"Driver Eddie Jones pilots 'Harrogate' on an up passenger train"
September. The beginning of Autumn. For many years the end of season event at Tamworth's Statfold Barn Railway was the September do: a steam everything enthusiast's day involving not just the extensive narrow gauge railway but also a field full of road steam. As Statfold has developed over the years, the operating season has extended right the way up until Christmas, with the popular 'Santa Express' product bringing the curtain down at year end. The September do has remained prominent in the calendar however, renamed 'Road, Rail and Ale' and featuring several items related to its namesake. I've done a lot of September do's up to now but today's would be different in that it would feature my final 'proper' turn alongside well known dawn chorus denier 'Eddie the Late': Norfolk's fabled late riser.
I've known Eddie for years and, according to the blog records, we first crewed together on Leicestershire's withered arm in early 2010, with him as driver and me as a then much leaner cleaner. In the years since, we've crewed there, at Bala and of course at Statfold, having many a great day out in the process. Eddie was also a member at our local model engineering club: CMES. Today however, with Ed handing back his Statfold driving ticket, it was time for one last turn. This morning, at the usual 06:30 book on time, I arrived on site to sign in and read the notices before proceeding out to our booked engine: Peckett No2050 "Harrogate" of 1944. Of course, I was first, despite Ed actually camping on site! "And Gentlemen of England still a-bed" and all that...
As the less senior driver (in all regards), I was rostered as the fireman on today's turn and therefore got straight to work checking the boiler water level and cleaning out the remnants of yesterday's fire. All around, a myriad of other locomotives were awaiting their crews under blue morning skies. The weather wouldn't last...
Soon enough, with a nice clean grate and plenty of dry wood to hand, we were ready to get a blaze going. A yawning Ed duly arrived at the Peckett and lit the embryo fire. The typical Jones column was soon rising confidently skyward from the 0-6-0s chimney, as Hudswell Clarke "Fiji" looked on. "Harrogate" was soon singing nicely...
Between us we prepared the Peckett, mixing our roles up a bit. I did some oiling, then Ed did the rest. Here he is squeezing himself between the water tank and the running board as he attempts to access the eccentrics for the inside Stephenson's motion. The injector feed pipes and the large clacks do tend to hinder you...
By the time the 08:30 safety briefing came around, the Peckett was brewing up nicely and I'd had a wash and a change. We then enjoyed our morning bacon roll, whilst heckling Batesy as he gave us the lowdown. Quite a big change this year was the reduction in motive power from the usual dozen or so locomotives down to seven. Again, in recent years the development of the venue has changed the cliental at the September do so that the majority of passengers are now families requiring a train ride, with enthusiasts tending to favour the Spectacle of Steam events in March and June. Therefore, this weekend's reduction in motive power was a trial for economic purposes, saving coal and crews. With this in mind, we were only doing half a shift, with a relief crew planned to take over "Harrogate" from around 13:00. Briefing complete, we were signalled onto the waiting stock in platform two. I would be driving for the first two trips, with Ed wielding the shovel and refamiliarising himself. At 09:10, "Harrogate" awaits the road for our ECS run to Oak Tree via Cogan Halt...
Leaving Statfold with the ECS, it was unusual to be signalled down the high level line (the concrete road to us). I jokingly remarked to Batesy that it was lucky that I still signed it! Down the concrete road we went, passing through Oak Tree before circling the balloon loop. We were then clear (with a different token) to Oak Tree on the low level line. I must admit, this was a much quicker way of setting everything up! With the next down train having passed us, we returned to Statfold before spinning the engine on the table. With only seven locomotives out and two coupled up as a doubleheader, the trains were moving quickly and it wasn't long before we were needed again...
From my position at the driver's window we see the quarry duo of "Jack Lane" and "Sybil Mary" marching into Statfold Jnc with an up train, clearing our path...
We were joined on the footplate for our second trip by Ed's BVR colleague Alan Butcher, who I met during our trip up there with JB last September. (How time flies!). Upon our return to Statfold after a pleasant second trip, Alan kindly captured us for the record book (and this blog!). Thank you of course to Alan for this image...
"Driver Eddie and fireman Sam (ha) with Peckett 2050" (A.Butcher)
Vanity trip completed, we took "Harrogate" up onto the turntable for a spin...
Our third and fourth trips saw Eddie on the handle with myself doing the firing. As usual "Harrogate" was her usual free steaming, easy going self. With cylinders like dustbins, the big Peckett is master of any job at Statfold and I've had many a pleasant day on her. Below, she strides towards the foot of the bank up to Oak Tree...
During each layover at Oak Tree we topped up the tank and refilled the engine's bunkers from the coal pile. By the time we halted there for the fourth time the rain was already falling. Summer really had gone...
To my surprise, our return to Statfold left us with enough time for a fifth and final outing. We were worried we wouldn't even get three trips in, let alone five! I've had 12 hour shifts at Statfold before with only two round trips completed, so five in half a shift was certainly a novelty. The final trip was most enjoyable, with "Harrogate" nailed to our chosen pressure of 120psi (you don't need the full 160psi with this thing) and plenty of water in the boiler. After a final chuff up the bank into Statfold's platform one, we secured the engine and train before handing over to our relief crew Ben and Jerry (no relation to the ice cream conglomerate). We were happy to hand over an engine performing well and soon retired to the engine shed for a wash up...
"Crew swap"
And that was that, by 13:05 we'd departed the footplate and were off for a pie and a pint down the bottom. Having moved my car, I wandered down towards the event area in the persistent drizzle. At the newish crossing, my path was momentarily blocked by the passing 2024-built 2-6-2 "Carol Ann" on the 12.25" line...
After a pie and a pint in the Strawberry Park event building, we wandered across into the field where the traction engines were to see some old mates. It wasn't long before Colin and Joe kindly invited us for a spin around the damp field aboard 1914-built 8nhp Wallis "Pedler". I had a trip round on the regulator of this strong old bus before Ed had a go. I think it was the first time he'd driven a full size traction engine. He certainly had a bemused look as we rumbled along, no doubt wondering where his rails were...
"Eddie pilots Wallis general purpose engine Pedler"
After a pleasant couple of trips around the field, "Pedler" was screwed back down and we thanked Joe and Colin for the opportunity. I'm always the first to admit that traction engines aren't my thing (it needs to be on rails) however I'm always grateful for an experience like that all the same. Another one ticked off...
With the rain continuing to fall, we retreated back to the event building for a final half a pint before it was time to head for home. Thank you to Batesy and Stephen for rostering us and thank you to Ed for a great final day on the footplate. I'm making this sound like an obituary really, but it isn't supposed to! Thanks Ed for some great days on the footplate, almost all of which no doubt feature somewhere in this blog. Cheers all.
