There was a time when footplate turns at Statfold were few and far between as in its early years the railway used to typically operate on three select Saturdays a year. These days it's a very different story and there is something going on at the venue most weekends, with trains now running much more frequently. Today I was rostered to drive one of the two steam locomotives in service for todays classic car event which coincided with 'Drive It Day'. This annual event brings vintage vehicle owners together across the UK and usually promotes a good cause too. A frequent train service would operate between Strawberry Park and Cogan Halt so that both the public and visiting classic car drivers could take a ride. Our sign on time today was 07:00 and, having arrived in good time, I wandered through to the mess room at the back of the roundhouse. Even after all of the years that I've been volunteering here, the sight of all of those engines has never become mundane...
My steed for the day was "Isaac". Initially I was booked to "Howard" but I wasn't disappointed in the slightest when I found out that I'd be taking the Bagnall instead. I'd had a great day out with her in 2021 and was very much looking forward to another stint. "Howard" would be the second engine for the day and the two 0-4-2s would be sharing the train services between them. My fireman for the day: Caroline: duly arrived with Duty Officer Batesy and, after a quick cuppa', the noisy Plymouth diesel shunter was summoned to drag the two locomotives outside into the drizzle. After a thorough check over, "Isaac" was ready to light up and Caroline duly did the honours...
Caroline then got to work cleaning the Bagnall whilst I went around with the oil cans. The engine is fairly simple to oil up and so it doesn't take long. Behind us, "Howard" was being prepared by her crew of Ben, Dan and Jim. Slowly but surely, "Isaac" began to raise steam on this mild morning. We were in no rush though as the first train wasn't scheduled until 10:00. There was plenty of time for tea...
Both engines were ready for service a little after 09:30 and so we decided to back down onto the waiting stock that had been marshalled by Phil and the Plymouth. It was a four-coach train made up of two of the new ex-Tynedale coaches and two Severn Lambs. "Howard" was sent on the line inspection run whilst "Isaac" waited with the stock. The Brazil would then return and couple onto us...
An unexpected but very much appreciated bacon roll was soon delivered to the footplate. This didn't last long before it was devoured...
A quick view of the road ahead taken whilst we waited for "Howard"...
"Howard" soon returned from the line inspection run and coupled onto the front of the Bagnall. The first train was run double headed to check rail conditions as the persistent drizzle helped to provide some very greasy morning rails. The Brazil managed to drop some sand on our first round trip and this helped to improve rail conditions in readiness for the second run. "Howard" then took up her place at the head of the train whilst the Bagnall was stabled in the loop. We would haul the next train...
After a short break in the loop, "Howard" is seen steaming in from Oak Tree with driver Ben about to hand Caroline the single line token for the section...
I won't go into too much detail about today as it was quite a simple affair: we pulled a train, "Howard" pulled a train and so on. I think we ended up doing about nine trips each which kept us moving pretty much all day, with a few tea breaks in between at Strawberry Park of course. In the car park at Strawberry was a wide variety of classic cars of various ages, with the public milling around them. It was startling to notice cars that were around in my childhood that have now become classics: scary!...
Here, "Isaac" prepares to depart Strawberry on an early afternoon train. Notice the two smartly painted coaches behind the engine. These are ex-South Tynedale and three of them joined the Statfold fleet last year. These two have been freshly repainted and looked a picture behind "Isaac". It'll be nice when the third one joins them...
After I'd driven three trips we swapped so that Caroline could have a drive. I meanwhile did the firing and found it quite relaxing. The engine steams easily...
An afternoon shot of "Isaac", having just arrived back from Oak Tree. This was the only brief glimpse of sunshine we had all day so I felt it best to capture it...
1953-built "Isaac" worked for the Rustenberg Platinum Mines in South Africa and most recently spent many years running at the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. She is now part of the Statfold collection and between her and "Isibutu" they are my personal favourites. Her larger 4-4-0 cousin has the top spot for me but, I have to say, only just these days as the 0-4-2 is a fabulous tool. The name "Isaac" I believe was given to her after the previous owners son, rather than after the son of Abraham. I like the name and the public always seem to enjoy a named locomotive...
Batesy came on with us and drove a trip later on in the afternoon. I did the firing for him whilst Caroline took a break. Here we are, ready to go...
"Isaac" is captured with our final public departure of the day...
Upon our return to Strawberry Park we waited on the stock whilst "Howard" coupled onto the other end. The train was then split and "Howard" departed with just two coaches (the Severn Lambs). With the Brazil now in section with the final public train of the day, "Isaac" could shuffle around the station limits performing a shunt. The ex-Tynedale stock was shunted into the loop and "Isaac" then ran round them ready to shunt release "Howard" upon her return. We then had to take the Severn Lambs to Oak Tree as ECS to drop them off. They would be needed midweek...
Once uncoupled we had one final job: to steam to the balloon loop and switch off the lights, locking the gate on the bank on our way back. By now the on and off drizzle had turned into a heavy rain shower and we were fairly well soaked by the time we made it back to the roundhouse prep road. Having been called on by Batesy, I dropped the Bagnall back into her position in the shed doorway after a pleasant day out. Caroline then filled the boiler whilst I isolated the necessary cab fittings. Job done...
With the shed door shut and the two engines safe and dry from the now persistent rain, that was it for us. There was nothing left to do but fill in the paperwork, wash up and sign out before heading to the bar for a quick beer before home time. What can I say about "Isaac" then? Well, it's just lovely. It looks well, pulls well, steams well, stops well and rides well. You can't really ask for anything more. I love it. What a lovely old thing. Thank you to Caroline for her firing efforts and to Phil for his comical company as the D.O. Also thanks to the crew of "Howard" for the same. Another lovely day on the footplate at the SBR, spent in good company aboard a fine engine. Shame about the weather but, as always, you can't have everything! Cheers all, Sam...
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