Statfold: Camaraderie with "Cloister"...

In my opinion days on the footplate are made all the better if you can share them with a good crew. Today at the Statfold Barn Railway I was rostered to drive 1891-built Quarry Hunslet "Cloister" with Ian firing and, coupled on behind, Phil and Caroline with "Jack Lane". As can be expected, a great time was had by all. The day began like most: at dawn. By 06:30, I was one of the first on the shed frontage and found my steed sitting quietly, still nice and hot and with the chimney capped...

Fireman Ian soon arrived and began checks and preparations to light the fire. I meanwhile made my way around the compact 0-4-0 with the oil can. Soon enough, a plume of smoke was rising steadily skyward from the chimney... 

This engine is one of Hunslets eleven strong Alice class, designed for Dinorwic Slate Quarry. They are punchy little engines offering strength far beyond their stature and yet, with a short wheelbase, they can also negotiate fairly tight curves. Often nicknamed the 'Hunslet GTI's by Statfold crews, you are pretty much guaranteed a good day with a Quarry Hunslet. With Ians fire now crackling away nicely and the oiling up complete, we set to with the cleaning kit in an effort to spruce up "Cloister". A small engine is a blessing when it comes to cleaning and, by the time our train engine crew arrived, "Cloister" was gleaming, much to Phils embarrassment...

This weekends Statfold event celebrated 126 years of the Quarry Hunslet and so the four operational home-based Quarrys were out and about along with visitors "Lilla" and "Britomart" from the Fes. When required, we left shed with our Quarry duo and were signalled onto the ECS stabled at the top of platform 1. Once piped up, the duo steadily brought the train down to the peg for boarding...

When the next up train arrived, we were given the road and the signal to depart. With a "Right Away" from the Guard, off we went. Once on the move it was clear that "Cloister" is a tad on the worn side. It has a few knocks here and there and appears a bit three-legged at the chimney. I later found that this is due to one eccentric rod not being the correct length! She also likes to self-select her reverser position as she rattles the stick into full forward at any given opportunity. We also found it to be quite a wet engine: spitting and spotting even with the appropriate water levels: I can't explain that. It seems ultra-saturated! Despite these quirks, she tries her best and steams very well. Here, we await the road at the balloon loop...

Next, our Quarry duo have moved around the balloon loop in readiness for departure as "Wendy" and "Liassic" arrive from Statfold. "Wendy", like "Cloister", was part of the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Trust before the pair were donated to Statfold in 2019 following dissolution of the society and collection...

After a sprint back to Oak Tree, Phil tops up "Jack Lane"s saddle tank...

Things seemed to move very quickly today and the operations at Statfold signalbox seemed particularly swift. We were at the balloon loop with our second round trip when this picture was taken at 10:52! Here, Ian adds more coal...

Our second trip was hauling the fairly weighty freight train. An interesting addition was "Jonathan" of 1898, sitting on a flat wagon. Though lovely to see, its presence certainly made us uneasy on points and bends!...

Back at Statfold again, we see a cab view of "Cloister". This is the fourth Alice class I've driven, having crewed at Bala in years previous and driven "Holy War", "Maid Marian" and of course "Alice" herself. They are all, as you can guess, extremely similar looks wise (cabs optional of course). However, a difference we noticed with "Cloister" was the missing saddle tank handrail which on some examples also rounds the chimney at the front. She looks a little naked without it I feel, probably because the other ten have it...

Third trip down and the engines are on the turntable which was having motor issues so required a little manual intervention! It was far more enjoyable watching Ian and Phil struggle than break into a sweat yourself...

Soon enough we were getting ready for our fourth outing and it was only the early afternoon! The two engines were performing very well and we were having a lovely day: good engine, good weather, good crew...

After a pleasant fourth trip I swapped with Ian who then took over the regulator for our remaining trips. The sun was shining as we prepared to set out on Trip No5...

Here, the duo waits at Cogan Halt with the Lynton set on Trip No5...

For the final two trips of the day we became a Quarry Triple as "Sybil Mary" joined the consist behind "Jack Lane". Following the seventh trip we were all separated and Ian drove "Cloister" onto the shed with a perfect fire for disposal: I was quite pleased with it anyway! A quick rake through and a flick around with the iron rendered the fire almost dead and the boiler was then topped up before the necessaries were isolated. It was then time to fill in the book and sign out after a cracking day. Thank you to Ian, Phil and Caroline for a great laugh! If only all days could be this much fun...