos were taken on my 'still-image' camera!...


Back at Shackerstone after the 2nd trip, we ran the loco round and watered up. 3803 in Platform 2, at the column...
"Tranquility at Shackerstone"...
Once watered, we took 3803 down onto the train and coupled up, ready for the 3rd trip (of 5) of the day. Below, I sit awaiting departure on the footplate of the beautiful 3803 (C = D.Hanks)...
Third trip of the day and we're off down the line, with me on the shovel and Mark on the regulator. Another fantastic trip; 3803 is the best engine I've ever fired; seriously! Though she is big she is just so pleasant and forgiving. You don't have to over-fire, you can just sit back, relax, and through a few shovels on now and again.If you make alot of smoke, you've over-fired. Below, you will see the first images that someone has ever taken of me actually firing on the footplate! Firing the front left corner on 3803 (C = D.Hanks)...
Once ran round at Shenton, attention must again be paid to the fire. Western's always like a big back-end to be made, particularly in the back corners and under the firehole door. Elsewhere, a level fire will be fine, as long as you keep the tubeplate area covered and the holes filled. Remember, on 3803, holes generally form down the sides and at the top of the sloping grate section. Below, I fire the centre of the box, filling in a hole (C = D.Hanks)...
3803 awaits departure with the returning 3rd trip of the day. What a beautiful machine. You can just make me out on the Fireman's side (C = D.Hanks)...
I fired the returning 3rd trip too, with Dave joining us on the footplate again. Back at Shack, we ran round (AGAIN) and then prepared for the 4th trip, which I fired to Shenton, and Mic fired back. What a great day indeed! Pulling back into Shackerstone after the 4th trip, 3803 passes the box as I lean from the Fireman's side. The smokeless chimney indicates that the fire is now thin as we are preparing for a 20-minute 'hardly moving' stop (C = D.Hanks)...
We did however have a problem after the 4th trip; we ran out of coal! After all, we had done 5.5 trips already (in total, including Foot-Ex!). So, the JCB was called up and we coaled 3803 'over the fence' as the public gazed in amazement. With the tender replenished we briskly ran round and left asap with the final run. Unfortunately we were 20 minutes down as the JCB had had trouble starting. "Oh well, we'll just try our best". For the last run, Mic fired down to Shenton, and I fired back. 3803 behaved beautifully once again and it was a pleasure to be on her footplate all day long. I think this is the closest I've ever came to admitting a 'love' for a locomotive; she's a beauty. Following a successful last trip, we raked 3803's fire and got her back up into the shed before disposing. What a fabulous day; I will never forget it. And, in a greedy manner, I look forward to my next turn on 3803. I would like to thank Mic, Mark and Andy for a great day out, as well as Dave for sending in some of those great pictures you see above. Also, thanks to SDR for the loan of the wonderful 38xx; she's lovely. Well, I didn't get away from Shack until 6:30pm so, with that folks, I think I need a shower and a bed! Thanks for reading folks; I hope you enjoyed this one. Comments always welcome (click below). Goodnight All. Sam...