Shackerstone Remembers Dave Johnson...

Throughout my time in this hobby I've met some great people and one of those great people was Dave Johnson. Dave was a huge part of the Battlefield Line, being involved from the early years and eventually becoming the President of the Shackerstone Railway Society. When I first started volunteering at Shackerstone at age 15 in the January of 2007, Dave was one of the first people to set me to work and it was lovely (as a then newbie) to come across such a kind and approachable person. I remember working with him on his then pride and joy: Bagnall No2648 of 1941, then named "Linda" after Daves wife. The Bagnall had been a stalwart of Shackerstone services at one time and still operates today under a new owner based at Chasewater. 

When I was 16 I joined the Shackerstone footplate crew as a trainee fireman and remember fondly a particular day working "Sir Gomer" with Dave on a station pilot turn. Dave kindly allowed me to drive the engine and this experience therefore became the first time I'd ever driven a standard gauge locomotive and no doubt helped to pave the way for pretty much everything that has came along since! When you're young these things stick with you and I'll be forever grateful to Dave for that drive. Across my time with the Battlefield Line I had many a pleasant engine turn with Dave, no doubt joined by JB or Eddie as well. I'd describe him as a happy guy and always jovial. He had a great sense of humour and it was always nice to share a day with him. Dave sadly passed away after bravely battling a long illness in January of this year. Tonight, kindly invited by Daves family, a group of Shackerstone members old and new came together to remember lovely Dave with a special train ride... 

It's almost a year since I last went to Shackerstone but I wouldn't have missed the chance to be part of this special evening. With the train planned to depart for Shenton at 17:30, we arrived in good time to see immaculate Modified Hall No6989 "Wightwick Hall" back down onto the waiting stock...

Here, Driver Adrian backs the Hall onto the stock ready for departure...

6989 departed right on time and was soon steaming along the old ex-ANJR metals with a train full of people discussing their various fond memories of Dave. Some of the faces on that train I hadn't seen for many a long year but once you got talking it felt like only yesterday. Although it was a sad occasion, it was lovely to see so many people with so many nice things to say about a great guy. Soon enough, the Hall arrived at a peaceful Shenton and was uncoupled prior to running round...

The sun was certainly smiling on Daves train as we enjoyed a beautiful September evening with hardly a cloud in the sky. The 1948-built Modified Hall was held in the run round loop so that family and friends could get some pictures with her...

A short while later, 6989 hisses northward ready to rejoin the head of the train for the return journey. The engine was carrying a memorial wreath and one of the famous 'SRS' headboards as a tribute to Dave...

Upon our return to Shackerstone, 6989 is captured waiting in Platform 1...

There was then some lovely food to enjoy and many of us talked long into the evening about great times gone by. I'll never forget that even after I'd left Shackerstone, whenever I saw Dave out and about whether at Statfold or on a Tyseley trip somewhere, he always stopped me to say hello with his infectious smile. A really nice guy and I will miss him. Later on in the evening I spent some time in the Shackerstone museum which is a great place for reflection...

I think I left the railway some time around 22:30 after a lovely evening. I must thank Daves family for the invitation, particularly Linda and Amy: I am very grateful. I'll end this post with a picture of the man himself out with us some ten years ago in the summer of 2011. Dave (on the left) smiles from 3803 with Eddie and myself behind. There were many days like this and we still have our memories. Cheers Dave... 

Drivers Dave and Eddie with trainee Sam in 2011 (D.Hanks)

Statfold: Road, Rail and Ale With Fabulous "Fiji"...

"Fijian Freight" (B.Bryan)

Good evening all. Today involved another driving turn at the wonderful Statfold Barn Railway, joined once again by well known Norfolk-based late riser 'Eddie the Late' as my Fireman. As Eddie was staying in Ratcliffe Culey (not a million miles from Statfold), I swung by his campsite on the way to pick him up. Eddie isn't used to functioning before dawn these days and at 05:45 I found him standing wide-eyed on the gloomy roadside with only an Owl for company. Eddie on board, we continued on to the McDonalds at Appleby to grab a quick breakfast before arriving at Statfold bang on time at 06:30 ready to sign in. Having scribbled in the book and read the notices, we continued out to our locomotive which is also much larger than Eddie is used to these days!...

Our large red steed was none other than Hudswell Clarke "Fiji", built in Leeds in 1912. According to my records this was my fourth booked driving turn on the ex-Lautoka 0-6-0 but my first since her recent ten-year overhaul. Having helped Eddie up into the cab due to the engines great height, we set to work checking her over in readiness to light the fire. Eddie was soon gasping all over the cab with the fire iron which no doubt felt like a bargepole now that he is only used to 15" gauge steam! Grate cleared and checks made, Eddie spread a round of coal around the firebox whilst I went scrambling for wood. Sunday turns on a two-day event can sometimes be a game of chance on the wood front but today we were lucky as there was still quite a lot left! Using some old rags found on the tender, Eddie then lit the fire...

Soon the typical 'Jones Column' was rising skyward from the balloon stack...

With the fire now crackling away nicely, I began the process of oiling the engine up. "Fiji" carries outside Walschaerts valve gear which is fairly easy to get at with both a feeder or a pump can. She also carries two large mechanical lubricators on her right side: one for the cylinders, one for the axleboxes. The lubricators carry cylinder oil and motion oil respectively. Whilst oiling around you're always on the look out for anything loose or amiss with the make up of the engine, as seen here...

"Oiling Up" (B.Bryan)

With the engine oiled and the fire now burning away on a good bed of Scottish coal, it was time to empty the ashpan. "Fiji" carries two dampers: one to the left and one to the right. Whilst I manned the hosepipe on one side to calm the dust, Eddie used the long iron to push the ashes through from the opposite side...

As well as "Fiji", there were eight other SBR steamers out today. One that caught my eye during prep was 1919-built Bagnall 0-4-0 "Wendy". She was carrying a chalked-on sad face due to this being her final weekend in service before expiry of her boiler ticket. I'm sure she'll be back before too long...

With "Fiji" now oiled, ashed and making steam nicely, there was little more to do but carry out some cleaning duties. The SBR engines are never filthy as they spend a lot of their time being cleaned. However, having been out the day before, "Fiji" just needed a wipe over with some clean rag to bring her shine back...

"Cleaning" (B.Bryan)

With the engine cleaned there was time to get changed before the 08:30 Safety Briefing on the lawn. Eddie had just added a fresh round of the very smoky coal...

After the briefing it looked like we may get on the move pretty quickly. It was however not to be and we didn't leave shed for perhaps another 90 minutes. This did however allow us the opportunity to give the cab roof and spectacle plate a clean. By 10:00, "Fiji" was simmering in platform 2 at Statfold Junction on the ex-Lynton set, with "Alpha" opposite. The size of the red 0-6-0 is evident...

At around 10:30 we received the road and the "Right Away" to leave Statfold on our first trip. As the main event was taking place in the event field at Strawberry Park, all trains would call here in both directions. With the sun shining, "Fiji" awaits the changeover of passengers at Strawberry whilst Eddie looks on...

A little while later, having passed through Oak Tree, the engine was simmering at Cogan Halt during our first layover period there. As is common at enthusiast events we had to wait for the next down train to arrive before we could commence our return journey. This normally involves a 6-7 minute wait...

It's always great fun driving "Fiji". It pulls well, steams well and rides well. Despite her great size she is an incredibly responsive and docile machine that is gentle in her reactions, making it very easy when coupling up and so on. After a pleasant first run we were soon simmering quietly in the Statfold headshunt, awaiting the call for our next train. A little before 12:30 we were awaiting departure with the freight train...

Under threatening skies, "Fiji" stands at Cogan Halt with the freight...

Following our arrival back at Statfolds platform 1 with the freight, we were asked to remain coupled and then to set back into the headshunt as the freight was being removed for the afternoon session. This was to speed up passenger departures and to save trains having to layover at Cogan Halt. With the freight stabled safely, it wasn't long before we were called upon for another tender first run; this time with the Severn Lamb set. The engine is spotted here after our third trip...

"Safety Valve Test" (B.Bryan)

The final train of the day, though a little slippery due to the rain showers, was back on the ex-Lynton set again. After many hours of badgering him, I finally managed to persuade Eddie to drive this trip and I believe he enjoyed himself! I meanwhile did my best to mess up the firing. It was kind of weird being back on the firemans side with Eddie driving, almost like turning the clock back many years to our many turns together at Shackerstone. After a very pleasant last train, 'Eddie the Late' drove "Fiji" back up onto the shed in readiness for disposal...

It was then time to thin my fire before filling the boiler and isolating the necessary cab fittings. What a very pleasant day: four trips spent in good company with a good mate on a good engine. You can't really ask for more! Thank you to Eddie for his comedic company, thank you to Alex for rostering us and giving us a good steed and finally thank you Barry for your pictures. Cheers all, Sam...

A Royal Visit to Northampton...

On this sunny September morning we were treated to the unexpected sight of 1927-built LMS Royal Scot Class No46100 "Royal Scot", slipping past work on a positioning move with her support coach. The engine was bound for Southall I believe, ready to work an upcoming rail tour. Two of the once 70-strong class survive in preservation, though none in their original Fowler form. The two preserved examples are both in fact Rebuilt Scots, with 46100 having received her Stanier rebuild in 1950. The class were given new frames, cylinders and boilers and so it could be argued that they are a new class in their own right. The rebuilds did however much improve their performance and certainly the preserved pair have put in some extremely good runs since their respective restorations. On this warm morning there was barely a wisp of smoke or steam from "Royal Scot" as she slipped past us. After a quick friendly wave from the footplate crew, the engine opened up and her three-cylinder beat echoed on the breeze as she accelerated southward. Another lovely engine!

                              Please note that the above image was taken from land outside of the NR boundary fence.