Statfold: Second Time "Sragi"...

Evening all. Today, in pleasant conditions, we took part in the Statfold Barn Railway's "Sweet Indian Steam" event. I was pleasantly surprised when the roster came out last week to see my name penned to the beautiful antique Krauss "Sragi No1", of 1899 vintage. Myself and Norfolk's well known sunrise denier 'Eddie the Late' had a great day on the brown beast back in 2016 and so, six years later, we were looking forward to the same again! Having picked Ed up from his campsite a few miles south of Statfold, we arrived at the SBR base a little before 06:30 and duly unloaded our kit from the car. The Krauss was soon spotted on the shed frontage, at the back of the engine queue. Having signed in and read the notices, I began the usual FTR of the engine before the two of us set to work on the fire. Grate cleaned and checks made, I lit up...

In past years Statfold has used Scottish coal but recently the load has been Shotton: a surface mine in Northumberland. It's great stuff in every regard except its smoke production. The engines steam well on it, there is little ash, little clinker and it lights well but my god does it smoke! The elderly Krauss caught us out last time we had her and so this time we elected to use more wood and get some heat in her before adding coal. Thankfully, this method worked! With the fire burning well, it was time to empty the ashpan. No rocker ashpan on this little old lady...it's a lie down on the floor swearing loudly job! The Krauss has a sliding plate which runs in two grooves. When pulled out, the ash falls neatly into the 2ft and covers the user in dust. The real enjoyment however comes when trying to slot it back in after the grooves become caked in ash! Oh well, we do it for the love and nobody said it would be easy! Whilst screaming obscenities at the Krauss' ashpan, I noticed the below shot from my position on the floor...

After heaving myself breathlessly to my feet, I returned to the cab to add more coal to the fire. The yard by now was a sea of black smoke from the dozen or so chimneys smoking away. As soon as we could get a touch of blower on the smoke cleared massively but it's no fun without some air! Following the traditional safety briefing and bacon bap on the lawn at 08:30, we returned to our engines to await the call from the yard master. Being right at the back, "Sragi" was the last to be called. Once I'd oiled her up and Ed had given her a wipe over, there was little to do but wait...

At around 10:00 the call came over the radio for the Krauss to "wait for the signal". An upper quadrant signal arm gives us permission to leave the shed (once the yard master has given us our orders). Signal off, I eased the Krauss gently forward whilst Ed steadied things up on the handbrake. The Krauss would benefit heavily from a steam brake but the handbrake is effective enough on a dry rail. Here she is resting outside the signalbox as we admire her from Micks bench...

Jon is our most regular signalman at Statfold and tends to mix the engine consists throughout the day to give the punters (and us) some variety. Whilst we waited for our first train, JB departed with his first run, driving a decorated "Alpha" (his favourite) and piloting "Howard" on the freight train. "Alpha" was one of the ex-Indian engines starring at the event, having worked at Ryam Sugar Mill in Bihar...

Our first train was the next arrival and was made up of the ex-Lynton coaches. These look great behind the old Krauss and have good brakes too! Ed kindly let me take the first train whilst he did the firing. After a steady run, the Krauss is pictured at Cogan Halt. The sun was shining down as we awaited departure...

I really like the Krauss and I don't often say that about engines built abroad. It's a very gentle but surprisingly powerful thing, which I think are the comments I made about it when we had it last time. This time was our first outing with her solo though, as last time we were joined by her Sragi sister No14, now named "Max". Arriving back into Statfold and steaming a treat, it wasn't long before we were shunt released and coupled onto the ex-Ryam Davenport for a freight run. The Davenport is also very gutsy but isn't a fan of stopping in a hurry and so the Krauss' stopping power would be useful...

Cogan Halt was also decorated for the event, doubling up as our version of Darjeeling. I think the Krauss must have felt a long way from home here, though the ex-Bihar American engine was only around 300 miles away from there in her working life. The Krauss meanwhile was more than 3000 miles away in Central Java!...

On the return of the second trip it was getting near to lunchtime and so the familiar scent of sausage rolls soon filled the cab! One trip at gas mark 40 normally does the trick. The exposed areas of hot metalwork are most welcome (sometimes)...

After our run with the Davenport we were uncoupled before being joined up again, this time to one of the bigger engines in the fleet: Brazil class "Howard". "Howard" will pull a house down and stops very well and so we had little to do but join in now and again, particularly as we were train engine. As we left the balloon loop though our sausage rolls were ready and so we enjoyed these on the effortless run back! I was now on the fireman's side and captured this image of the star visitor: DHR No778: arriving into Statfold with our next train. She was built by Sharp Stewart in 1889... 

Ed drove us neatly to the balloon loop on our fourth trip, hauling the Bredgars...

During the layovers at Statfold today we took the time to spin the Krauss a couple of times. It's much nicer going forwards, with any engine if I'm honest. Here, No1 sits on the turntable whilst the rain tries its hardest to start...

For our fifth and final return trip we were piloting JB and "Alpha", with myself back on the Krauss' regulator. It was a very pleasant (and spirited) run...

As the final move of the day, Ed drove us down to the Saturday evening cavalcade at Strawberry Park loop, coming to rest on top of "Alpha". The traditional whistle up then took place to the delight of onlookers. Always good fun...

Here, the old Krauss settles down on the shed after another great day. Lovely...

I've saved my final shot for one of the star visitor: No778. This old lady is a proper ex-Darjeeling B Class and is now based on a private railway in the UK. There are a few differences to her original shape: taller cab, the addition of a tender, no piston guides, no bunker extensions etc: but she is still a chunky and handsome looking thing. Does it look better than an original one? Not for me...but it has had sympathetic practical modifications and even has a GWR brake valve so what more could you want? It was lovely to see the Darj in action and hopefully it will visit again...

With that I had a date with Ed at the Appleby McDonalds as, even now, he can't seem to navigate a McDonalds purchase alone. Trying to tap his SBR Volunteer card to pay for his burger was a particular low point! Ed fed, it was time to drop him back and head for home. It had been another great day in great company on a great engine. You can't ask for more. Thanks to all who made it happen, thanks to Ed for his company and thanks to Alex for having us. Cheers all, Sam...