There was a time when footplate turns at the award winning Statfold Barn Railway near Tamworth were few and far between. When I started crewing there the railway only held three very private enthusiast-based events each year and, depending on which engines were required, we weren't always needed. Nowadays it's an entirely different story, with many family based events following in the wake of our pioneering Giant Miniature Weekend. Today I was rostered to drive one of the six locomotives performing at the Family Fun Weekend and had been looking forward to another taste of the handle. My name was originally penned to the elderly French Corpet but, nice as she is, I wasn't disappointed to see her exchanged yesterday for "Howard". Don't get me wrong, the Paris-built Pannier is a very nice engine, but you can't really beat a Brazil. I arrived at Statfold this morning a little before 06:30...
Two day events such as this one obviously require double the crew and Max (who had been driving yesterday) had kindly offered to be my Fireman today. To give him a hand, I decided to light the engine up. Having cleared the grate and performed all of the usual checks, I lit some rags on the shovel to get us started...
With the rags blazing away on the grate, I added a strong helping of dry wood blocks before a layer of coal. The encouraging crackling which followed assured me that all was well and a dark plume of smoke was soon climbing skyward from "Howard"s chimney. Max soon appeared and began ashing out whilst I made my way around with the oil cans. "Howard" features marine-type rods with inside Stephenson's valve gear and, although the eccentrics require an arm like Mr Tickle to reach, she isn't really a problem to lubricate. As I worked, it was lovely to look up and take in the spectacle of several chimneys smoking away on the shed frontage...
As she was still so hot from yesterdays efforts, "Howard" took no time at all to begin making steam. In fact she began singing almost as soon as I'd dropped the rags onto the bars! Whilst I finished the oiling, Max gave the engine a wipe over before Chris arrived to take our breakfast orders: good man!...
Just before 09:00, as the warm sun began to shine down on us, we were given the board to leave the shed. We were now coupled to the Peckett "Harrogate" and our green duo would form the first empty stock move of the day. Soon enough, with drain cocks hissing loudly, we were steaming out into the fields bound for Oak Tree via Cogan Halt. Having made a fair assault on the bank, the pair are seen together at Oak Tree at around 09:20. "Howard" had been uncoupled and we were awaiting permission to proceed light engine back to Statfold on the token run...
Leaving Oak Tree behind, it felt kind of unusual to be thrashing along with no train to pull! Arriving back into Statfold we were signalled into the headshunt to await the next inbound service, which would of course be "Harrogate". This train would form our first passenger train of the day: the first of many...
When the time came, I gently backed "Howard" up into the old bay platform to couple onto the waiting coaches. Chris, with perfect timing, then arrived with breakfast and we enjoyed our cob with time to spare before our departure...
The weather conditions were already fantastic and it wasn't even 10:00. "Howard" was basking in the warm July sunshine as we awaited the road...
Soon enough, with a "Right Away" from the Guard, off we went. Max had "Howard" singing to him as we steamed out into the fields with our coaches following steadily behind. I don't mind double heading on the open days but it's certainly nice to be out on your own with the engine now and again; you just have so much more control. There were three train rakes in operation today, with trains passing at Oak Tree and Statfold (much like GMW practise). After a very pleasant first run, we turned "Howard" on the turntable before awaiting the shunt signal...
From then on it was just a steady procession of more of the same. We steamed out, came back, turned the engine, had a few minutes in the headshunt and then took another train out. I believe we did 9 trips in the end but I must admit my memory escapes me! "Howard" was on top form all day...
Here, with the sun taking a break, "Howard" waits at Oak Tree...
In a very rare state of Statfold affairs we ended up being "first off, last back" and hauled the final passenger train at 17:00. The almost continuous sunshine had kept the visitors out right up until closing time and so we picked up the final returnees on our homeward run. Here, "Howard" waits at the balloon loop...
Returning to Statfold with the last train, I reflected on a very enjoyable and carefree day. Once safely stabled in Platform 2, we were shunt released by "Alpha" before I drove "Howard" back up onto the shed frontage ready for disposal...
With a nice level fire and a full boiler, we left the 1936-built Brazil with her chimney cap fitted. "Howard" (formerly "Josephine"), despite having many miles under her belt, continues to give good, reliable service and is as plucky and willing an engine as ever I've driven. It was a pleasure to crew her again today and I must thank Max for his company and assistance. Another very pleasant seven trips on the regulator: Max drove the other two. Many thanks all for reading, cheers, Sam...
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