Statfold: Driving A Peckett On The "Santa Express"...

Another first for the Statfold Barn Railway in 2018 is an intense program of "Santa Express" workings, operating every weekend on the run up to Christmas. Utilising two of the Statfold fleet top and tailing a festively decorated four-coach train, the railway has a variety of activities on offer in and around its Roundhouse Museum at Oak Tree Halt. I have three turns rostered to me during December and today was the first of that trio of outings. Due to the long hours associated with these Christmas trains, the SBR had decided to half the turns into AM and PM shifts. I was booked onto the PM shift today which involved signing in at 13:00 ready to take over the locomotive just prior to the 14:00 departure. All three of my "Santa Express" turns have been rostered to the lovely Peckett No2050 "Harrogate" which I last drove at the June Enthusiasts Day. Myself and Fireman Max were ready on the platform as 2050 chugged in from Oak Tree with the heavy train. Once stabled at the stop board, we relieved Will and Joey after their morning shift as "Harrogate" basked in the afternoon sun...

The top and tail operation saves time on both uncoupling as well as disconnecting the train and locomotive lighting during the darker hours. The large Hudswell Clarke "Fiji" would lead us out of Statfold on the 14:00 train, with "Harrogate" tailing on the back. Max was getting his fire ready for the afternoon ahead as we coasted down to the balloon loop. With four coaches and a trailing locomotive the train consist is fairly heavy, particularly on the short but sharp banks of the SBR. Therefore, holding the weight of your engine whilst tailing does help the lead loco maintain adhesion in these greasy conditions. At Oak Tree our passengers alighted to see the various attractions on offer and of course visit Santa in his Grotto. I took the opportunity to splash some oil around the Peckett whilst "Fiji" took on water...

Leaving Oak Tree behind, the lengthy "Express" returned to Statfold and "Harrogate" aided "Fiji" into the platform, where a considerable crowd awaited us. The "Santa" workings are timed at 90-minute intervals, although the trains run at 30-minute intervals to increase capacity and to speed up bringing visitors back from Oak Tree. Therefore, every third working is very well loaded and the Peckett's 14:30 train would feel quite heavy! With all ready, we awaited the "Right Away"...

With a blast on the Peckett whistle, I released the air and steam brakes before letting the weight get us "on the move". The gradient through the platforms at Statfold is enough to roll you down towards the signalbox without effort from the locomotive. Steaming out past the tram shed into the fields, 2050 got the train well on the move before I shut off at the Jurassic Park gates. The line drops away here towards Oak Tree and the momentum of the train as it crests the climb will carry you quickly downgrade. The white light on the approach to Oak Tree shows that the weighted points are correctly set for the loop road and so we approached and passed through. Climbing out of Oak Tree is swiftly followed by a sharp downgrade which requires some train braking to hold the consist back before curving onto the long straight towards the balloon loop. At the balloon loop another white light denotes that the road is correctly set and, once "Fiji" is clear of the points, you open up to get to grips with the curved gradient which takes you around in a big circle.

Leaving the balloon loop across the weighted points, the engine will chuff nicely towards the foot of the bank where some good strength is required to drag the train over the hill. At Oak Tree we watered the Peckett before departing back towards Statfold. You can really feel the power of 2050 under your hand. The 1944-built tank engine is quite subtle and responsive for such a large 2ft gauge loco and I love driving her. She will do almost anything asked of her with ease, although this heavily loaded "Santa" train was certainly giving her something to think about! Like most Peckett's, "Harrogate" is a punchy engine built for short bursts of brute strength and therefore does everything at her own pace. You can't race this engine and nor should you. She's one of those where you find that sweet spot on the regulator and leave her to it. A lovely old thing. Later on in the day, 2050 is spotted at Oak Tree on the tail of "Fiji"s 16:00 trip, still steaming and behaving well...

As night began to fall, the festive illuminations on the train really came to life. I'm much more used to a traditional paraffin lamp - which we duly lit - but the colourful lighting around the engines and coaches did look quite impressive. The light was fading fast as a cold winter's night drew in for our 16:30 departure from Statfold...

Max drove the 16:30 whilst I had a go at firing. The Peckett only really needs the holes in the firebed filled and she'll hug the red line throughout her journey. Despite the heavy train, the SBR doesn't require long bursts of sustained steaming as you shut off so regularly for either sharp curves or approaching facing points that the boiler can just catch up. Later on, in the rain, "Harrogate" waits at Oak Tree with the returning 17:30 train whilst Max adds coal to the fire...

The 17:30 is the last outward passenger departure, swiftly followed by a 17:45 departure from Oak Tree with returning visitors. It's amazing when you're driving at Statfold how much difference those extra visitors make: a fully loaded four-coach train is very much heavier than a half-empty one! Back at Statfold, "Fiji" took over for our ECS run to the balloon loop where the lights and generator down there would be shut off prior to returning to Oak Tree. Unusually, 2050 hauled the train back from the balloon loop to keep things in the required order...

The returning trains would now work in a shuttle mode between Oak Tree and Statfold, ferrying the remaining visitors back to their cars after their Santa experience. There was quite a lot on offer at the festively decorated Roundhouse, everything from cookie decorating to letter writing, bouncy castles, children's entertainment and of course the Grotto and Father Christmas. The four visiting reindeer were also quite a draw for visitors as they rested in their purpose built pen near the station...

We then performed three shuttle trips with 2050 on the Statfold end. "Fiji" led us down as ECS before pulling up at the balloon loop end of the station. The Peckett then summoned her strength to haul the train in to load up again. The final shuttle arrived back at Statfold at around 19:15 and "Harrogate" is later seen resting on the shed whilst Max rakes the fire through after a pleasant evening...

"Fiji" meanwhile stood being disposed under the harsh shed lighting...

There we go then: one down, two to go. My next SBR turn is another PM shift on 2050 next Sunday. Thank you to Alex for rostering me and thanks to Max for putting up with me as your driver. It was a very pleasant evening ferrying people back and forth to see Santa and I believe it is only the second time in my short steam career that I've ever taken over an engine already prepared and in steam! I'm not used to such delicate luxury! Thank you all for reading and of course, Merry Christmas...