"On The Move With Marchlyn" (Pic - G.Cryer)
And just like that, here I am writing the blog post for the event that signals the end of the summer season at Statfold: "Road, Rail and Ale" weekend. Each year seems to pass worryingly quicker than the last these days! Today myself and Norfolk-based after sunrise riser 'Eddie the Late' were booked together aboard "Marchlyn": Avonside No2067 of 1933. I last drove "Marchlyn" (coincidentally) at the September do eight years ago, at the ripe old age of 22. Sitting here writing this at 30 is actually quite depressing to say the least! Even though Eddie had actually camped on site for this event, it will come as a surprise to nobody that I still made it to the loco first! He'd be along once he'd folded his nightcap. Here, No2067 sits cold in the high level platform at Statfold waiting to be prepared for the day...
I duly met up with a yawning Eddie at the signing in hut as I completed my journey via the station footbridge to collect a bucket of wood. Back at the engine, I had a good check around the front and back end (smokebox and firebox) before spreading the wood chunks across the grate. Some pre-soaked paraffin rags were then lit up on the shovel to start the embryo fire. These were duly thrown into the firebox...
With the fire lit, we decided to have a much needed cuppa' as, much like Gracie Fields, we like a nice cup of tea in the morning! Eddie was the booked driver for today, with myself booked to the role of fireman. We're both drivers at SBR and so the senior driver (term used in the least offensive way) takes the higher role. This is no issue for me at all as I've never liked oiling up, ever. I much prefer to get the fire ready and bring the engine around into steam. Ed meanwhile got to work with the oil cans...
As we busied ourselves around the engine, James was spotted over the way lighting up the very attractive "Mary" Marshall: a 1929-built General Purpose traction engine. James then had to rush off to do some urgent jobs down the bottom with Alex and so asked me to keep an eye on "Mary". Below is the view from the footplate as I gently bring the Marshall into steam. It was nice to stand on "Mary" again as it had been eight years since I last stood here (small world) when we had her at Market Bosworth for the long deceased miniature do there. Even though traction engines aren't my thing, I can really appreciate this one. "Mary" is a lovely old thing...
James duly returned to his engine for the day and so I trotted back across the yard to mine. By now "Marchlyn" was raising steam nicely on the very smoky Shotton coal. It's great stuff in every regard except the exhaust from the chimney. It provides good heat, little ash, little clinker and lights beautifully but my god does it smoke!...
The September do has always featured an annual gathering of traction engines and this year was no exception. Once steam was fully raised and the brass had been polished, James and "Mary" steamed away towards the event field at Strawberry Park...
After the usual 08:30 safety briefing (and bacon cob) on the lawn, all crews returned to their respective steeds for the day. Our turn today was a little different to normal in that we would be top and tailing the freight with the ever so slightly workworn "Cloister": Hunslet No542 of 1891. Our short rake of wagons would have possession of the upper half of the high level line, from Oak Tree to Statfold. The lower half would then be occupied by the beautiful Bagnall "Isaac" which was on 'Driver for a Fiver' duty. Despite us not having any passengers to haul today, this job certainly had its benefits which included, but were not limited to, the following:
- Go when you want
- Stop when you want
- Finish earlier than everyone else
Who can argue with that, ay? As soon as both engines had steam and the departure peg was pulled off from the box, off we went. The train rumbled steadily downgrade to Oak Tree where "Marchlyn" is pictured awaiting the return trip...
I lost count of the amount of trips we did during the day but it must have been a couple of dozen at least. We were back and forth, back and forth, entertaining the public and running parallel with the odd passenger service or two! The first few trips with Eddie driving were quite greasy as some light rain had added to the slippery layer on the dewy morning rails. A liberal application of sand on both running lines by a group of us with watering cans (of sand) really helped later trips! Though the freight was short, the short but sharp gradients of the high level railway certainly gave the two little engines something to think about, particularly on the return trips to Statfold...
"Climbing The Car Park" (Pic - G.Cryer)
Here, "Marchlyn" waits at the Statfold platform for our next downgrade trip...
One massively fun element of being on the high level is running parallel with the low level services. Both the crews and the public really get into it and it's a great spectacle. Here, "Marchlyn" paces the American Davenport "Ryam No1"...
"Avonside and Davenport" (Pic - G.Cryer)
Later on, products of Stafford and Bristol stand side by side at Oak Tree...
It was certainly a changeable day for weather today, with the odd heavy shower mixed in with warm sunshine. It's like being in a giant egg poacher when it's like this, as the warm sun heats the moisture in your damp overalls! Below, Ed looks on whilst "Marchlyn" simmers. Where does the name "Marchlyn" come from I hear you ask? Marchlyn Mawr is actually a reservoir in Snowdonia...
During the early afternoon lunch was served in the form of freshly heated sausage rolls, courtesy of the manifold and outer firebox wrapper...
After some energetic afternoon runs in the lovely sunshine, "Cloister" took us down to Oak Tree one last time so that we could join onto "Isaac" for the final trip home. Here, "Marchlyn" faces towards Statfold from Oak Tree...
There we go: back in the high level platform, safe and sound...
We then did the usual disposal process: deaden the fire, fill the boiler, isolate the necessaries and give the engine a good wipe down ready for the next crew. "Marchlyn" would of course be out tomorrow on the same job. I do like this engine. She is a very workable and plucky machine and the brilliant Avonside footbrake is a masterpiece. No2067 has to be one of the best engines Statfold have turned out: it's just lovely. I liked it in 2014 and I like it now! Leaving the Avonside behind, we signed out before heading down to the event field for a beer and a burger. A pair of Aveling rollers (the one on the right belongs to Batesy) were basking in the evening sun...
Well, that's another day done folks. Thanks to Eddie for his comedic company aboard "Marchlyn" and thanks to Alex of course for having us. It's always a good day on the engine at Statfold. Special thanks also to Mr Cryer for kindly sending in the credited pictures used in this post. Geoff has a wonderful rail diary website which is well worth a look and can be found here. Thanks all, Sam...
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