Statfold: Another Fijian Santa Express...

"Festively Decorated Statfold Engines In The Roundhouse Today"

"We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year". Evening all! This morning, early but certainly not bright, I was in the car and trundling along the wintry A444. The destination was once again the Statfold Barn Railway where I was booked to take the regulator of "Fiji" for another morning shift on the Santa Express trains. Last week with Steve & James was great fun and so I was looking forward to it, despite this mornings weather not being quite as pleasant. Arriving at a chilly SBR base a little before 07:00, I made my way to the lamp hut to sign in. Fireman Jon and trainee Jake duly arrived, as did the crew for "Harrogate". Whilst Jon made preparations for starting the embryo fire, I grabbed a cuppa' and had a chat with James, who would be driving the Peckett. As with last week, there was little need to rush as time was on our side. Oiling up could easily be completed at first light with plenty of time to spare...

Jon soon had a blaze on in the firebox of the 1912-built Hudswell Clarke. She must feel a world away from her former home in Fiji, where she worked at the Colonial Sugar Refining's Lautoka Mill. These days she enjoys a very different retirement, if you can call it that with hundreds of passengers to pull today...

Whilst Jon tended to the fire, I began oiling up and Jake made his way around the engine with some rags and polish. The Peckett would again be the first to leave shed, taking the coal wagon with it for the morning shunting procedure. To get to the final few oiling points, I had to draw the 0-6-0 forward a little, eventually coming to a stop on the ballasted area of the yard. This also allowed the area where we'd ashed out to be cleaned and brushed down. "Fiji" was now ready for her morning shift...

The engine was soon ready at the head of the 5-coach train, with Peckett "Harrogate" on the rear. Our departures from Statfold Junction would follow the same timetable as last week, performing runs at 30-minute intervals from 10:00 onwards. All of todays trains were pretty much sold out so we expected good loadings throughout the morning. By now pressure was nearing the red line and we were all set...

"Fiji" looks onward in the direction of travel, awaiting departure...

Right on time, away we went. The Santa operation at Statfold has to be pretty slick, otherwise time will slip and efficiency reduces. The Oak Tree departures should occur 15 minutes after the Statfold ones, meaning that you should aim for 10-11 minutes to traverse the railway, allowing time to drop off your passengers before the departure time from Oak Tree is reached. In honesty, with nothing to pass at Oak Tree or the balloon loop at Cogan Halt, time is easily kept without rushing. "Fiji" finds the job pretty effortless, doing most things quite easily in pilot valve and driven on the reverser. The only time we need to really pull well is the main bank but even then you can go up in second notch and full pilot without stress. The rear engine should always hold its own weight, testing the relationship between the two drivers. After a good first run, "Fiji" simmers with the ECS ready for the 10:30 trip, hauled by the Peckett...

The format of the day sees the first 2-3 return runs from Oak Tree run empty, filling up at Statfold Junction for the next outing. After these initial trips, the returning passengers: having seen Santa and completed the various activities: start to board the returning trains at Oak Tree, providing a busy swap over at peak times. Here, "Fiji" waits for outgoing passengers to alight on our 11:00 trip...

Returning to Statfold, I couldn't help but think how pleasant "Fiji" is to drive. I quite like it, much more gentle and responsive than you'd imagine. The large boiler and frame give the impression of a potential brute but in reality her small cylinders and well set-up regulator give her a gentle persona. Having followed the Peckett around the fields again on the 11:30 trip, Jon took the handle for the 12:00 outing. Will joined us on the footplate for that run, providing his usual comical criticism, much to Jons annoyance! This job wouldn't be half as good without the banter! For the 13:00 run I was back on the handle and the lads had the firing job well in hand. The engine was performing very well and even the earlier clouds had parted to reveal pleasant blue skies...

As we barked up towards Statfold Junction on our final run, leaving a long trail of drifting steam behind us, I felt a little regretful that we'd now got to hand the engine over. It's always the way when you're having a good day: you just want to carry on! Nevertheless, having come to a stand in platform 2, we swapped over with driver Paul and fireman Joey who would complete the afternoon shift. Handover completed, myself and Jon headed down to the roundhouse to see the latest arrival: Tasmanian Garrett "K1"...

Built by Beyer Peacock in 1909 for the North East Dundas Tramway in Tasmania, it is widely known as the first Garrett. Now usually resident on the Welsh Highland Railway, a recent agreement between the WHR and Statfold has seen this huge engine move to Tamworth for museum display. I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up steaming again either! It's a very big engine on 2ft gauge tracks, even making Bagnall "Isibutu" look small. It'll be interesting to see this compound Garrett in action and investigate its performance. Anyway, after a spot of lunch, I said a grateful thanks to Jon for a great morning on the footplate and headed for home. That's my last SBR steam turn for 2019 completed and what an enjoyable one it was. Take care all, Sam...