Today involved a pleasant afternoon working the A4 turn at the Great Central Railway with driver Simon, aboard No78019. The turn's code: A4: was quite apt really as, on my way over to Loughborough, I briefly captured an A4 sprinting over the Coventry Road bridge at Bulkington. 1937-built "Sir Nigel Gresley" was working a Euston to Chester job and looked a picture under the blue skies as she sauntered by...
With the A4 having chattered away northward, I continued my journey to the GCR's Loughborough base. Having arrived in good time for my 13:00 booked sign on, I signed in and read the notices. Our rostered engine was No78019, which I last had at Easter on the E1 turn with Alan. Also out today was the 8F No48305, which continues to elude me it seems! I think I've only had the eight twice since passing out. Anyhow, today it was a Standard 2. Meanwhile, 19's sister Standard 2 (18) was basking in the sun on No1 road. The cleaners had had a go at her and she looked much shinier...
In the shed were two green things (making a change from all of the BR black stuff whilst the Hall is away on holiday!). Southernmost stood the tender for the A1 Pacific replica "Tornado", having recently returned from the works of LMS, just across Loughborough. I believe the tender is expecting the rest of the engine in the very near future, in readiness for running in and testing. Behind the tender stood a beautifully turned out Hunslet Austerity, also from LMS. This is a lovely looking thing...
Hunslet produced 485 Austerity's between 1943 and 1964, with this one being No3809 of 1953. The engine has just completed a fifteen year overhaul and looks incredible. It has to be the nicest example I've seen, although Tyseley-based "Fred" is also going to be a stunner. Fitted with a Giesl ejector and signwritten as NCB No18, the engine is visiting to take part in the upcoming 'Steam to Mountsorrel' event. It's been a number of years since steam ran up the branch and No18 is here to take that mantle. I wish it was staying forever: it's lovely. I look forward to seeing her running...
Having drooled over the immaculate NCB No18 for a while, it was soon time to meet up with driver Simon and wander down towards the water column in readiness to take over the Standard 2. Driver Neil and fireman Michael soon arrived with the mogul and we began the usual ritual of exchanging our kit bags. All was reported to be well with the engine as we prepared to draw forward for water...
"Handing over" (J.Garner)
A quick hazy shot in the cab of No78019, whilst Simon was down on the phone to the signalman requesting the road for us to grab a splash of water...
Tender topped up with water, we ran round via the totem pole to reach our waiting stock in platform two. The engine was duly coupled on and the lamps changed to reflect our class 2 (in every sense) 14:20 departure. It was going to be a warm one...
The first trip saw us carrying a footplate passenger as we performed a memorial, whereby the ashes of a friend or loved one are brought onto the engine and then cast into the firebox whilst the engine is working. The ashes will then be spread by the exhaust of the working engine at a beauty spot along the line, usually at picturesque Swithland. This is a fitting tribute to railway lovers and is a fairly common request now at the railway. With our memorial completed, our footplate passenger thanked us and left us at Rothley before we continued onward to Leicester North. Here there was the additional ten minutes in the timetable to allow for footplate visits...
Footplate visits completed, we briskly ran round the train before continuing back to Loughborough. After another quick spin around there, we worked the 16:15 departure. At Rothley there was a few minutes delay whilst we awaited a train to clear the single line section for us and to return the token. I therefore grabbed the unusual opportunity to snap the engine awaiting departure from this pretty station...
Line clear and token received, we were soon chugging towards Thurcaston on the single line section, with No78019 in very good voice...
It's always nice to work a Standard 2 as they need a little more thinking about than the bigger engines. The bigger stuff (like the 5 or the 8) just have so much reserve, whereas the smaller class 2 (although perfectly capable) keeps you on your toes to make sure that all remains in hand. After a quick final run round at Leicester, we prepared for our final northward departure in slightly cooler conditions...
Once back at Loughborough, we grabbed a splash at the column before steaming around to No2 shed road for disposal. The 8F would stay out to work the night diner but, with no chip train tonight, No78019's work was complete. We stopped short of No2 road pit so that I could check the smokebox, before dropping the engine back to level with her sister on No1 road. The ashpan was then emptied and the boiler filled up before isolating anything that required it. The engine was then left to simmer for the night, alongside her consecutively numbered sister...
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.
2 comments:
It's a shame one cannot "like" a post on your blog. Take this comment as a like :-)
Cheers Phil, glad you're still reading! I think I'm 4 behind at the moment as I write but I'll catch up! Back at Statfold on Sunday driving "Fiji". Thanks again. Sam
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