"Rounding Kinchley Lane with the 09:00 ex-Loughborough" (C.Hanley)
I'll forever say that I love older stuff: pre-amalgamation engines in particular are some of the most interesting to be on. Though I had my work cut out aboard the lovely Victorian 'A Class' today, what a pleasantly challenging turn it was. Rostered to work today's WG4 turn at the Great Central's 2024 Winter Steam Gala, myself and driver Charlie were booked for a 05:00 sign on at Loughborough shed. I never feel right the night before an early turn, mainly because I fear that I'll miss my alarm and won't get up on time. This morning therefore, early but certainly not bright, I arrived at the shed a little after 04:30, having made good time on the quieter roads. Signed in and notices read, I made my way out to find the Lancashire & Yorkshire 0-6-0 as she simmered at the south end of No1 shed road. Clambering up into the dark cab, I donned my headtorch to illuminate my surroundings. The engine still had 20psi on the clock from yesterday's efforts and, once opened and tested, the water gauge glasses showed a full pot...
Having briefly acquainted myself with this 1895-built machine last weekend, I immediately set to work checking the firebox and preparing the engine for steam raising. With the ratchet firehole door, a man such as myself (who regularly indulges in a takeaway) can't fit through with ease and so the plethora of fire irons sitting atop the tender would be my salvation. Having checked that the remains of yesterday's fire was free across the bars, I got to work paddling the ash out with the dropping shovel. This really pulls on your back at 05:00 in the morning! Soon enough, with a brimmed wheelbarrow now sitting at the foot of the cab steps, the grate was in a fit position for lighting up. Next, it was southward to the smokebox, held closed with the nutted lugs as opposed to the usual dart and screw handles. Sure enough, the smokebox was fairly brimmed after yesterday's hard work, requiring two piled high wheelbarrows of ash to be removed. Job done and door secured, it was time to grab some wood and get a blaze on in the firebox, using some well soaked parrafin rags...
Still very hot from yesterday's efforts, the old engine started singing immediately as the fire began to take hold. It was at this point that our engine rep for this morning's shift (a lovely chap called Simon from the East Lancs) arrived to help us continue with preparation. I took a breather at this point to sit back and listen to the engine bubbling away after that rush of fairly strenuous early morning activity!...
Driver Charlie meanwhile was going around the engine oiling up, no doubt following the teachings of the very helpful guide that was sent with the 'A Class' from its home railway at Bury. I personally think that the whole idea of a manual is fantastic and should be adopted by anywhere loaning out engines. After all, they aren't all the same, despite the thoughts of some to the contrary. Things like this quirky old engine definitely need looking after when they're out on a jolly and this is made easier when you know more about them! Engine rep Simon kindly offered to ash out for me (an offer which was gratefully accepted I might add!) and soon enough, with prep complete, we were ready to get changed in readiness for our 08:00 off shed time...
"Topping up the fire on No52322" (G.Wignall)
One of the two visiting engines (and in my opinion the star of the show), the elderly 'A Class' was booked to work the first passenger train of the day: the 09:00 ex-Loughborough. Once changed and with prep complete, Charlie got permission from the signalman for us to leave shed and crossover to No2 road (via platform 1) for coaling. The tender was well down on coal after a busy gala Friday and so we'd need a good top up prior to attempting a service train. Below, No52322 stands ready to leave shed once the Standard 2s have cleared the way having taken water...
Once we'd nipped over to No2 shed road to take coal from the loader, we steamed back out via the shed release peg to reach platform 1 again. The L & Y 0-6-0 was then signalled back across to the water column for water. Below, engine rep Simon holds the bag in the tender whilst I trim the recently added coal down a touch...
"Early morning silhouette" (G.Wignall)
Coaled and watered, No52322 was taken around to the south end of platform 1 via the totem pole. Once at the head of the five-coach train, the engine began steam heating the stock, with 15 minutes to go until our booked 09:00 departure for Leicester North. The recently arrived Class 153 alongside did ruin the period scene a little but it has arrived with good cause. The railway has recently acquired two of these units as part of the line's testing and contract driver training division...
As right time neared, I began making up my fire in readiness. The coal on the tender was a fairly useful type, likely from a seam somewhere near Russia. It smoked well but gave plenty of heat once it had had time to get going. Though the 'A Class' was new to me, driver Charlie is a veteran GCR driver and engine rep Simon clearly knew the engine inside out and so, with their advice at hand, I didn't feel too worried about the two round trips ahead of us. With a good fire on the grate and the chimney smoking away, we received the "right away" from the guard a touch after 09:00. Summoning her strength, the diminutive No52322 used her 18" cylinders to power the five-coach train away from Loughborough and onward towards Quorn.
As soon as we were on the road it was clear that No52322 was far different from anything else I've fired up to now at the GCR. She reminded me in many ways of the Midland Standard Shunts (Jinty to some) that I'd known in another life at a place better off not named. The smaller saturated engine certainly lapped up the water and engine rep Simon was proved right when he said that the feed (injector) would need to be on most of the way when using the steam heat at the pre-regulated 25psi. Another interesting quirk with the engine's lifting injectors was the lack of any sight of an overflow. You had to listen for the click of the clack and then touch the base of the casting with the back of your hand. After a few seconds this area would run cold and you knew you'd got the feed right. Driver Charlie meanwhile (stood atop his block of wood) was watching the chimney and helping me to keep ahead of the 'A Class'. It was a bit like that famous LMS training film 'Little and Often'..."When the smoke clears it is time to fire again". It certainly was! Watching the chimney helped me to keep ahead of No52322 and of course to keep ahead of the injector.
With a larger, superheated engine (say for instance the Standard Five) you rarely end up in trouble with the water. We didn't end up in trouble today, despite the steam heat, but you had to be on the ball. She'd do it, but you had to have your wits about you. That's what made it so much fun! This engine needed coaxing and working to get the best results and, if you kept on top of her, it did the job with ease. Driver Charlie advised "you don't rest on your laurels with this one"...he was right. Nevertheless, we made Leicester North on time and in good form, running around the train briskly before heading off back to Loughborough, calling at all stations...
"Dropping down to Rothley" (C.Melvyn Harris)
As we returned to Loughborough I was relieved that I'd seemingly got the hang of the injectors and the firing technique. Just as the engine's manual stated, you had to keep the front covered, mainly as she only has the one damper (at the front) so eats the coal away more around there. Once back at Loughborough we had around an hour before our next departure at 11:15. However, in typical gala style this hour ebbed away within the blink of an eye. I think the amount of people showing interest in the 1895 engine and chatting away to us just made the minutes pass by more quickly. I certainly think she was a good gala choice for the GCR as so many people showed an interest in her. In seemingly no time at all we were back at the head of a different set of coaches ready for our 11:15 southward departure, awaiting the next "right away"...
"Fireman Sam with driver Charlie" (T.Allen)
By now I'd made up another good fire in the box, with the chimney smoking and the boiler water well up. We'd learnt by now that if the water came into sight at the top nut with the regulator open, you'd lost her! Leaving Loughborough around five minutes down, the Joy valve geared 0-6-0 set into the section towards Quorn with vigor. We were going well as we passed Clive Hanley near Woodthorpe...
"No52322 roars towards Quorn" (C.Hanley)
The firing technique on the 11:15 had to be the same as the 09:00, firing to the chimney and keeping an eye on the smoke coming from the coal that came from near Russia. Mr Wignall caught us again as we barked into the single line section towards Thurcaston (coming away from Rothley). The engine was in good voice at this point as I took a breather to have a look out at the valve spindles powering back and forth within the Joy valve gear. Notice the chimney shows a strong dark grey tinge as the recently added coal takes hold. What a lovely old thing to spend time with...
"Climbing away from Rothley" (G.Wignall)
After another brisk run round at Leicester (in an effort to keep time), we departed back towards Loughborough reflecting on a pleasant morning with the lovely Aspinall Class 27. Our relief crew was waiting for us at Loughborough's platform 1 when we rolled in, ending a very enjoyable morning aboard this sole survivor of a once 484-strong class of goods engines. As for No52322, what a lovely old thing this is: challenging, but lovely. I must thank the railway for having me and of course the roster clerk for putting me on the visiting engine again (I was surprised I must admit after getting the Saint a few months back at the last gala). I must also thank driver Charlie and engine rep Simon for their company aboard the old engine and, last but not least, the photographers mentioned above who kindly allowed me to use their images in this post. It was a pleasure to finally tick off this ex-Nuneaton engine and of course to take part in another GCR gala. Thank you all for reading this absolute muck once again. Ciao for now...
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.
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