Peckett Perfection: Driving Statfold's Wonderful "Harrogate"...

"On The Move With The Peckett" (Pic - R.Dimmick)

Over the years I've been lucky enough to have many great footplate days on the narrow gauge Statfold Barn Railway and today added another to the increasing list. I was surprised a few weeks ago to find that I was rostered to drive the lovely big Peckett "Harrogate" at todays June Enthusiasts Day and had been looking forward to it enormously. After my now traditional McDonalds breakfast stop on route, I continued on towards Statfold and arrived in the usual gate queue at just before 6am. Once let in, we all set-off towards our respective steeds via the signing on book in the lamp hut. "Harrogate" was sitting on No3 road on the shed frontage...

17 of Statfold's fleet were to be in steam today, including freshly repaired newcomer "Jack": the 18" gauge Hunslet Waril Class of 1898. "Jack" would be sharing duties on the dual gauge tramway with Burton & Ashby No14. The Peckett was already fairly hot, having had a warming fire put in yesterday to gently bring her round. Peckett's built some beautiful engines at their famous Atlas Works in Bristol, with their products often carrying plenty of brass and being designed with an air of handsomeness far beyond their purpose. This one, No2050 of 1944, is no exception and is a pleasure to be on. I've driven "Harrogate" a few times now but this would be only the second full day I've had on her. With time on our side, I snapped "Harrogate" alongside the last industrial steam locomotive built in Britain: Hunslet "Trangkil No4" of 1971...

Fireman Ben duly arrived and made preparations to light the embryo fire. One of the few engines to have been pre-warmed and having been stabled near the back of the queue to boot, we wouldn't need to rush this morning. With the grate cleared and all of the usual checks made, Ben lit up some rags on the shovel with his ever trusty pack of matches. The pile was soon ablaze... 

A pile of wood was then scattered around the firebox atop the burning rags and the encouraging crackling which followed as the doors were closed showed we were in business. Statfold uses a Scottish coal which is very smoke-inducing. However, it burns well and takes easily. With the wood having fully caught, Ben added some of the black stuff and the dark plume rising steadily from the warm chimney was a good sign. With the fire now going well, Ben turned his attentions to cleaning the large 0-6-0 whilst I made my way around with the oil cans. All around, the other Statfold engines were coming to life and we enjoyed the pleasant morning atmosphere...

2050 is fairly easy to oil up. A large Wakefield mechanical lubricator is mounted on the Fireman's side and this feeds the axleboxes, cylinders and slide-bars. The outside rods, crossheads and inside Stephenson's valve gear can then be reached with a feeder. I primed up the mechanical before joining Ben on the cleaning rounds. As the 08:30 safety briefing approached we decided to grab our Bacon & Sausage cob before we were required on the lawn: very nice it was too...

Now, before I continue with the report of the day I think I'll discuss some Peckett history. Built in 1944, No2050 was supplied to Harrogate Gas Works where she and her shed-mates worked coal trains through a very tight tunnel. Because of this feature on the route, the Harrogate engines were fitted with cut-down cabs to clear the tunnel arch and, I have to be honest, they weren't attractive. Having stood in "Barber" (another Harrogate engine which still carries the original cab) I can tell you they aren't suited to preservation driving with those cabs! Retired in 1956 when the railway closed, 2050 was acquired by the then fledgling Ffestiniog Railway in 1957. Bought as part of a plan to provide extra capacity for the FR in later years, No2050 lay in store for over 20 years. Here she is awaiting restoration in 1977...

"2050 In Storage At Ffestiniog in 1977" (Pic - Ian McLoughlin, Blackpool)

I believe restoration on the FR was attempted in around 1987 but when they tested the locomotive along the route it was later found to be unsuitable. The long rigid wheelbase made the locomotive disagree with some of the lines curves and points and I believe it fell off once or twice during the trials. 2050 and the FR parted company later that year when she was sold to the Bredgar & Wormshill Railway. There she was restored to working order and named "Harrogate" after her original place of employment. She eventually found her way to Statfold where a lot of true Peckett parts were added such as the steam brake valve, front mounted re-railing jack and lamps. She looks lovely now, really lovely. Perhaps the purists will argue that she should have the 'original' cab but I feel that any designer would struggle to produce a more handsome engine than today's "Harrogate". At around 10:00 we were called on to take a train and so we mounted our fine steed before hissing off shed. Dropping down through the yard, we came to rest outside the signalbox ready to await the next 'up' train...

Soon enough the Penrhyn duo of "Marchlyn" & "Sybil Mary" barked into view and strode by with their train into Platform 2. The Brazil pair were then given the road to depart and once they were in the Oak Tree section we were given the disc to pull up onto our train. The ever responsive Peckett hissed cautiously backwards, expelling reams of condensate from her large cylinders. Once coupled onto the train we secured the engine and awaited the young Quarry's from Oak Tree...

With "Statfold" and "Jack Lane" clear, the road changed and the starter signal was given for "Harrogate" to depart. Following a "Right Away" from the Guard, off we went. Releasing the air brakes didn't provide a still 'cold' 2050 enough encouragement to move off on the downward gradient but a breath of steam soon got the wheels turning. Token on board, we hissed out towards the tram shed where the drains were closed for the pull around the corner towards the Jurassic Park gates. 2050 slipped along the track easily, pulling the ex-Bredgar coaches: the ex-Bredgar coaches with the ex-Bredgar engine! I love driving this engine, I really do: it's just so responsive and manageable. Down at the balloon loop, 2050 took a break whilst we awaited the Krauss & Corpet double act from Oak Tree...

With permission from the controller, a blast on 2050's Peckett whistle heralded the start of our move around the loop. It's just so easy: no sweat, no hassle, she just moves away without a care. A good strong engine on 2ft gauge tracks, "Harrogate" laughs at pretty much any load. One interesting quirk is the traditional Peckett tendency to not rush. I've always found that they aren't racers. They'll pull a house down if you want them to but all in their own time. Indeed, with "Harrogate" there is no need to rush, she'll just settle down and plod along nicely pulling whatever you want. It's just lovely. After a steady trundle back to Oak Tree we took water at the column before grabbing a cuppa' from the tea hut. Note the holes in the front of the tank: the forward section is a dummy provided to maintain her good looks...

"Alpha" soon passed us on the next 'down' train, clearing the Statfold section for us to depart. Green flag received and token on board, off we went again. "Isibutu" was waiting in Platform 1 with the freight as we chugged in with 2050, coming to rest just upgrade of the footbridge. With the Bagnall gone, the Penrhyn pair took over our train whilst we awaited the road to the turntable. Max caught us having a spin...

"Going For A Spin with 2050" (Pic - M.Waldron)

The spinning of the turntable usually attracts a gaggle of enthusiastic onlookers and so we're often sent round more than once! Once free, we steamed cautiously through the loco shed to reach the yard where we had probably 20 minutes before we were called for our next outing. It's the usual "come when called" scenario...

Our second trip was just as pleasant with "Harrogate" being her usual happy, free-steaming and willing self. The road ahead is seen from Cogan Halt...

I can't really say anymore than we just had such a lovely time and I'm sure my enthusiasm for the engine will come across in this post! It was a fairly uneventful day in fact: nothing went wrong and it was most enjoyable. 2050 herself was faultless. After another break on the shed following our second trip, our third train occurred at around 13:00. I snapped "Harrogate" waiting patiently for the road at Statfold Junction station. You'd never tell there were well over 1200 visitors on site...

"Harrogate" waits patiently for permission from the controller at Cogan Halt...

An afternoon moment of reflection on the shed during a layover period...

Our 14:30 trip saw me on the opposite side of the footplate with Fireman Ben trying out the handle. He'd never driven "Harrogate" before but I'm sure he enjoyed it: who wouldn't?! Here, we trundle along the lower section on the 'down' working...

"2050 Approaches The Balloon Loop" (Pic - M.Waldron)

Our triumphant fourth return to the shed at Statfold called for a '99' from the Ice Cream Van. Ben kindly fetched the ice creams whilst I waited with "Harrogate"...

"Love A '99' On The Footplate"

At this point after four very nice trips we were quite sure that we'd be waiting on shed until the cavalcade. However, to my surprise, we were called down again to take out the second-last passenger train. I drove it out, Ben drove it back...

Ben stands poised and ready for action as we await the road on the 'last one'...

As much as I love "Isibutu" I don't think I could ever get tired of "Harrogate". It's just such a nice engine and I had a lovely time driving it again today. The arrival at the balloon loop came all too soon and we swapped over in readiness for the return run. 2050 was still performing wonderfully...

There was just time for a quick 'crew snap' at Cogan Halt whilst we awaited the Corpet & the Krauss. Thanks matey for your efforts...

With that Ben drove us neatly around the loop before we steamed casually back to Statfold via Oak Tree. Upon our arrival in Statfold's Platform 2 we were shunt-released before I was given the road to drive "Harrogate" slowly back down into the headshunt via the signalbox. Coming to rest on top of "Jack Lane" in readiness for the cavalcade, I screwed the engine down and made everything secure before disposal procedures began. The engines were to be left in the headshunt for the evening and as we only needed the whistle for the 'blow up' I bedded the engine down whilst Ben cleaned up the saddle tank. Having deadened the fire and filled the boiler we took centre stage in the whistle up with the screaming Peckett whistle blasting loudly to the enjoyment of the assembled hoards. And with that, the job was done.

With the engines ready to be left for the night we crews returned to the mess room to sign off duty, wash up and fill in the engine's report books. What a great day on "Harrogate". I must say thanks to Fireman Ben for his work on the footplate today, thanks to Statfold for having us and thanks to the photographers who kindly sent in images for use in this post. I love days like this, just great. Peckett's built their last steam engine in 1958 and it wasn't long before the company disappeared into the history books. Despite their remit being basically 'ignorant industrials', Peckett's set themselves a cut above with the attractiveness of their products despite then sending them to collieries, gas works and dockyards. A great number of their machines survive in preservation, although you'll only find a handful kept in as prime condition as "Harrogate". Thank you all, cheers, Sam...