Picking up where we left off from yesterdays fabulous outing aboard Bagnall favourite "Isibutu", I arrived back at the SBR a little after 06:00 this morning. The enthusiastic sun was already breaking through on this warm Sunday morning and, having unloaded the car, I wandered across the field towards the High Level station. Known as Statfold Junctions Platform 3, the High Level platform tends to be where the engines for that line are prepared on open days. As I approached the area, the telltale plume of smoke blowing from between the trees gave away the fact that Fireman Ben had already lit up our charge for the day: chunky Peckett No2050 "Harrogate", of 1944. I passed by the engine on my way to the signing on room. Ben and Chris had the job well in hand already and with the engine having been out yesterday of course, we'd be in no rush this morning. She was already singing away to herself so couldn't have been far away from making steam. Having signed in and said hello to the other crews who were preparing their steeds on the shed frontage, I returned to "Harrogate" to begin oiling round as the sun climbed higher in the sky.
The Peckett is pretty straight forward to oil up. She carries a large Wakefield lubricator on the Firemans side which feeds the axleboxes, cylinders and slide bars. The valve gear is the traditional Stephensons arrangement and, despite being slightly smaller in scale, is almost identical to old "Sir Gomer"; the 1932-built OX1 who all of us ex-Shackerstone volunteers remain quietly fond of. It was a pleasant morning getting the Peckett ready for work, with Chris and Ben making a superb job of shining her up whilst I messed about with the oil cans. In front, the Quarry duo of "Cloister" and "Sybil Mary" were coupled on in readiness for the positioning move...
After the 08:30 Safety Briefing on the lawn and a chat and a cuppa' with the other crews, it was time to mount up in readiness for departure. The first move would see us leaving Platform 3 and continuing down the concrete road to Oak Tree. There, the train would be split so that the Quarry duo could be shunted onto their top and tailed freight train. The freight would share the High Level with our two-coach passenger train today. Our tail engine for the day was Hunslet Brazil class "Trangkil No4" of 1971. With all crews aboard and the signal off, the Guard blew his whistle and away we went. The gradient gets quite severe as you pass the starting signal so it's all hands to the brakes. Looking through the cab floor you can just make out the tyres, allowing you to check that you haven't locked up without leaning far from the cab. I hadn't driven on the high line for a couple of years and I had forgotten what a hard ride the concrete gives, although the bumping Quarry engines in front didn't help! Steadily, the four-loco ensemble made its way to a very sunny Oak Tree where we came to rest in the high level platform. Fireman Ben had just put a round on whilst we waited for the little engines to become clear of us so we could continue our journey...
Line clear, the Guard gave us the "Right Away" and off we went with drain cocks hissing. The Peckett has large cylinders which take a while to warm up of a morning so if you want a clean tank, keep those drains open! After a gentle hiss through the passing loop I shut off steam to descend the bank on the steam brake. The engine then chugged merrily to her first effort of the day: rounding the balloon loop. By now she was warming up nicely and steaming very well. The bank up to Oak Tree on the high level side is interesting to drive as there is a sharper radius curve at the bottom. With the engine having negotiated the worst of the curve you can open up and bark happily into the 'up' side of the passing loop and halt at the stop board. Here, Batesy gets "Howard" away from Oak Tree on the low level whilst we await our Quarry Hunslets...
With the Quarry's having passed us, we pulled forward into the platform to off load passengers before a prompt departure. Leaving Oak Tree the Peckett came into her own. Once "Trangkil" was clear of the bend I opened her up and linked her back. The bark is very crisp and she goes very well. Fireman Ben confirmed with a thumbs up that all was well on his side as we romped up towards the Jurassic Park gates. Easing off for the tram shed bend, I kept the steam on slightly to keep the momentum. The rails on the stiff climb up into Platform 3 had been hand sanded by the duty officer so we had more chance of negotiating the gradient easily. Passing the signalbox one-notch back, I opened 2050 up and she dug into the climb. It's a stiff gradient indeed and will get hold of even the most powerful engine in my view. Coming to rest in the platform, I screwed the engine down and we awaited our next departure. Here, "Harrogate" awaits the road into the balloon loop on our next chimney first working...
The day went on pretty much like that: we pulled one, they pulled one. When we were tailing we gave assistance where it was necessary, thus to avoid any lineside fires or work either engine too hard. The Peckett herself performed beautifully. For me the favourite will always be "Isibutu" (myself and Ben have had several debates about this) but "Harrogate" comes a very close second. She is chunky, free steaming, strong and responsive. It's just a generally pleasant engine to be on which asks very little for a respectable output. Here, the Peckett takes water for an early afternoon trip...
Talking of "Isibutu", she was out and about again today with regular driver Will on the handle. This would be the Bagnalls last day in service prior to her ten yearly overhaul. It'll be such a shame to not see her out for a while but knowing Statfold she won't be away too long! Long live the beautiful Bagnall...
I believe this was probably my sixth booked driving turn on "Harrogate" over my years of volunteering at the SBR and I must say, you can't really get bored of it. It's just a very nice all round engine and we had a great day crewing her today. I've always been a fan of Pecketts. They are robust and willing but, unlike most industrials I'd say, the Bristol-based manufacturers gave them a lot of cosmetic enhancements which made them very handsome machines. It must have been the Western region influence...
I'm trying to avoid repeating myself too much in this post as we do tend to quite literally go round in circles on the SBR jobs! Later in the day, myself and Ben swapped over for a couple of trips so that I could try my hand at firing. Although I love driving, you should always keep your hand in, and of course let your Fireman have a go! Ben seemed quite at home driving his favourite engine, as anyone would. The weather was perfect today, with the persistent sun ensuring we were kept nice and warm aboard the already baking hot Peckett! During the afternoon we carried a headboard dedicated to "Aethelflaed, Lady of the Mercians". She ruled Mercia in the East Midlands until her death in nearby Tamworth in 918. As I'm not incredibly well read on early medieval history, I can't say a lot more about it I'm afraid...
Here, the ex-Harrogate Gas Works Peckett takes water prior to another round trip...
Our final trip on the front was driven by myself, with Ben providing some top class firing as we neared disposal time. Our last departure from Oak Tree for Statfold included a very pleasant spot of parallel running with old Batesy on "Howard". It's always quite exhilarating when two trains are running parallel, particularly when the two exhausts are barking away in tuneful chorus. Arriving back at Statfold Junctions Platform 3, 2050 came to rest after a cracking last run. "Trangkil" would lead us around the railway on our final round trip and the Peckett is seen here on the tail end of the train at Oak Tree, waiting to receive the Quarry duo...
A few minutes later, the two extra tail engines were attached...
With a "Right Away" from the Guard, away we went with our final departure. I only had to keep enough steam on to hold our weight, as did the two Quarry engines..."Trangkil" did the rest. After a pleasant climb up into the station, the ensemble came to rest...
Well, that's all folks! All that remained was to check the engine over and dispose her. If I remember rightly we did 16 trips today, or something like that. Either way, it was quite a lot of miles! All in all it had been another fantastic weekend crewing at the Statfold Barn Railway and it certainly provided a welcome break from the ongoing steam drought we're suffering due to the 'current situation'. Thank you all for reading and thanks to Ben and everyone who contributed to making it a brilliant weekend! Cheers all, Sam...
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