This morning I arrived at the GCR base at Loughborough at around 06:30 to take part in another cleaning turn. The occasion was the GCRs annual Autumn Steam Gala and every operational steam locomotive was running, alongside two visiting engines. The two visitors were the NELPG J27 No65894 from the Moors and the Ivatt Class 2 tank No41312 from the Mid Hants. After my cleaning turn it was time to jump into the pits and shovel out some ashes but before that I managed to sneak a quick snap of the flagship Western engine No6990 "Witherslack Hall". "Witherslack" is currently in the shed receiving attention as she needs some boiler repairs amongst other bits and bobs. Rumour has it she is hoped to appear again later in 2023: let's hope so because a railway without a Western engine is like a day without sunshine!...
After the pits were emptied, Simon kindly arranged for me to have another unexpected turn on Ivatt Class 2 No46521 with Ashley and Andy. I wasn't rostered for anything today but would of course never turn down an extra turn! We took over the engine in the early afternoon in preparation for two round trips: one full line passenger and one local out to Rothley and then minerals back. Here, 46521 simmers quietly in the down loop at Loughborough, awaiting her next move. Our stock was still out up the line...
Andy kindly allowed me to fire the two round trips and, having been out on 46521 last weekend, I was hopeful all would be well. The tender had plenty of the Welsh dust in it, but not a lot of lumps. However, with right time nearing, I had to add coal to thicken the firebed and get some heat back in her. By the time I'd made my fire up it was clear that we were in for a bit of a rubbish outward trip, despite the water level and steam pressure being strong as we departed Loughborough. On a gala day you can't afford to hang about so once you've set sail you need to keep time otherwise everything else suffers. Though I managed to keep my water level up, my firing efforts were not having the desired effect and by the time we reached Kinchley Lane on the approach to Swithland Viaduct we were on our way 'down the nick'. I'm never ashamed to say it, I was 'down the nick'. ('Down the nick' is the common term for an engine struggling for steam). Nevertheless, onward we marched.
To be fair we kept plenty of water and we didn't have to stop for a blow up but it still wasn't the best performance. Luckily, thanks to having experienced this situation before, I could see the issue with my fire now that I'd had time to get my head in the game. There was plenty of coal on the grate and it was mostly in the right places, so it wasn't a question of quantity or a hole in the fire. The high quantity of slack however had cooled the fire and restricted the air flow from underneath the grate. A rake through with the iron turned the chimney immediately black as the volatiles began to burn off with the sudden surge of oxygen. The steam pressure was immediately affected (thankfully positively) and by the time we'd drifted away from Rothley through the slack near the carriage sidings, things were looking up. As Ashley dug the engine into the climb away from the section signal, the engine was approaching the red line again and things had significantly recovered. From then on, with a hotter, cleaner fire, we couldn't stop her steaming. Here she is on our second trip, at Rothley carriage sidings...
The returning second trip was far more leisurely as we were pulling the windcutter minerals. All GCR freight trains operate to a 20mph limit so you go a bit steadier with those. Upon arrival at Loughborough it was time to depart the engine after an interesting two trips with Ashley and Andy. Thanks both for a great time and thanks Simon for arranging it. Next Saturday is firing course day one. Cheers...
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