A Bank Holiday Standard 2...

The unexpected footplate turns can often be the best footplate turns and today was one such day! This morning I arrived at the GCRs Loughborough base at around 05:30 in readiness for a shed turn. I was planning to complete my usual cleaning duties and then do the pits but when the crew for 78018 (Martyn and Jack) arrived they kindly invited me out as 'third man' for their shift. It would be incredibly rude (and silly) to refuse such an offer, so I never have up to now! Myself and Jack began the fireman's prep for 78018 which, compared to last weeks 48305, is quite leisurely. Having checked and emptied the smokebox, I turned my attention to the fire grate. 78018 has a very nice rocking grate which deposits the majority of the spent ashes. I did however decide to quickly nip in with the hand brush to get the remaining bits out, ensuring the cleanest possible grate. It was soon time to light the fire, which is seen here giving off some dark smoke just minutes after lighting up. Don't worry, it soon dies down...

The current coal is Welsh stuff from the open cast at Ffos-y-Fran and doesn't give off much smoke at all. However, you always get a small build up of smoke with a freshly lit fire due to the paraffin rags and wood getting started. The 1953-built Standard class 2 immediately started singing away to herself as she was still very warm from yesterdays efforts. Up the yard, the fireman of 48305 had just lit the first rags and smoke began to rise steadily from her chimney. She is seen adjacent to the boiler for 45491...

Across the morning the three of us busied ourselves around the engine and we ended up being ready for traffic well before our off-shed time. This gave a few moments for a cab snap as the engine simmered happily to herself on No1 road...

As it was Bank Holiday Monday the railway was running a mixed traffic timetable, with our two trips this morning being split by a Loughborough layover. Here, 78018 prepares for our first departure, awaiting the Up Main Starter at Platform 2...

Jack fired the first trip and said that I should fire the second: happy days! Having run round at Leicester North, 78018 prepares for a northbound departure...

Our six coach train certainly made the Standard 2 work a bit on the departure from Leicester. Though they seem quite large in stature, it is worth remembering that the smaller looking Class 3F 0-6-0 is rated more powerful, with over 2000lbs extra tractive effort than a class 2! It's deceiving. They are however willing and free steaming little engines, perfectly suited to the needs of most preserved railways. She is seen here marching out into the trees whilst fireman Jack watches the road...

Back at Loughborough, our train was taken over by a diesel and we were signalled into the down loop for our layover. The skyline around the station has changed a lot in recent years, with the adjacent apartment building being a fairly recent addition to the horizon. Here, 78018 simmers in the down loop, passing the time...

When our second departure came myself and Jack swapped roles as planned, with me firing 78018 to Leicester and back. Jack drove us back from Leicester under Martyn's guidance and a great morning was had by all! On arrival back at Loughborough we uncoupled the engine before running forward on the shunter head to cross-over to No1 road. Here we handed over to the incoming afternoon crew...

I must thank Martyn and Jack very much for a lovely unexpected turn aboard the little Standard. I'm really enjoying my time at the GCR and it's great to be back on a standard gauge footplate regularly again. 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.

GCR: Another Go On The Eight Freight...

Good evening all. Today heralded another brilliant 'third man' turn at the Great Central. It was a third time outing for me aboard the lovely 8F No48305 which is seen here on No1 road at Loughborough shed just as the sun began to rise...

As I wandered across to sign on, I noticed this shot of the two Standards (78018 and 73156) standing quietly behind older 48305 on the same road...

Today I was out with Driver Dave and Fireman Arran, both of which were happy for me to perform the majority of the fireman's duties, which was very kind of them. The first job was to check the water level and the state of play in the cab, before emptying the smokebox and checking around in there. Smokebox done, it was time to clear the fire grate which proved to be a bit of a pain as the iron managed to wedge itself between the tight fitting bars. Arran kindly volunteered to go in and release the end of the iron, much to my grateful delight! Arran then swept down the rest of the grate and left me ready to light up, which was very kind and much appreciated! With a bed of coal spread around the firebox, it was time to add the flaming rags and pallet wood to get us underway. The engine started singing as soon as the rags were lit...

With a good fire burning away on the grate, it was time to prep the lamps and then have a much needed cuppa'. As steam pressure gently rose, more coal was added to the fire to produce a light and bright bed. It was then time to perform one of the worst duties that comes with a steam engine: the dreaded ashpan. 48305 has the manual style pan with damper doors front and rear. To stop lineside fires caused by the pans, the engines also have mesh screens fitted which are good fun (term used loosely) to remove when the pan is full of hot ash. This is a view of the rear damper door open after I'd removed the screen, with the grate visible above. I've just given the ash a liberal soaking with the hose in an attempt to lessen the oncoming dust storm...

I have always been a massive fan of pre-nationalisation designs, mainly due to the history and charm surrounding them. However, I will say on record that the Standard engines really do spoil you when it comes to the preparation and disposal. Taking 73156 as an example, the rocking grate and rocking pan makes life a dream in comparison to prepping something like the 8F. You can see why Riddles made his improvements in these departments and they really do help!...

Arran kindly allowed me to fire both of our two trips this morning, which again was very nice of him. Here, 48305 waits for the Up Main Starter at Platform 2...

Our two trips this morning were very pleasant indeed, spent in good company under good weather and aboard a good engine. I really like the 8F...especially once the prep is done! Here, the mighty 8F blows up the train brakes at Leicester North in readiness for a northbound departure back towards Loughborough...

Rolling into Loughborough on our second returning trip, we came to a stand and duly handed over to the oncoming afternoon crew after a great morning with the 1943-built 48305. I really like this old Midland engine: it's probably my none-Great Western favourite! Thank you Dave and Arran for a great morning; I really enjoyed it.

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.

The Bates Wedding at the Bass...

Only a few weeks after our own wedding, today we were out celebrating the wedding of our good friends Phil and Caroline at the Bass Museum in Burton. I'd never been to the National Brewery Centre before and so I was interested to visit the venue as a wedding guest. Between the service and the reception, we had time for drinks and mingling. I took the opportunity to creep behind the marquee for a look at Bass No9: a sweet little saddle tank tucked away under a canopy minding its own business...

This lovely little engine was built in 1901 by Neilson, Reid and Co of Glasgow for the railway system at the Bass Brewery. Following her service life with Bass she was withdrawn in 1964 and has been on display in pretty much the same location for decades since. I don't believe it has ever steamed in preservation and it remains on silent display, peering out through the fence onto the main road...

Leaving the plinthed No9 behind, we wandered across to look at some of the other exhibits on display. There was a variety of vintage vehicles in and around the various buildings. This pretty lorry felt worthy of a picture...

In a nearby stable were the two brewery museum shire horses: Jed and JD. Jed is pictured looking on, not remotely bothered by my boring presence...

Out in the yard, the newly married couples Aveling & Porter steam roller "Louise" stood immaculately alongside Caroline's dad's 1882 McLaren...

After our lovely reception meal, the vintage McLaren was prepared to head back to its home at Klondyke Mill by driver Chris. What a lovely old thing...

The roller meanwhile remained for the whole evening and is pictured here with lamps burning brightly as the sun sets after a wonderful day...

A little after 11pm it was time for us to head back to our hotel, with special thanks for a kind lift from Mick and Julia. What a lovely day it had been but what a hot one: it was a scorching hot day throughout thanks to the recent heatwave! 

Congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Bates and thank you so much for inviting us to be a part of your special day. It was a grand day out chatting, eating and drinking with friends! Cheers all and goodnight.

Update: Since writing this post we have learnt that the Bass Museum site is sadly to close at the end of October. Let's hope the exhibits find good homes!

Ryton: Electrics In The Sun...

Two weeks ago I did a Sunday at Ryton and this week I was back again, volunteering on another rostered public running turn. In action once again were a pair of the trio of battery boxes: this time the 37 lookalike was out alongside its 31 counterpart. I met up with member in charge Eric at around 12:00 at the clubhouse, slightly before the rest of the crew arrived. Once the gang had gathered we made our way up to the track and performed the shunting ritual to marshal the two trains ready for service. Today I did a lot of guarding and a lot of station crewing, getting a go on the joy stick (there's an ironic name in this context if ever you saw one) of the electric 37 for the final passenger trip of the day which departed just as the clock struck 16:00...

It was a lovely sunny afternoon and our 200 or so passengers seemed to enjoy their respective rides around the railway. I was just glad to be feeling slightly more normal as I'd had my wisdom tooth out the week before and had been in crippling pain ever since. Thankfully a course of antibiotics had finally got hold of it by this point! So, just like that my two turns at Ryton for 2022 are complete. Cheers all, Sam...