Stokin' The Whole Day Through...
Hi everybody. Today, with a good weather forecast, I was rostered to fire on GWR 2-8-0 No3803 at Shackerstone. Arriving at Shack at 6:20am, Dave was right behind me. Driver John duly arrived too. We then set about checking over 3803 in the loco shed, following signing on and getting tools ready. I lit the Great Western lady at around 7:20am, leaving us plenty of time to steam up as we weren't due off shed until 11am. Even better, the pressure gauge was still reading 50psi; great (so we thought!). At 8am, a Footplate Experience participant arrived, who we were not expecting at all! "Oh dear". So, we got 3803 ready asap and got out onto the Foot.Ex only 35 minutes after we should have done; at 9:35am. First we did the light loco trip to Bosworth and back, before returning to Shack to collect the 5-coach ECS for the second trip. This time, we went to Shenton and back. The participant seemed to enjoy himself; apologies for the misunderstanding, sir! After the Foot.Ex we got ready for the 5 public trips of the day; though we were already 10 minutes down due to the earlier confusion. 3803 was already steaming well; as usual; and we were soon out on the line with the first train. The sun was shining and the light breeze and blue sky made a perfect setting. Today, the loco was carrying a wreath for a founder member who passed away recently. 3803 at sunny Shenton...
Throughout the day, I fired whilst Mr Britt and Dave shared the driving. Due to the heat, it was a long and tiring day but we did it; no problem! 3803 was her usual self; a dream. This huge GWR masterpiece is so big that a 5-coach train doesn't test her one bit. Its a pleasure to be out on her on a day like this! Firing is easy. As long as you maintain a strong back end and keep an even bed of fire across the sloping grate, 3803 steams easily. The three Dampers also help. Normally, the Centre Damper is enough to keep steam up. However, I also use either the Front or the Back one as well as the Centre one when starting away from stations or when working hard. This gives better air-flow through the fire bed. With such a big boiler too, 3803 doesn't have any problems with water. On the approach to Shackerstone, the line descends down a bank. On smaller engines, the water level will decrease rapidly when topping the bank onto the downhill section. However, due to the overall size of 3803's boiler, and the massive amount of water in it, the drop is far less considerable. She is, by far, the best loco I've ever been on; closely followed by fellow Buckfastleigh-resident; No5542 the Small Prairie. At Shackerstone, after the second public train, 3803 arrives back with me resting in the Fireman's seat (C = D.Hanks)...
Mr Britt and Dave certainly provide an experienced and humorous crew. I always have a good day on with those two. Below, the crew pause as 3803 awaits the 'Right-Away' at Shackerstone. Dave is on the left, with Driver John in the centre and myself on the tender, waiting to stoke up ready for the climb up the bank (C = D.Hanks)...
With the "Right Away" received, 3803 chugs away from Shackerstone with the 5-coach train. The sun shone all day; it was lovely. I never thought in a million years that I'd be on a GWR 38xx, pulling out of Shackerstone holding a shovel ;) . The great shot below is another one by Mr Dave Hanks...
After our successful 3rd public trip, we briskly ran round ready for the 3pm train; which was running 7 minutes down. We had made a few minutes up but the heat and the lack of breaks were slowing us down; as were the stops at Bosworth. Nevertheless, a lovely day on the footplate of 3803. Below, 3803 slowly makes her way across the cross-over, towards the Signalbox. You can see me in the cab, taking a breather before yet more firing (C = D.Hanks)...
By the 5th trip, all three of us were getting very tired. Afterall, the last public trip for us completed a 6.5 trip day! So, really, we did 66 miles in a day; rather than the usual 40 or 50 of normal days. However, we managed the entire day without problem and it was fantastic. By 5:40pm, we were back in the shed and disposing of 3803. The day was a success, and very enjoyable. Thanks very much to Dave & John, as well as to Carl for sorting the day for me. I'm so tired now, I need some rest...work tomorrow...no rest ay?! Good evening everyone. Sam...
Hi everybody. Today, with a good weather forecast, I was rostered to fire on GWR 2-8-0 No3803 at Shackerstone. Arriving at Shack at 6:20am, Dave was right behind me. Driver John duly arrived too. We then set about checking over 3803 in the loco shed, following signing on and getting tools ready. I lit the Great Western lady at around 7:20am, leaving us plenty of time to steam up as we weren't due off shed until 11am. Even better, the pressure gauge was still reading 50psi; great (so we thought!). At 8am, a Footplate Experience participant arrived, who we were not expecting at all! "Oh dear". So, we got 3803 ready asap and got out onto the Foot.Ex only 35 minutes after we should have done; at 9:35am. First we did the light loco trip to Bosworth and back, before returning to Shack to collect the 5-coach ECS for the second trip. This time, we went to Shenton and back. The participant seemed to enjoy himself; apologies for the misunderstanding, sir! After the Foot.Ex we got ready for the 5 public trips of the day; though we were already 10 minutes down due to the earlier confusion. 3803 was already steaming well; as usual; and we were soon out on the line with the first train. The sun was shining and the light breeze and blue sky made a perfect setting. Today, the loco was carrying a wreath for a founder member who passed away recently. 3803 at sunny Shenton...
Throughout the day, I fired whilst Mr Britt and Dave shared the driving. Due to the heat, it was a long and tiring day but we did it; no problem! 3803 was her usual self; a dream. This huge GWR masterpiece is so big that a 5-coach train doesn't test her one bit. Its a pleasure to be out on her on a day like this! Firing is easy. As long as you maintain a strong back end and keep an even bed of fire across the sloping grate, 3803 steams easily. The three Dampers also help. Normally, the Centre Damper is enough to keep steam up. However, I also use either the Front or the Back one as well as the Centre one when starting away from stations or when working hard. This gives better air-flow through the fire bed. With such a big boiler too, 3803 doesn't have any problems with water. On the approach to Shackerstone, the line descends down a bank. On smaller engines, the water level will decrease rapidly when topping the bank onto the downhill section. However, due to the overall size of 3803's boiler, and the massive amount of water in it, the drop is far less considerable. She is, by far, the best loco I've ever been on; closely followed by fellow Buckfastleigh-resident; No5542 the Small Prairie. At Shackerstone, after the second public train, 3803 arrives back with me resting in the Fireman's seat (C = D.Hanks)...
Mr Britt and Dave certainly provide an experienced and humorous crew. I always have a good day on with those two. Below, the crew pause as 3803 awaits the 'Right-Away' at Shackerstone. Dave is on the left, with Driver John in the centre and myself on the tender, waiting to stoke up ready for the climb up the bank (C = D.Hanks)...
With the "Right Away" received, 3803 chugs away from Shackerstone with the 5-coach train. The sun shone all day; it was lovely. I never thought in a million years that I'd be on a GWR 38xx, pulling out of Shackerstone holding a shovel ;) . The great shot below is another one by Mr Dave Hanks...
After our successful 3rd public trip, we briskly ran round ready for the 3pm train; which was running 7 minutes down. We had made a few minutes up but the heat and the lack of breaks were slowing us down; as were the stops at Bosworth. Nevertheless, a lovely day on the footplate of 3803. Below, 3803 slowly makes her way across the cross-over, towards the Signalbox. You can see me in the cab, taking a breather before yet more firing (C = D.Hanks)...
By the 5th trip, all three of us were getting very tired. Afterall, the last public trip for us completed a 6.5 trip day! So, really, we did 66 miles in a day; rather than the usual 40 or 50 of normal days. However, we managed the entire day without problem and it was fantastic. By 5:40pm, we were back in the shed and disposing of 3803. The day was a success, and very enjoyable. Thanks very much to Dave & John, as well as to Carl for sorting the day for me. I'm so tired now, I need some rest...work tomorrow...no rest ay?! Good evening everyone. Sam...
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