Statfold: Sunny Saturday with "Alpha"...

"All Smiles with Alpha" (Pic - M.Waldron)

Hi all. This weekend I was rostered to drive both days of the Statfold "Back to Basics" Enthusiasts event which replaced the previously cancelled March do. Myself and Fireman Ben were both pleased (and also a little surprised) when the published roster saw us penned to two fine machines: "Alpha" on the Saturday and "Isibutu" on the Sunday. The Met Office had promised a scorching weekend and the temperature was already rising well as I drove along the A444 this morning in order to reach Statfold a little before 06:30. Arriving at the shed area with the hoards of fellow footplate crew, we each signed in and proceeded to our various steeds. Ben had already completed the necessary checks and had lit "Alpha"s fire. According to the notices, we were required for the first outbound train of the day so needed to be ready for 08:40...

With the 1922-built Hudswell Clarke already crackling away to herself nicely, I began oiling round. I felt particularly familiar with "Alpha" as I was driving her last Monday for a photo charter. The sun was already very warm and the cloudless blue sky ensured that it was going to be a cracking day for weather. As I topped up the various oiling points around the immaculate 0-6-0, the smoke-filled atmosphere on the shed frontage gave a hazy backdrop for the determined morning sun...

Whilst I oiled up the engine, Ben was giving her a wipe over with some rags. The now traditional 08:15 Safety Briefing was followed by breakfast from the snap van...

A little behind time (not our fault!), we were given the signal to leave shed and duly hissed downgrade towards the signalbox. No19 had already gone off on the line inspection and the first public train of the day was being marshalled in Platform 1. Once given the road, we set back in order to couple up to 1891-built Quarry Hunslet "Cloister". She was waiting with "Sybil Mary"...

The undoubted star of the event was the huge compound Garrett "K1", built in 1909 for the Tasmanian Government Railways. The engine was steamable in good time for the March event but this was sadly cancelled at the last minute due to the impending UK lockdown. Today, "K1" was in steam and looking the business for her excited audience. She would leave Statfold on the days second public trip, once we'd returned with the token. She's certainly a hefty lump on 2ft gauge tracks...

When "right time" came, we departed Statfold with our unusual trio of locomotives. Apart from a small chuff to get the weight moving towards the Jurassic Park gates when leaving Statfold Junction, the majority of the run to the balloon loop is fairly easy going. "Alpha" and her Quarry shed mates easily took the ex-Bredgar train to Cogan Halt. Here, the Hudswell would be uncoupled from "Cloister" ready to return to Statfold light engine with the token. This would then set the tokens up for the days running...

Leaving the Quarry Hunslets behind, "Alpha" ticked easily back to Statfold. It was quite unusual running "bang road" at Oak Tree, slipping past "Isibutu" as she waited with the freight wagons. The sight of "Howard" bowling into Oak Tree on the High Level did create a very brief moment of horror, reassured by the token hanging on our rear cab sheet! Oak Tree can become a hive of activity on Enthusiasts Days, with three separate lines converging on it independently. Once back at Statfold we were signalled into the yard to allow "K1" to depart. After a brief wait, we were called onto the next outbound passenger working as the sun shone down...

As I said the other week, "Alpha" is really master of the job and is just so easy to drive and fire. On the Low Level railway she really will do pretty much anything asked of her with relative ease. Here she is at Cogan Halt...

After a very pleasant second run back to Statfold, we were turned on the table in readiness for a brief spell on the shed apron. Fireman Ben had the job well in hand and "Alpha" was steaming a treat and proving no trouble at all...

"Alpha on the Turntable" (Pic - M.Waldron)

Though no doubt a world away from her working home at the Ryam Sugar Company in the East Indian state of Bihar, "Alpha" seems to enjoy a fairly relaxed retirement in South Staffordshire. She is a very nice engine indeed...

"Alpha on Shed" (Pic - M.Waldron)

The day went on pretty much like that, rotating between services with the other engines. There were 13 in steam today: two on the High Level, "Roger" the Wren in the garden and the remaining 10 operating either alone or in pairs on the Low Level. The reduced visitor numbers (closely monitored to allow for appropriate social distancing) really seemed to work out well, with the place seeming busy enough but not too crowded. After our third trip, my cornish pasty was ready. Cooked to perfection in the high temperatures of the smokebox: 1 trip at Gas Mark 200...

Lunch devoured, Ben took over on the handle for the next two trips whilst I did my best to mess up the firing. The sun was still shining well and the whole experience proved to be very pleasant indeed. We do live for days like this...

Below, with Ben driving, "Alpha" slips through the new passing loop at Strawberry Park on the approach to Oak Tree. This is the home of the new event field and a new station has been built to improve access for field-based events. For this weekend, the loop was locked out and trains were passing through. American passenger saloon "Carabassett" was on display in the platform in a rare escape from the roundhouse...

"Passing Strawberry Park" (Pic - M.Waldron)

Finally, "Alpha" stands awaiting the road from the departure-side of the balloon loop with our fourth returning train, bound for Statfold Junction...

In the end we did 6 round trips today, finishing with a small jaunt out to Strawberry Park for a photo-line up around 5pm with the rest of the days engines. It had been a wonderful first day of the "Back to Basics" Enthusiasts event and it was again a pleasure to drive "Alpha". I must thank Ben for his firing efforts and Max for use of some of his photos from the day. All that remains for me to say is, it's great to be firmly back on the handle! Roll on tomorrow with my favourite Bagnall! Cheers all, Sam...