Hi all. Today myself and JB had a very enjoyable outing on the visiting GWR 4575 Class No5542 at the Battlefield Line. Having re-familiarised ourselves with the Small Prairie last weekend on the 1940s special, we had been looking forward to our day turn. We'd arranged to meet at the gloomy gates of Shackerstone station at 6am and, as I removed the first lock, the roaring cry of the infamous 'Drover' hummed into earshot down Derby Lane. Having proceeded in convoy along the old trackbed to the car park, we unloaded our masses of clutter before staggering to the signing in room. An enthusiastic owl provided a final chorus before no doubt heading off for its slumber: the birds were not up yet! Signed in and notices read, we trudged up to the shed and discovered 5542 over the pit. Turning the shed lights on is always a pleasure as with each clunking relay you aren't sure whether to rejoice or duck! We dropped our stuff in the real Mess area before preparations began aboard the engine.
The pressure needle was doing its utmost to register a remaining breath of steam whilst a pleasant full glass of water was revealed alongside. In the firebox there were only a few ashes scattered across the bars but I decided to remove the deflector plate and go in, much to JB's surprise. Its hot and filthy in there but I prefer to have a cleaner grate so as to save efforts later. Its also a good opportunity to check the make up of the firebox including the stays, plate work, tubes, brick arch and of course the fusible plugs. Leaving the box as a spluttering grey mass of dust, I replaced the deflector and began making up the fire. I tend to add a 1-lump thick bed of coal across the bars, then wood then a good helping of rags. I then lit the ignition rag...
Meanwhile, JB was fumbling about with the hydrostatic and steam brake lubricators: both of which are best done early. Whilst I piled in the last few planks of wood, Britt brewed up having mercilessly thumped the tea boiler into life. We enjoyed a hot cuppa' whilst 42' crackled away on her embryo fire...
Tea supped, JB started oiling the outside whilst I prepared to do the ash pan. General practise is to do this in the morning so as to prevent over cooling the night before, as well as saving heavy dust from water cast upon raging embers. 42' has a pan wash which I used before opening the very snazzy hydraulic doors. Then came the ever pleasant 'romance of steam' task of wrestling a long rake about under the engine as oil, ash, water and dust cascade down from on high. Pan empty, JB passed through some feeders so that I could oil the inside Stephenson's valve gear and driving axleboxes. The general arrangement is typically Great Western, although some fair mountaineering was required to reach some of the points from below. Inside done, JB continued oiling the outside points along the coupling rods whilst I had a quick wash. Our 'Footplate Experience' participant soon arrived for his Silver course. This experience involves a light engine trip to Shenton and back prior to the commencement of public services. We managed to clean, coal and water the Prairie before our 09:45 departure from Shack and our participant took 42' easily southward. It was a lovely morning and the 2-6-2 was soon simmering at a tranquil Shenton...
Returning to Shackerstone, we watered 42' on the column before dropping her onto the waiting four-coach train. With 30 minutes to go before departure with the 11:15, Britt went off to brew up again whilst I had a wash and got changed...
Changed and ready for the off, I threw a couple of rounds into the firebox before injecting some water into the boiler. I like the cab on this engine...
5542 was built in 1928 as one of the 100-strong group of GWR 4575 Class engines. The 4575 Class were a later development of the older 4500 Class, employing larger water tanks that sloped towards the front of the locomotive as opposed to the earlier flat top examples. The Small Prairie includes 17" cylinders, a 200psi boiler and driving wheels of 4ft 7.5" which, when considered together, produce a tractive effort of 21, 250lbs. 5542 is one of 11 survivors of her class and the type is quite at home in almost any preserved railway setting. She carries the push-pull apparatus that allows her to work in Autotrain mode and indeed these engines did a lot of that on lightly loaded branch lines. I like them: they're fine machines.
After an easy first round trip, 5542 stands at Shenton with the 13:05...
Leaving Shenton upgrade, 5542 strides away from the Battlefield...
With the needle hugging the red line, a good level in the glass and 42' ticking along nicely, it was time to devour the breakfast cobs Britt had ordered...
All was well aboard the footplate as we steamed along...
After watering at Shackerstone we dropped 5542 onto the waiting 13:45 trip. She was still looking clean as she awaited departure...
The 13:45 was very pleasant and fairly uneventful. 5542 was steaming very easily and proved no trouble. She's smooth, powerful and user friendly. Here, she waits at Market Bosworth with the returning 14:20 train...
I fired the engine on about three different fires today. The first trip I kept it fairly thin, the second trip I filled the back up and on the third trip I fired the back and surrounds like a saucer. On all three variants the loco steamed like no tomorrow, although we were only pottering gently through the Leicestershire countryside...
The road ahead from Market Bosworth; unfortunately the upper quadrant signals are always 'off' in both directions as the signalbox is out of use...
Having received the "Right Away", 5542 steams out of Market Bosworth towards the international airport at Airport Bridge...
When we sauntered back into Shackerstone with the returning third trip, David was there waiting for us. He would join us on our remaining two outings of the day: little did he know he would end up firing for Britt to save his shoulder so I could drive...
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| "5542 With The 15:00 Train" (Pic - D.Hanks) |
With the engine once again watered and coupled up, we were ready for the off. I collected the necessary Magnums before returning to the footplate to perform the brake test. With a whistle and a green flag, we steamed out of Shackerstone. 5542 is responsive on both the regulator and reverser, much like 5521 that we had a few years ago. Ticking along nicely with minimal pilot valve and the reverser well up, the job is easy as the engine motors along.
David, although he was in his normal clothes, had no trouble keeping the pressure up during his first run for a couple of years on 5542: she's a dream. I really enjoyed driving the Prairie. David caught me backing the engine down onto the last train home. Another great experience aboard another fine engine...
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| "Running Round 5542" (Pic - D.Hanks) |
Coupled up for the final train home, 5542 awaits right time before I drop down to refit the front bag. When running light engine on a combi braked machine we always run with a bag off to stop the pump creating a reservoir...
The obligatory blurry crew selfie aboard the Small Prairie...
The David column rises steadily from the chimney as right time nears...
Leaving Shenton on the final homeward train, 5542 slipped along easily with minimal effort. I really like this machine: its so pleasant to be on, no matter what side of the cab you stand. After a great run back to Shackerstone, we ticked gently into Platform 2 and dropped off the coaches. I then drove the Small Prairie back into the gloom of Shackerstone shed in readiness for disposal after a great day. Here we are back on the pit as we settle the engine for her rest...
Fire deadened, boiler filled, the necessary's isolated and chimney capped, 5542 was left to simmer away to herself. What a lovely old gal' this is: just lovely. I must thank JB for a cracking day out on the footplate with him at Shack and of course thank David for his firing efforts and photographs. A good day in good company on a good engine. Thank you all for reading again, cheers, Sam...
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