"John enjoys a cuppa' aboard one of the oh so beloved 9F class"
Well, today was a good day! Today we fulfilled a lifelong dream for our mate JB. Throughout the many years that I've known John, he has always had a love for the BR Standard 9F class, which he remembers spotting on the Great Central as a kid in the late 1950s. He always talked about hopefully doing a shift on one before he retired from the footplate but, for various reasons, a 9F never came along. When we went to Norfolk a couple of months ago and John was admiring "Black Prince" in the shed at Weybourne, I overheard him say to one of the fitters about that go on the 9F, ending the sentence with "I doubt it'll ever happen now". Fuelled by this, I joined forces with long time GCR driver Martyn Ashworth to get John that day on the 9er. Martyn was extremely helpful and spoke to all of the right people to make the day a) happen and b) go without a hitch. So, here is the write up on this memorable day. First up, I arrived at a dark (and surprisingly mild) Loughborough shed a little before our 05:45 booked sign on. The simmering bulk of 1959-built 9F No92214 was waiting on No1 shed road...
Having signed in and read the notices, I clambered up onto the dark footplate of the 9F to begin my preparation checks. 40psi on the clock, 3/4 of a glass in the boiler and no faults or leaks to report was a good start! By now the clock was approaching 06:00 and John was already beating down the gate in anticipation! After a short interval to get John signed in and acquainted, attention turned to the firebox. Riddles equipped his 251-strong class of 9F 2-10-0s with a rocking grate for the 40ft-sq firebox. This is a great help when trying to freshen up the grate for a relight but isn't entirely flawless. Due to a light layer of clinker all across the box, I decided to go in and free everything up before rocking the grate. Rocking the grate with clinker across is liable to end with the clinker stuck between the rockers, preventing the grate from shutting again. If you then rock the grate too hard when trying to free it, any weak bars can fracture and come away so it's always best to play it safe. Still, once I'd freed the clinker and broken up any larger sheets, the rocking grate was employed to easily transfer the contents of the firebox to the ashpan. Checks completed, it was then time to light up...
Once I'd spooned a good layer of coal around the freshly cleaned firebox, two barrows of wood were kindly passed up from the ground by John and a group of cleaners. Sadly the wood was quite sopping after a night of heavy rain and wind and it took a bit of getting going. It was one of those mornings where patience is a must, as every opening of the fire hole door was greeted with a frustrating game of Peakaboo from the one or two feeble flames occasionally popping out from behind the damp wood! Nevertheless, the reassuring plume of light smoke from the chimney and the periodic crackle from the firebox assured me that the 9F would start to sing soon enough...
With the fire lit (of sorts) it was time for a cuppa'. John meanwhile removed some scum from the cylinder claddings whilst muttering compliments to 92214...
Whilst we supped our tea, behind us "Witherslack Hall" was being made ready for the first 'Santa Express' of the day. (We meanwhile would take the second working, passing the Hall at Rothley on our up trip). Alongside us was the 8F 48305 which had an easy day ahead of her, with just a single trip on the Sunday lunch diner to haul. Once driver Dave had taken the Hall forward of the No1 road pit, Martyn backed the 9F down so that we could do the underkeeps and latterly the ashpan. Preparation complete, I snapped John in the fireman's seat of 92214 before heading off to get washed and changed. Safe to say he was in no rush to climb down again...
Once the first 'Santa Express' of the day had set sail southward behind the immaculate Modified Hall, the road was given for 92214 to draw out the stock onto the up line. We then propelled the six-coach ECS down into platform one in readiness for passengers to board. We still had 20 minutes to go before our 10:30 departure and so it was quite a leisurely affair at this point as we awaited time whilst heating the stock...
Once back at a damp Loughborough, we ran swiftly around the train before coupling up to continue with heating. Again, we had around 20 minutes until our next departure at 12:30. Thankfully we weren't short of coffee/tea, with two billy cans steaming away on the warming plate. The kind staff aboard the 'Santa Express' kept us topped up with mince pies (and some lovely fruit cake) and driver Martyn kindly brought along some cracking sausage rolls which were mercilessly devoured...
Below, the damp bulk of 92214 stands heating the stock at Loughborough...
As departure time neared I had John on the shovel filling up the back end. So many years of hearing about "filling those back corners" meant I just had to let him have a chuck around! I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it...
Thankfully, by the time we reached Quorn on our 12:30 trip, the rain had subsided to a point where you could actually look out without getting drenched! With all well, 92214 steamed easily along the Quorn straight, passing the up section signal...
A nice interval of the 'Santa Express' comes during the run round at Leicester, when passengers are invited to have a photo with the big man himself and visit the engine's footplate. I think this is a great little addition to the offering as some places are very closed off when it comes to this sort of thing. It's not everyone's cup of tea but I'm sure that for some it will be the highlight of their day...
"John grabs some snap shots of his own memorable day out"
With departure time nearing again, I uncoupled the engine from the train before we ran her around in preparation for our returning northbound trip. John was captured again in the fireman's seat of 92214 as we awaited the off...
Right on time the guard's "right away" came and off we went. 92214 was soon romping out of Leicester North towards the foot crossing and Greengate Lane...
After a very pleasant homeward trot, passing the 8F on the diner at Rothley, we were brought to a stand outside Loughborough at the inner home to await the departure of "Witherslack" from platform one. This gave me a good opportunity to give the fire a quick clean and slack down the footplate ready for the relief crew. John meanwhile sat in his seat, no doubt reflecting on the events of the day...
After an energetic departure from "Witherslack", the road was pulled for us and the home signal for platform one rose to the 'off' position. 92214 took the six-coach train easily into platform one before coming to a stand at the correct marker. We then handed over to our relief crew for the afternoon shift: Alan and Dave. Dave and myself were both on last year's firing course and it was quite something to have us both on the same job having passed out to fire at the GCR! Wandering back down to the shed to wash up and sign out, we passed the 9er one more time as she awaited the ground discs to run round. By now, the irritating rain was back for the afternoon...
So, as they say, "that's all folks!". That was John's day with 92214, dare I say over 60 years in the making! We did it: Merry Christmas, John! I think it's safe to say that the old lad enjoyed it and it was quite heartwarming to know that we'd finally achieved his goal. I must thank Martyn profusely for all of his efforts in making this day happen, not only by ensuring we got rostered together to do the day but also that we got the all important engine. Special thanks also to both the operations and engineering departments of the GCR for the very same. A great day was had by all, despite the rain! Thank you to everyone who made this day so memorable. Merry Christmas everyone...
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment