In the second of two unexpected days on the footplate at the Great Central Railway, today I enjoyed three trips on Standard 2 No78018. I arrived just slightly before the 05:45 sign on time, expecting to do another cleaning/shed turn. However, driver Martyn and fireman Tony kindly invited me out with them for their morning turn. After less than a second I gratefully accepted and, between us, we prepared 78018 for service. Tony kindly let me light her up and having been out last night, she was soon singing away to herself with a plume of smoke rising steadily from the chimney...
A Standard class 2 is Riddles' take on the Ivatt LMS 2MTs and a total of 65 were produced. As a class they were the smallest in stature of the BR Standard range. With two 16.5" cylinders plumbed up to a 200psi boiler and driving 5ft wheels, they put out a tractive effort of 18,515lb. Four members of the class survive in preservation: one at the Worth Valley (which I rode behind last year), two at the Central and a fourth at the Bluebell. The first three have steamed in preservation, the latter has not. 78018 was built in 1954 and was initially preserved at Shackerstone of all places, though it never steamed there. She is also known for her part in the 1955 British Transport Film 'Snowdrift at Bleath Gill' where she is rescued by workmen having been caught in a deep snowdrift. That short film is well worth a watch...
Throughout the next few hours the three of us busied ourselves around the engine. Yesterday evening had seen persistent rain and so the class 2 was looking rather dirty when the day began. After a good wash and clean down, she was looking far smarter and a pleasant day was in promise as the sun climbed higher in the sky...
Behind us, fellow cleaner Dave was giving the bigger Standard 5 a wash down too. Note shed cat 'Jumble' chilling in a care free manner in the foreground...
Just before we left shed there was time to grab some coal. This was another different load and we left shed with a tender full of fresh Welsh...
Our morning turn would consist of three round trips to Leicester North and back with seven coaches on the hook. The Standard 5 meanwhile would be trotting around light engine on Drive-a-Loco before doing the shorter diner! Though more than capable of the job, seven coaches would certainly make 78018 bark. For the first trip, Tony fired whilst I got my head around the class 2. I hadn't been on one before (save for spooning a few around 78019 many years back) and although the controls are pretty much the same as the class 5 or the class 9 (just as Riddles intended), the firing technique would be different. Here, 78018 prepares to depart from Leicester North...
The 5mph slack in both directions at Quorn didn't seem to slow us up much today, as long as station departures were kept to time. For the second trip, Tony was driving and I was firing, with Martyn keeping a watchful eye on us both. It was a pleasant morning all round really and it's always a nice atmosphere whilst awaiting departure from Loughborough. Here, 78018 awaits the road and departure time...
What a lovely little thing this is. With seven coaches on she was having to work and you were having to think about your water and coal to prevent either going down the nick or blowing off all the time. Despite working hard the engine steamed an absolute treat and I really enjoyed my two trips firing her. All too soon however I was running the engine down ready for the layover and crew change. Job done...
Well folks, another great turn at Loughborough! Thanks to Martyn and Tony for their kind invitation and it was lovely to finally tick off 78018. What a lovely thing and another class to tick off the "I've crewed it" list. Cheers all, 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.
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