An 8F On The Christmas "Elizabethan"...

Throughout my years in steam preservation, I've always enjoyed what many of us know as 'steam heat season'. These are the dark winter months where locomotives are used to heat the trains as well as to pull them! This isn't because I enjoy connecting the bags up or indeed driving to and from a railway in total darkness but winter time just seems to bring even more atmosphere to the job. Today I was booked for the third of my 'Third Man' turns at the Great Central Railway in Loughborough. Reading through the roster last month, I was surprised to see an extremely acceptable sign on time of 08:15, with the locomotive due off shed at 11:30. I arrived a little after 07:30 because it never hurts to have time on your side! Having signed in and read through the various notices, I waited for booked driver Andy and fireman Tony to arrive. Our steed for the shift: LMS 8F No48305: was waiting patiently under the floodlights of Empress Road bridge. This would be another engine to tick off my list...

Our working today was a single round trip hauling the Christmas version of the popular Sunday lunch dining train: the 'Elizabethan'. On Santa and Winter Wonderlights duty today was the Standard 5 No73156. The crew for the 4-6-0 had had to arrive far earlier than us and she was already brewing up nicely alongside the cold bulk of Peppercorn A1 Pacific No60163 "Tornado". The A1 is at Loughborough for a few weeks to allow for testing of new ETCS equipment for main line running. I believe she will then leave the railway to begin her upcoming overhaul...

Fireman Tony duly arrived and after a quick chinwag we set to work inspecting 48305. Having confirmed a good boiler water level and inspected the firebox, it was time to move on to the smokebox. Tony kindly volunteered to empty the ashes whilst I worked the wheelbarrow from ground level...

With all checks made, we began clearing the grate of last nights ashes. The engine had been out on last nights dining train and was still showing a respectable 20psi on the gauge. After an energetic thrash about with the various irons, Tony kindly allowed me to do the light up. Having spread a bed of coal one-lump thick across the grate, I started to throw some pallet wood in before adding some flaming paraffin-soaked rags. More pallet wood was added on top and the warmth of the engine meant she was already providing a good draft. 48305 started singing almost instantly as the fire took hold. She is seen here with a reassuring plume of smoke rising from the chimney...

A cab view of 48305, with coal now added and pressure rising nicely...

On our way for a cup of tea, I snapped the new build "Tornado" standing impressively outside the shed. It isn't my thing I must admit, but it looks nice...

As the morning wore on the three of us busied ourselves with various jobs around the engine. As the sun climbed higher into the blue sky, it was clear that the dreary morning had opened up into a fabulous wintry afternoon. At around 11:30, we left shed with the 8F and took water on the column before proceeding around into platform 2 ready to pick up our waiting stock. The train: headed by the 'Arrowvale Belle' saloon: needed to be pushed back slightly before passengers began to board. With the job done, diners began boarding for their three course festive lunch. 48305 meanwhile sat steam heating the stock in readiness for a 13:00 departure...

To my surprise, Tony kindly allowed me to fire the round trip. I wasn't expecting to do much today as we only had the one booked run but he kindly let me do pretty much everything. As departure time neared I built up a strong back end and made sure that the fire was fit to go. We had six coaches behind us but this would no doubt provide no issue for the powerful 2-8-0. Here, we see another view of 48305s cab...

Pretty much on time, the engine summoned her strength as driver Andy took us out of Loughborough and onward towards Quorn. We were due to be none stop to Leicester North but ended up stopping at both Quorn and Rothley for operational reasons. The biggest issue here was keeping 48305 quiet at the valves as once she was hot she just wanted to blow! Whilst changing the lamps at Leicester North I managed to grab a shot of the engine feathering to herself prior to a northward departure...

The run back was most enjoyable and I was beginning to settle into the 8F. The smaller 4ft 8.5" wheels make you feel like you're going much faster than you are which is quite exhilarating! We had a brief stop at Swithland Reservoir on the return trip, no doubt to allow diners to be served their desserts. Having set off from the picturesque stopping point, the 8F trundled happily back to Loughborough where we uncoupled before returning to shed for disposal. By now the fire had been run down nicely and a quick flick with the irons to check for clinker was all that was required. Boiler filled, ashpan checked and cab cleaned and washed down, we left the 1943-built 48305 to simmer away to herself. What a lovely engine she is...

I must heartily thank Andy and Tony for a cracking day on 48305. What a powerful and versatile machine these engines are. Before this I'd only known the Great Western version! Having filled in my cleaners paperwork and signed out, it was time to head for home. Merry Christmas one and all! Cheers, Sam...

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