Going Great Central: A Day Off On A Standard...

Evening all. Today I'd booked a day off work, having been rostered to crew the M11 turn at the GCR. This job was looking touch and go at one point as we hadn't actually got a booked driver. Thankfully, at the eleventh hour, driver Matt stepped in to take the turn and so we could breathe a sigh of relief. I'd spotted our rostered locomotive noted next to our names last Saturday when I crewed the 8F, therefore I knew it was going to be the BR Standard 5 No73156 of 1956. As well as myself and Matt, we were joined on the footplate by new trainee Ed and pass holder David, the latter a driver at the Tanfield railway. With an unusual three trips booked for this afternoon's turn, there would be plenty of opportunity for everyone to have a go. Having met up to await our engine at a drizzly Loughborough shed, we took over the 4-6-0 at the column before working the 12:50 trip. I fired whilst Matt did the driving. With lamps already swapped for running back, the engine is pictured at Leicester North under grey skies...

As usual I'd already made up my departure fire during the run round, allowing the fresh coal to take whilst I coupled up. It was soon time to leave and I was very pleased as I clambered into the cab to find that Matt had returned from the griddle car with some piping hot bacon rolls...just what the doctor ordered! Very tasty they were too...

The Standard 5 was her usual free steaming self, effortlessly hauling the six-coach train back and forth on this remarkably quiet day for passengers. The weather today won't have helped attendance I'm sure but we were also mindful that this weekend sees the railway's first 'all night' gala, so perhaps everyone was saving themselves for that. Below, the 4-6-0 waits with her train in the down platform at Quorn...

Upon returning to Loughborough we swiftly ran around the train before recoupling at the south end of the stock. Matt kindly offered me the regulator for this trip whilst he did a bit of firing on the opposite side. I of course took very little persuading...

On time and with steam to spare, I got the engine moving southwards with the 14:45 train. I'm thankful for the shot below which is a rare view of me driving. At this point I'm easing the regulator back to drop the steam chest pressure as speed climbs towards the line speed of 25mph. No73156 certainly has to be held back...

"Driving No73156" (WM)

After a pleasant run in the driver's seat to Leicester North, the engine was uncoupled from the stock before we dropped her forwards south of the points to do some footplate visits. The Standard 5 meanwhile waited patiently under the overcast skies...

Having driven No73156 back to Loughborough, I thanked Matt for the opportunity before we swapped back over. Our final train was also the last of the day: the 16:30. For this run I opted to share the firing with new trainee Ed, giving him some experience on the shovel on what must have been an overwhelming first day out on the footplate! Below, the engine and train wait time alongside the GCR museum...

Between myself and Ed I'm pleased to say that we got the engine safely to Leicester and back with plenty of steam and water to spare. Fellow Statfold driver Joey Evans caught us rounding the bend at Kinchley Lane...

"No73156 works the 16:30 up train for Leicester" (J.Evans)

As well as the usual passenger service on the GCR, this week also saw the long awaited return of steam trains to Mountsorrel along the branch line. These trips were worked by a diesel locomotive top and tailed with the newly restored Austerity NCB No18. Having passed by Joey at Kinchley Lane, we were soon braking to come to a stand at Swithland's up outer home signal whilst the Mountsorrel train cleared the section to Rothley. We were soon on the move again...

At Leicester we performed the usual swift run round ready for departure...

Returning the engine to shed after a pleasant day, we did the ashpan and gave the fire a clean before handing over to the night crew. I think they had a Murder Mystery job to do: a one tripper. What a pleasant day: no prep and hardly any disposal...can't really ask for better! I must thank Matt, Ed and David for a brilliant afternoon out aboard the mighty No73156: your company was very much appreciated. Cheers all, Sam...

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.

Going Great Central: My First Go On The 8F In 2024...

"The road ahead from Quorn aboard No48305"

It's been a while since I was last on the Great Central-based 8F No48305: November in fact, when I did a morning turn on it as part of the "Last Hurrah" job. This afternoon, whilst working the A4 turn with driver Alan and cleaner Callum, I was lucky enough to be reacquainted with this charming Stanier 2-8-0. Signing in once again at 13:00 (much like my A4 turn the other week on No78019), I duly met up with the rest of the crew before we awaited the return of our rostered locomotive. Right on time, the eight freight came drifting across from platform one road to stand behind the ground discs...

Having relieved driver Dave and fireman Pete, we moved forward for a top up at the water column. Tender tank full, we hissed around to the front of the waiting stock on platform one road. Once coupled up, with the lamp on the top bracket denoting a local passenger service, we had around 20 minutes before our booked departure...

As with all things, you always find yourself having to readjust to something when you've had a few months off of it. I've done a good few turns so far this year, but none until today on this 8F. Once I'd got my bearings again, I made up a nice, level fire in preparation for departure. On time at 14:20, the guard gave us the "right away" and off we went for Leicester North, calling at all stations. The 8F was as free steaming as I remembered, jogging along nicely with the six-coach train. At Leicester, the engine sat quietly whilst we engaged in the booked slot for footplate visits...

I fired back to Loughborough where we briskly ran round the train again before another 20 minutes or so of break, prior to our final working at 16:15. Cleaner Callum fired this trip and made a grand job of it. Here, the 8F saunters around the bend at Swithland, approaching the up outer home, which in this case is showing a green...

At Leicester we just had the usual 15-minute run round, which we completed in good time. By now the 'Fish & Chip' headboard had been fitted in readiness for the 8F's next working: the chippy train. In the summer months Saturday nights can often see a two-trip chippy working alongside the usual two-trip night diner...

The run back was equally as enjoyable as the outbound trip and Callum kept up a good head of steam whilst also running the fire down for the longer layover at Loughborough. Below shows a rushed action snap of Callum flinging a few rounds of coal into the firebox, whilst driver Alan checks the speed on the vacuum brake...

Once back at Loughborough, with a quiet fire and 2/3 of a glass of water, No48305 was signalled from platform one back across to shed road one. Once back on shed, we completed the cleaning of the smokebox and ashpan before I spooned a few fresh shovelfuls around the fire, in readiness for incoming crew Steve and Aaron. At the GCR this is known as a partial disposal, allowing the lion's share of the job to be done now rather than at say 22:00 when the engines tend to return from their evening duties. The night diner crew then took over from us and we could breathe a sigh of relief after a pleasant two trips out on the 1943-built 2-8-0...

"No48305 ready to leave shed for the chippy train"

I must thank Alan and Callum for a pleasant afternoon out with No48305. I'm next on on Friday, with the roster penning me to Standard Five No73156. Thanks all...

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.

A Brief Encounter With "Britannia"...

"70000 'Britannia' feathers as she awaits the signal"

One of the positives of working in an office adjacent to the Northampton loop line is the regular passing of steam workings to and from the smoke. Both Saphos and West Coast regularly bring steam and diesel locomotives either north or south, to or from their Southall base in London, giving a minute or so of brain break on a working day! Today it was another Saphos working, headed by BR Standard pioneer No70000 "Britannia". The 7P Britannia class 4-6-2: of 1951 vintage: arrived on time from the north with her lengthy rake of immaculate blood and custard coaches...

Riddles' 55-strong BR Standard Class 7 pacifics were built between 1951 and 1954 as the first of the BR Standard range. Riddles and his team took everything learnt from pre-nationalisation designs of the previous decades and designed the best of those features into his locomotive classes. "Britannia" is one of two survivors (the other being NRM-owned "Oliver Cromwell") of this class and today lives as part of the Saphos fleet in her build town of Crewe. It was lovely to see her today. I think I caught a glimpse of her in steam once before, although a good while back in 2011 at speed through Banbury on a charter. Since then she has alluded me so it was nice to see her briefly this lunchtime, slowing to a stand for a red signal at Northampton's north junction...

After simmering away at the peg for a while (with the occasional lift of the valves), the engine received the road to continue her journey southward. With a crisp, loud bark at the chimney, off she went into the distance with her long train, tailed by an idling Class 47. The noise of the two-cylinder Brit was something to behold as she got the weight moving, accelerating towards London leaving her voice on the breeze. What a fine machine: "Rule, Britannia!". Thanks all for reading...

Please note that the above images were taken from land outside of the NR boundary fence.

Going Great Central: A Sunny Saturday With 78019...

Today involved a pleasant afternoon working the A4 turn at the Great Central Railway with driver Simon, aboard No78019. The turn's code: A4: was quite apt really as, on my way over to Loughborough, I briefly captured an A4 sprinting over the Coventry Road bridge at Bulkington. 1937-built "Sir Nigel Gresley" was working a Euston to Chester job and looked a picture under the blue skies as she sauntered by...

With the A4 having chattered away northward, I continued my journey to the GCR's Loughborough base. Having arrived in good time for my 13:00 booked sign on, I signed in and read the notices. Our rostered engine was No78019, which I last had at Easter on the E1 turn with Alan. Also out today was the 8F No48305, which continues to elude me it seems! I think I've only had the eight twice since passing out. Anyhow, today it was a Standard 2. Meanwhile, 19's sister Standard 2 (18) was basking in the sun on No1 road. The cleaners had had a go at her and she looked much shinier...

In the shed were two green things (making a change from all of the BR black stuff whilst the Hall is away on holiday!). Southernmost stood the tender for the A1 Pacific replica "Tornado", having recently returned from the works of LMS, just across Loughborough. I believe the tender is expecting the rest of the engine in the very near future, in readiness for running in and testing. Behind the tender stood a beautifully turned out Hunslet Austerity, also from LMS. This is a lovely looking thing...

Hunslet produced 485 Austerity's between 1943 and 1964, with this one being No3809 of 1953. The engine has just completed a fifteen year overhaul and looks incredible. It has to be the nicest example I've seen, although Tyseley-based "Fred" is also going to be a stunner. Fitted with a Giesl ejector and signwritten as NCB No18, the engine is visiting to take part in the upcoming 'Steam to Mountsorrel' event. It's been a number of years since steam ran up the branch and No18 is here to take that mantle. I wish it was staying forever: it's lovely. I look forward to seeing her running...

Having drooled over the immaculate NCB No18 for a while, it was soon time to meet up with driver Simon and wander down towards the water column in readiness to take over the Standard 2. Driver Neil and fireman Michael soon arrived with the mogul and we began the usual ritual of exchanging our kit bags. All was reported to be well with the engine as we prepared to draw forward for water...

"Handing over" (J.Garner)

A quick hazy shot in the cab of No78019, whilst Simon was down on the phone to the signalman requesting the road for us to grab a splash of water...

Tender topped up with water, we ran round via the totem pole to reach our waiting stock in platform two. The engine was duly coupled on and the lamps changed to reflect our class 2 (in every sense) 14:20 departure. It was going to be a warm one...

The first trip saw us carrying a footplate passenger as we performed a memorial, whereby the ashes of a friend or loved one are brought onto the engine and then cast into the firebox whilst the engine is working. The ashes will then be spread by the exhaust of the working engine at a beauty spot along the line, usually at picturesque Swithland. This is a fitting tribute to railway lovers and is a fairly common request now at the railway. With our memorial completed, our footplate passenger thanked us and left us at Rothley before we continued onward to Leicester North. Here there was the additional ten minutes in the timetable to allow for footplate visits...

Footplate visits completed, we briskly ran round the train before continuing back to Loughborough. After another quick spin around there, we worked the 16:15 departure. At Rothley there was a few minutes delay whilst we awaited a train to clear the single line section for us and to return the token. I therefore grabbed the unusual opportunity to snap the engine awaiting departure from this pretty station...

Line clear and token received, we were soon chugging towards Thurcaston on the single line section, with No78019 in very good voice...

It's always nice to work a Standard 2 as they need a little more thinking about than the bigger engines. The bigger stuff (like the 5 or the 8) just have so much reserve, whereas the smaller class 2 (although perfectly capable) keeps you on your toes to make sure that all remains in hand. After a quick final run round at Leicester, we prepared for our final northward departure in slightly cooler conditions...

Once back at Loughborough, we grabbed a splash at the column before steaming around to No2 shed road for disposal. The 8F would stay out to work the night diner but, with no chip train tonight, No78019's work was complete. We stopped short of No2 road pit so that I could check the smokebox, before dropping the engine back to level with her sister on No1 road. The ashpan was then emptied and the boiler filled up before isolating anything that required it. The engine was then left to simmer for the night, alongside her consecutively numbered sister...

I must thank Simon for a pleasant afternoon out aboard the punchy No78019 and of course thank the GCR for having me once again. This is the first of three turns that I've got booked in May, with the next one rostered for two weeks today. Ciao...

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.