Going Great Central: An Unexpected Diesel Day...

Sometimes things don't go according to plan and this was certainly the case with today's A4 turn at the Great Central Railway. A phone call yesterday evening informed me that our booked steam locomotive: Standard 5 No73156: had failed in service and would not be available for traffic today. With no spare steam engine available, I was asked if I'd be prepared to secondman the covering diesel. Of course the answer is "yes" as any other answer just isn't cricket. The DTM had been frantically rearranging diagrams to best suit the timetable, making best use of the one remaining available steam locomotive: Standard 2 No78019. My booked turn had changed slightly and I was asked to start earlier but finish earlier, working the 12:20 and 14:20 trains alongside diesel driver Mick. I arrived at the GCR's Loughborough base at around 11:00, in good time for our 12:20 passenger train. Station cat Onslaught was snoozing in the ops office, taking a break on this muggy afternoon...

Outside, at the head of the line of diesels stabled on the up through, stood our waiting steed: 1961-built Class 37 714 "Cardiff Canton", in Trainload Metals livery...

Driver Mick duly prepared the 1750hp diesel for service, starting the engine and making up the air for the braking system. As a steam lover through and through, I can still see why these things ended up replacing our beloved coal fired locomotives. These huge beasts are ready within minutes: no hassle, no stress. I'd imagine that if you were crew on British Rail in the early 60s and you weren't too much of a steam fan, you'd have loved to transfer into the cab of one of these...especially in the winter! We were confined to the up through until a shunt with the Class 08 had taken place. Shunt complete, we came out of our siding in order to move around to the head of our waiting train in platform one. Changing ends during a run round can be a tad tedious but it is good exercise! Soon enough, we were on the move with the six-coach train and enjoyed a pleasant run to Leicester North. Below, 37 714 climbs away from Rothley Brook with the up section signal in the 'off' position as we approach...

Driver Mick is pictured effortlessly bringing 37 714 up to line speed...

This beast really is caged here, it wants to be out on the main line doing 70mph+. I meanwhile couldn't believe how easy my afternoon had become. All I had to do was call the signals out and then do the coupling/uncoupling each time we ran round our train. The life of a secondman is quite a leisurely one in comparison to a fireman...the diesel does it all for you! At Leicester, 37 714 has run round the stock...

It was interesting chatting to Mick about diesels as we growled along the line. They're not my thing I'll admit, but a change is as good as a rest as they say. As well as being involved in the GCR-based Heavy Tractor Group (owners of 37 714), Mick is also part of the Deltic Preservation Society at Barrow Hill. I am very much in admiration of the historic significance of the Class 55's and so it was interesting to chat about them. Below, No78019 descends into Rothley from Loughborough with the up Sunday lunch diner, whilst we await departure from Rothley's down platform...

It's amazing what a different view you get from the cab of a diesel, without a boiler in your way. Below, we growl into Swithland on the down line with the down home signal showing a green at the time of passing...

Once back at Loughborough, a brisk run round brought us back to the southern end of the train. At this point the rumbling diesel was shut down for a while to reduce the noise. 37 714 could therefore take a breather...

On time at 14:20, we departed Loughborough's platform one, bound for Leicester North. I enjoyed a cup of tea and my meal deal in my padded seat...

This train was the mixed afternoon tea and chippy special (one at each end of the stock with standard class passengers in the intermediate coaches). At Leicester there was the usual extra time allocated for footplate visits. With no footplate as such, we opted to do some cab visits instead, which proved pretty popular...

The final run home was equally stress free and we rolled into Loughborough right on time. The diesel was duly uncoupled and rolled forward into No2 shed road before crossing back over into the up through for stabling. No ashpan to do, no smokebox to do...I was at a loss! The diesel quietly settled down for the evening without so much as a clinkered fire! Again, you can see why these things took over. It seemed fairly economical too, with the fuel gauge having hardly moved. Mick explained that this example has extended range fuel tanks meaning that they only tend to fill it once a season and it does the job! An impressive machine indeed...

I must thank Mick for his company aboard the Class 37 today: it was more interesting than you'd first think. It's a shame it wasn't the booked steamer but that can't be helped...we're dealing with heritage equipment that is bound to fail every now and again. The Standard 5 in particular has done a lot of miles and has been a very trusty machine since its painstaking restoration so who can complain really? Whilst walking to the wash room, I passed the Standard 5 (awaiting superheater repairs) and the 8F (part way through spring hanger changes) basking in the afternoon sun on the shed frontage. With these two sidelined, No78018 out for a valve and piston exam and the Hall still working hard at the West Somerset, that left no spare steam traction...

Overall, that wasn't bad. It was interesting to have the change in a way and I hope it helped the railway out. After we retired, No78019 took over again to work the final passenger train of the day. You can find out more information on the Heavy Tractor Group and their locomotives by clicking here. That was my first turn on one of the once 309-strong Class 37s. Over the years I've crewed many a diesel in an emergency (25, 31, 33, 47, 73) but not a 37, until now. Many thanks for reading all...

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.

Statfold: June Open Day Fun With "Fiji"...

"Driver Sam, fireman Barry and cleaner Conor" (N.Cliff)

After what seems like mere days since the last one, today I crewed at Statfold for another Spectacle of Steam event (what used to be known as the 'open day'). Last time it was the pioneer Garratt K1, today I was booked to drive what is arguably Statfold's flagship locomotive: the wonderful "Fiji". I arrived in good time for the 06:30 book on, sauntering into the shed yard on my way to the signing in hut. On my way I passed by the two visiting engines for the event: the returning red Fowler from last June and the lovely little 1926-built Bagnall "Sir Tom" from Threlkeld...

Despite familiarising myself with the relevant ops notices during the week, I had another check for any new ones before signing in. My booked engine, along with fireman Barry and cleaner Conor, was waiting patiently on the middle road...

Placing my footplate bag into the cab, I found Conor already beavering away with the irons in the firebox, clearing the ash from yesterday's fire. I had a quick look in the front end to check things over before Barry arrived with armfuls of wood. Between them they soon had a good blaze going in the firebox. I meanwhile went around the engine doing the oiling up, starting with the steam brake lubricator in the cab, working through the axleboxes and motion before ending with the two mechanical lubricators on the running board. The usual 08:30 safety briefing was moved to 08:00 for this event (for the first time in my memory) to allow an earlier start for some breakfast shuttles to Oak Tree. These trains were run to ferry the early birds down for the new full english breakfast offering at the roundhouse cafe. Things were therefore on the move much earlier than usual today and "Fiji" was waiting in platform one by 09:15...

We were soon off into the fields, cautiously working our first train. Unusually, our first trip was signalled bang road through Oak Tree, affording this unusual view of "Fiji" in the platform. This shot is only usually captured at Christmas...

Upon arrival at the Cogan Halt stop board we came to a stand before securing the engine and train. An impatient "Fiji" was already raring to go...

As we made our steady way back to Statfold, passing a train at Oak Tree as normal, we were welcomed at the terminus by blue skies and sunshine. Below, an immaculate "Fiji" has been spun on the turntable, with Statfold Seed Oil in the background...

Having drawn the engine down to the signal gantry outside the signalbox, we were treated to the sight of two little green engines ("Sir Tom" and "Jack Lane") arriving with an up freight train. Today's freights were re-engined here...

We were soon at the head of our second passenger train and Barry caught me reliving my main line support crew days with Tyseley by flinging the coal forward atop "Fiji"s tender. It was a lot easier than doing the same on "Edgcumbe"...

"The 0-6-0 waits at Statfold Junction station" (B.Bryan)

The second train was performed in beautiful weather and immaculate 1912-built "Fiji" is seen waiting under blue skies at a peaceful Oak Tree...

Whilst we awaited our third train at Statfold Junction we were signalled down to the front of the new carriage shed on the old headshunt. It's a great covering for the coaches but not so good when you need to park up down the headshunt. Thankfully we managed to keep "Fiji"s chimney clear as we didn't want to blacken the internal roof...

I drove the third train before swapping roles with Barry who, despite being fireman today, is also now a driver at the SBR. Below, Conor (soon to pass out as fireman) and Barry work "Fiji" around the balloon loop on our fourth round trip...

Conor had done such a good job of firing during those four trips that I decided to have a go on the last one, keeping my hand in on the fireman's side at Statfold. Driver Barry is captured here as we await the road at Statfold Junction with our final working of the day. The up train could be heard in the distance...

"Fiji" steamed easily for me on our fifth and final train of the day, with Barry driving us gently around the railway and back to Statfold. Once back at base, we turned her for a final time on the table before heading back to the shed. Having given the engine a wipe over at the shed door and cleaned the fire, I duly dropped her back inside to complete the day. The boiler was then topped up and the chimney capped...

With the final rub down of the engine and the protective coat added to the brightwork, the day was done. I always enjoy being on "Fiji": it's a lovely engine. I must thank Barry and Conor for their company on the footplate today and of course Phil for rostering me. Thank you also to Barry and Nigel for sending in images that were used in this post: they are always appreciated. Cheers, Sam...

Ryton: The Electric Revolution Round Two...

Just a brief one to keep a record this afternoon folks. This afternoon saw me completing my second turn of 2024 on the Sunday afternoon public running at CMES' Ryton Pools Miniature Railway. The class 31 and 37 wannabes were the choice of traction for today's two train service, with their class 47 cousin relegated to spare engine. Below, driver Jim works the crew special of empty stock to the station in readiness for the afternoon's service, in sunny conditions... 

We performed the three hour running slot very well, keeping the queue down with the support of the trusty electrics. I did a bit of everything: a bit of driving, a bit of station and a lot of guarding. I don't mind sitting on the back of the train these days: you can be on top of your job whilst watching the world go by. Below, the 37 lookalike takes a break during a very brief lull of waiting passengers...

At the usual 16:00 closing time, we shut the gate and put everything away before quickly rushing everything back to the stabling area. The engines and stock were put away and we were all soon heading down to the bottom to get washed up ready for home. Thanks all for a pleasant afternoon. I think we carried around 300 people if memory serves, which is another good income for the club...