"We wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" etc. Evening all. Today I completed my second of two booked driving turns this Christmas at Statfold Barn for their popular 'Santa Express'. Just like my turn a couple of weeks ago, today's outing saw me at the regulator of 1912-built Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 "Fiji". I arrived in good time for my 06:30 book on and duly met up with fireman James as well as the "Harrogate" crew. Duty officer Alex soon arrived and opened up, ready for us to sign in and check for any new notices. My charge for this morning's shift was sat on her usual shed road...
Alex duly started the little shed diesel shunter and dragged the Peckett outside, before changing roads and collecting the Hudswell. Once outside, "Fiji" was screwed down again and preparation began. Fireman James began working away on the grate whilst I started to make my way around with the oil cans. My not at all fashionable but incredibly useful headtorch helps massively on these dark mornings...
Old mate and Statfold staff member Batesy was also on hand today, as an extra pair of hands on site. He kindly made us all a cuppa' whilst we prepared our immaculate engines and would join myself and James for the shift on "Fiji", no doubt purely to offer constructive criticism! Of course, we're glad of the craic!...
Once the engines were steamed up, oiled and cleaned it was time to marshall them onto the stock. The Peckett left shed first as it would need to be at the head of the ECS working. I duly followed with "Fiji" and we coupled on to the waiting coaches down at the signalbox, with "Fiji" as train engine. The ensemble was soon on its way to Strawberry Park, where the Peckett was uncoupled ready to proceed into the roundhouse yard to ash out over the pit. "Fiji" meanwhile took the empty five-coach train down to the Oak Tree platform, before chopping off and proceeding to Cogan Halt on the line inspection. Once at the balloon loop, Phil alighted the engine to refuel and then start the lighting generator, whilst a shining "Fiji" simmered away to herself...
I've got to hand it to the Statfold team this year: they've really kept on top of "Harrogate" and "Fiji"s condition throughout the 'Santa Express' season. The two engines have worked a minimum of Friday to Sunday each weekend, as well as some midweek trains. Throughout the last week though they've ran daily and despite this they are still beautifully polished and looking their best. These results take some commitment and fair play to the team for keeping both engines looking so well! Here, with the line inspection complete, an immaculate "Fiji" simmers quietly on the tail end of the ECS as we wait time for the first 'grand entrance' of the day...
Although native to Britain, having been built in Leeds, "Fiji" did of course work in her namesake country of Fiji on behalf of Colonial Sugar Refining. I bet that the Hudswell Clarke engineers who built her would never have even dreamt that, 111 years later, this old ex-sugar engine would be restored, polished up and hauling thousands of visitors each year on her home railway in south Staffordshire. Below, a shining ex-CSR Lautoka No11 sits at Oak Tree after her first round trip of the day...
Three trips down (two leading, one on the rear) I snapped this shot of "Fiji"s very well kept footplate. It's hard to believe that when it came to Statfold it had had the rear of the firebox cut away in order to fit a chain drive for a diesel engine. This hideous conversion was to allow it to work on the Coral Coast tourist line once disposed of by the sugar mill, but thankfully she is now back in original condition! I believe that Lautoka sugar mill (the ex-home of both No11 and the smaller Statfold-based saddle tank No19) is still in operation as I write and has been since 1903...
Here, "Fiji" waits at the Statfold end of Strawberry Park platform, ready for "Harrogate" to haul the next round trip under the wintry blue skies...
Whilst grabbing a cuppa' later on in the morning, I snapped this rushed shot of "Harrogate" as she prepared to depart Oak Tree for a 'grand entrance'...
The morning turns offer the same amount of mileage as the evening turns, with ten round trips of the 'Santa Express' provided to each. Five of these are of course leading, the other five are on the rear of the train, alternating each time. I drove our first three leading trips this morning before handing over to James for the remaining two whilst I did the firing. It was quite nice to sit on the fireman's side and look out across the sunlit countryside on this chilly but crisp morning...
"Fiji" herself is probably in the best form she's been in since restoration. The fitting of a new cylinder lubricator (taken from the retired ex-Pakis Baru Mallet) has worked wonders and the retiming of her valve events has improved her overall performance. It's a lovely thing to be on and is currently running beautifully. By the time today's shift is out, "Fiji" and "Harrogate" will have completed 267 'Santa Express' workings since the end of November, carrying around 20,000 people! This is surely a testament to their condition and again, the Statfold team should be applauded for their efforts...
"One last look at an immaculate Fiji"
After another very pleasant ten round trips with the 'Santa Express', it was time to handover to drivers Joey and Keith and cleaner Emma. We'd cleaned the fire, emptied the ashpan, pulled plenty of coal forward, topped up the lubricators and brushed down the footplate, as you should for any oncoming crew. "Fiji" was handed over in very good form and it was one of those mornings where you're not quite ready to get off just yet! Nevertheless, a great turn once again. Many thanks to Alex for rostering me, James for doing the firing and of course footplate inspector Batesy for his comedic company aboard the footplate. Thanks all and Merry Christmas...
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