Statfold: A Private Do...

Evening all. Today involved a very relaxing and carefree driving turn for a private function at the Statfold Barn Railway. Alex had asked me last week if I'd like to do it and, not wanting to be the guy who never does anybody a favour, I happily agreed. This morning saw me arrive at the incredibly reasonable sign on time of 10am, finding "Alpha" and "Roger" (the two engines for the day) resting on the shed apron...

It was unusual for me to see "Roger" on the main running shed frontage as the Wren is usually confined to the garden. Once steam had been raised, she would head off to her usual stamping ground to operate the garden railway service...

My fireman for the day: Matt: duly arrived and set to lighting up 1922-built Hudswell Clarke "Alpha" as a very warm August sun shone down on us...

Whilst Matt made up the embryo fire, I began oiling around. "Alpha" is a very easy engine to oil up, with her Walschaerts valve gear meaning that most parts are on the outside and within reach. It was then time to give her a clean...

By 12:30 the engine was ready and waiting in Statfold Junctions Platform 2 with a rake of three Severn Lamb coaches behind her...

To say it was a leisurely morning was a real understatement. The train rides on both of the 2ft gauge railways were part of a larger private function being held at the SBRs impressive roundhouse museum. A large party of VIPs would catch our train with "Alpha" from Oak Tree to Statfold Junction before taking in the impressive workshops of Statfold Engineering and a ride with "Roger" in the garden. "Alpha" would then return the passengers to Oak Tree via Cogan Halt...

Our departure from Oak Tree was planned for around 2pm and so, around an hour earlier, we set sail from Statfold Junction for a lap of the line with the ECS. As usual, "Alpha" pulled the train effortlessly. I can never really fault "Alpha" other than to say it can be a little boring as it just does everything you want with seemingly no effort at all. It always pulls well, steams well and sounds well and is perfect for pretty much any SBR task. Upon arrival at a desolate Oak Tree, we screwed the engine down and awaited our passengers with "Alpha" simmering quietly to herself...

Right on time, "Alpha"s admiring public arrived and she summoned her strength to haul the train back to Platform 2 at Statfold Junction. Here she is after drawing forward from the stock ready to creep towards the turntable...

We had around 45 minutes to run the engine around and so, as our passengers would be returning from the garden, we decided to shunt the coaches across into Platform 1 to save them some walking. The SBR gradients are short but sharp and "Alpha" sounded in great voice as she propelled the stock back up the hill into the old bay platform...

At around 3pm our passengers had returned and we were given the "Right Away" to leave Statfold Junction bound for Oak Tree via Cogan Halt. The Hudswell Clarke made light work of the job and was steaming and pulling a treat as usual. Once back at Oak Tree our grateful passengers thanked us for their ride as they passed the cab and soon enough, with the train now empty again, we set off back to Statfold for some shunting. Our final job was to head back to Strawberry Park and bring the ex-Lynton stock up to provide the two sets of coaches for tomorrows classic car event...

Two round trips done and shunting complete, we returned "Alpha" to the shed frontage for disposal after a most enjoyable little day. The sun even came out again...

With the engine disposed it was time to head for home after a very easy footplate shift. Thank you to Matt for firing for me and thank you to Alex for asking me to do the job. "Alpha" was of course her usual perfect self. Cheers all, Sam...