"The Class of 2022-2023" (Pic - R.Vincent)
Well, what a long, draining but thoroughly enjoyable weekend this was! Regular readers will know that I've been attending the Great Central Railway's firing course since October and the culmination of this class is the three day practical weekend which took place over the last three days. Up to now we'd had five classroom days which had included a lot of theory, with knowledge then proven by completing written exams. Outside of the course we'd all been taking part in footplate work but this weekend would see us going out with a team of instructors aboard BR Standard 2 No78018. The program for the weekend was as follows:
- Friday: Engine and brake van working.
- Saturday: Freight train working.
- Sunday: Empty coaching stock.
On the Friday we would have the railway to ourselves and so would work 78018 between Loughborough and Leicester North. The weekend days would see our trips working between Loughborough and Swithland Sidings, in and amongst the public trains. We arrived at 06:00 on Friday morning and our team of 7 trainees got together in the mess room to receive the briefing. We were then separated into pairs and given a roster for the three days. I was to be out with Dave and we had one trip per day booked to us, as did the others. The duties were rotated between the small teams and so each of us had either cleaning, driver's prep or fireman's prep to complete each morning. Friday saw myself and Dave on cleaning whilst the others prepared the engine. Here she is just as the sun started to come up...
On the Friday it was just the engine and the brake van so there was little weight behind a willing 78018. Myself and Dave were booked on the first trip of the day: one of us would drive and one would fire. I ended up driving the first section out of Loughborough and this was quite momentous for me as this was my first drive on the Great Central (hopefully not the last). It was also my first drive of a BR Standard, having been mainly used to Great Western engines in the past. How exciting...
Driving the Standard 2 was most enjoyable and quite enlightening. I always imagined that sitting down driving one would feel odd (having been so used to standing up at the regulator) but it felt very comfortable, with everything in easy reach. Riddles and his design team really had it just right. Here, 78018 prepares to leave Leicester North, propelling the van back to Loughborough at reduced speed...
Once we'd done our trip on the engine it was time to rejoin the brake van. Here, on the second trip, we're steaming out of a desolate Quorn...
During the afternoon we had a practical tutorial on detonator protection as well as some buckeye practise for when we need to join or slip coaches. Here, on the third trip of the day, 78018 waits at a chilly Rothley for the road back to Loughborough...
Four trips completed, it was time to return 78018 to the shed for disposal. Much like the morning, each pair had their own part of the disposal to complete each day...
Saturday morning soon rolled around and myself and Dave were on driver's prep with instructor Pete. Again we were rostered on the first footplate trip of the day and I drove 78018 light to Swithland before extracting the windcutter mineral train from the sidings. Once I'd ran the engine round ready for the run back, I propelled the wagons out over the crossover and then Dave took over to drive us back to Loughborough whilst I did the firing. By the second trip we were back on the brake van...
78018 runs round the second windcutter trip on the Saturday...
Back at Loughborough, 78018s sister 78019 was hauling the Saturday lunchtime diner. She looked immaculate as she awaited her 13:00 departure time...
Saturday evening myself and Dave completed the driver's disposal and as if by magic it was soon Sunday morning. This morning we were on fireman's prep and 78018s chimney is captured burning off the smoke from our freshly lit fire...
Here, 78018 looks a little puny alongside the larger 8F 48305...
A rushed footplate view of 78018 as we prepared to handover...
Here, 78018 awaits the road to run up to the up through to collect the ECS...
When we arrived at Swithland on the first ECS trip myself and Dave alighted with instructor Pete to walk Swithland and its signalling system a final time. There was also an opportunity to visit the impressive signalbox. Unfortunately a points failure had delayed departures from Loughborough and so we decided to walk to Rothley for some tea and cake. Why not? It was a lovely sunny day for it...
While we waited, 48305 pulled in with the Sunday lunchtime diner...
Eventually a rerouted 78018 arrived with the firing school ECS from Loughborough and we managed to rejoin our train (and our lunch!). On our return run to Loughborough (once 78018 had performed an extended run round via Swithland) it was announced that this second run would be the last of the day due to the late running of everything else. Therefore we ourselves didn't get a footplate go on the Sunday (we were rostered for a cancelled trip) but these things can't be helped. It had still been a most engaging and enjoyable weekend spent in good company. Once we'd returned 78018 to the shed for the third and final time it was time for us to complete our individual disposal jobs (today myself and Dave were on fireman's disposal).
With everything done and the engine safe and secure, it was time to have the team photo that is included at the top of this post. These guys are a great bunch, as are the GCR instructors. It was a pleasure to spend the weekend with them. The GCR firing course has been a brilliant experience and hopefully it won't be too long now before I get my ticket. The process is like a well oiled machine and it is something that I wish I'd had the opportunity to do many years ago. Thanks to all involved.
Please note any views or opinions expressed in this blog are merely personal and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person, group or organisation.
