The Winter Gala at Loughborough...

During the quiet winter months from New Year until spring, most preserved railways tend to shut up shop and go into hibernation for their maintenance period. The GCR however, with the added luxury of double track allowing for single line running during permanent way projects, simply runs a reduced service and (excluding diesel events) usually runs at least one steam locomotive every weekend. The end of January however heralds the arrival of the ever popular Winter Steam Gala and this years event featured a total of eight locomotives in steam. Having booked a day off today to attend, I arrived at a gloomy Loughborough a little before 06:00. Having signed in and read the notices, I began cleaning visiting Standard 4 tank No80080...

The tank engine, built at Brighton in 1954, was appearing courtesy of the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust at Butterley (owners of the Duchess herself). These 2-6-4 tanks are big engines and quite handsome. Five engines would be in service today for the gala Friday, with the remaining three joining in for the weekend. There was a great atmosphere on shed this morning, with engines coming to life all around and many crews busying themselves with various prep tasks. As the light came up, the standard tank was shining in anticipation of her first trip of the day...

Once the engines began to leave shed, I set to work with my next project for the day. I'd elected to bring my cleaning gear and have a good go at the only operational Western engine in the GCR fleet: No6990 "Witherslack Hall". This copper topped beauty has been part of the Great Central stud for many a year and, as a Western fan myself, I wanted to make sure she was shining for her gala appearance. It's funny how we all like our certain engines. When I was younger I was party to all of the people who don't like Great Western stuff. I've heard them all:

"There's only one Great Western, the North Western!"

"Gresley Was Right"

"Western engines have so many corks they'd float in the sea"

You name it, I've heard it! I too was guilty of these phrases once upon a time, with no knowledge of the machines behind them. (Bad mentoring of the time, nothing more). Having experienced Great Western engines first hand, both on and off the main line, I now feel a deep seated love and respect for them. My association with Tyseley and their stunning fleet of engines worked wonders in cementing this respect. If we have to pick a region then the region of copper topped greyhounds racing into the West Country with holiday expresses is mine. Anyway, I digress. Having spent an hour or so on top of the engine cleaning her bonnet, copper top and whistles, I jumped down so that she could be shunted onto the shed frontage on No2 road...

Throughout the rest of the day a happy little group of us busied ourselves with the cleanliness of 6990. By the time her warming fire was lit later on in the afternoon, she was absolutely shining. All of the paintwork had been washed down with white spirit and polished, the bottom end cleaned in paraffin-oil mix and as much brass polished inside and out as we could. She looked lovely and quite ready for her public...

As the day drew on the engine was finally shunted back to No3 road where she'd started her day: albeit much, much cleaner. What a worthwhile day and a great feeling to see the 1948-built Modified Hall looking so well...

Thanks to all who made today (and 6990) shine. Here's to the next time folks...

Please note any views or opinions expressed in this blog are merely personal and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person, group or organisation.

Going Great Central: Day 14...

Good evening all. This morning I was up before the dawn chorus once again, preparing to head over to the Great Central Railway at Loughborough for another cleaning turn. I arrived a little before 07:00 and immediately set to work (in darkness) cleaning the wheels and rods of the only rostered locomotive: 8F No48305. As first light arrived, I was put on pumping duties with the cumbersome lubrication pump used to fill the axlebox keeps. Meanwhile, another cleaner had given the barrel a good wipe down and by the time her fairly early off shed time of 09:00 arrived, the 8F was looking very smart. She is a handsome machine that simply oozes brute strength...

Behind 48305, cold and silent, stood Battle of Britain Class "257 Squadron" from the Swanage Railway. The Bulleid is one of two visitors that have arrived for next weekends ever popular Winter Gala. It was nice to see a Spam Can again...

Having waved the 8F off for her first train of the day, we busied ourselves with the traditional ash pit emptying session. I later completed my GCR PTS course which gives me another accomplishment for my file. Thanks for reading all...

Please note any views or opinions expressed in this blog are merely personal and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person, group or organisation.

Going Great Central: Day 13...

Evening all. After a brilliant morning shift on 9F No92214 on New Years Day at Loughborough, I returned today for another cleaning turn to add to my steadily growing file. The A1 "Tornado" was rostered today for the GCRs passenger services and, as she comes with her own support crew, there would be no need to get involved with her. However, also in service was Ivatt Class 2 No46521 which needed preparing for the 13:00 Sunday dining train: the "Elizabethan". I arrived a little while before 08:00, in good time to meet the crew who were due in for 08:15. When the fireman arrived, myself and fellow cleaner Dave joined forces to make preparation of the mogul as simple as possible. Whilst the fireman cleaned the grate and checked the locomotive over, Dave went off on wood duty whilst I grabbed a couple of barrows of something that we won't see for much longer: Welsh steam coal from Ffos-y-Fran. Loughborough engines have lit up on Welsh for a long time, reducing the smoke nuisance on shed...

Dave then helped to light the embryo fire whilst I volunteered to clamber up onto the tender to check the water level and trim the coal. The tender had plenty in for 46521s singular trip of the day but it was all at the back. After a few years on the Tyseley support crew, chucking the majority of a tender forward is no hardship. I recall fondly a trip to Lincoln with beautiful 5043 and having to get a few tons forward during the layover! Coal trimmed, I went off on lamp duty. This involves checking, filling and cleaning the appropriate lamps (two headlamps and a frame lamp) before fitting them to the engine. Before changing onto actual cleaning duty, I searched around the shed and eventually discovered the "Elizabethan" headboard...

Between the four of us we had the pretty little Ivatt: built at Swindon in 1953: in good order well before her 11:30 off shed time. Here she is simmering on No1 road at Loughborough shed in sunny but bitterly chilly conditions...

It just so happened that Mum was booked on the diner today so, in good time before boarding, I popped up to the station to say hello. 46521 was busy steam heating the stock on this cold afternoon. The wind was really biting...

The A1 meanwhile was pulling a strengthened train of nine coaches and even then it was standing room only! A few of us joined her on her 12:50 departure in order to get to Rothley where we would perform a line walk to Swithland for some training on the impressive lower quadrant signals. We returned to Loughborough on "Tornado"s final train later in the day. Thanks all for reading...

Please note any views or opinions expressed in this blog are merely personal and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person, group or organisation.

New Year Nine Freight...

Evening all and a massive Happy New Year to you! This morning I was bringing in the New Year in the right way with another 'Third Man' turn at the Great Central Railway in Loughborough. This is my fourth one I think (since the first one in October). The sign on time today was a not too offensive 07:00 and I arrived right on time after a pleasant drive along desolate roads. Our engine for this morning shift: the huge Riddles 9F No92214: was standing patiently under the floodlights of Empress Road bridge...

I was quite pleasantly surprised to get the 9F as both the Standard 5 and the 8F had been the stalwarts over Christmas, so I guessed it would be one of those. No complaints here though as the 9F was another new class of engine to tick off my list! I duly met up with driver Ken and fireman Andy and the three of us set to work with various tasks around the massive engine...

Having checked over the cab and firebox, we elected to get the smokebox emptied. On this occasion I was on the shovel and, having removed the festive wreath and opened the huge door, I began to shovel out the ashes. With 80psi still on the clock after a late night turn on the New Years Eve diner, it was certainly hot in the front end! Job done, Andy disposed of the ash whilst I swept down and then fastened up the door. The grate was then cleared using the very useful rocking grate which on this engine moves in two halves: left and right. I was very surprised at the ease of use of the rocking grate and you can see why Mr Riddles included such advancements in his user friendly designs. With the grate clear, it was time to light up. This process began with the usual wheelbarrows of soft coal which, added first, very much reduce the smoke output on shed. With the coal added, I passed up a fair amount of wood to Andy who then lit the fire. 92214 started singing to herself almost immediately and, with so much pressure still on, she wouldn't take too long to come round.

I was surprised at the width and capacity of the firebox. Personally I haven't had much experience on wide box engines, save for a day on a Bulleid light pacific at Tyseley a couple of years ago. With the fire now burning well, Ken called it tea time and I grabbed this quick snap whilst fetching my mug from the car...

Returning to the 9F, I went underneath with Andy to do the driving axleboxes before we started the ashing out process. The wide firebox sitting over the frames means that ash can collect away from the central pan. Therefore there are four side doors (two per side) which open to allow a hose and a rake to get in. Washing the ashes through these doors pushes the majority into the main hopper pan and the water build up keeps the dust down. It's then a case of pulling the catch and emptying the pan via the hopper doors. It's quick and easy: far better than the conventional pans. Another fabulous Riddles advancement that impressed me greatly...

By the time our jobs were done our off shed time of 10:15 was fast approaching and so we all washed up and got changed. Andy then kindly provided breakfast on the shovel (the best kind of breakfast) which was most appreciated! By 10:30 we were at the head of the eight coach train, steam heating the stock. Andy talked me through the habits of 92214 and said he tends to run a large back end, tapering off to the front. Everyone I've spoken to always comments on the back corners being most important, particularly as they can be overlooked with a firebox this wide. Andy kindly allowed me to build up the back end as the minutes ticked away...

Andy fired the first round trip whilst I watched how the engine behaved. It's great fun learning these different machines and the different techniques required to get what you need from them. For the second trip Andy would be driving with Ken keeping an eye on my firing. I was once again incredibly grateful to be allowed to have a go. Here, 92214 stands at the head of the 12:50 departure from Loughborough. The engine was built at Swindon in 1959 as one of the 251-strong Standard Class 9Fs...

The second round trip was most enjoyable and it was a real education getting to know this huge engine. I kept the back end up and filled the holes where required, topping up the boiler water level as appropriate. She steamed incredibly well and even eight coaches was absolutely no issue for her (50psi in the steam chest had her motoring along nicely!). As we steamed back towards Loughborough on the return trip I ran the fire down a little as the engine would be standing for an hour or so following the crew change prior to her last run of the day at 15:15. Rolling into Loughborough and coming to a stand, I uncoupled the engine whilst Ken and Andy handed over to the afternoon crew. The 9F then went off for water at the column, where I grabbed a final snap. What a huge and imposing engine this is: quite fabulous...

With that there was little else to do but wash up, fill in my cleaners paperwork and sign out before heading for home. What a great New Years Day shift with 92214. I must thank Ken and Andy for their company, hospitality and advice. I had a great time. Here's to 2022! Cheers all and Happy New Year, Sam...

Please note any views or opinions expressed in this blog are merely personal and do not in any way represent the views or opinions of any other person, group or organisation.