"Driving 'Isibutu' into Statfold's platform one" (B.Bryan)
And just like that, we've arrived at the first of the end of season jobs: Statfold's 'Road, Rail and Ale' event. This annual gathering of all things rail and road heralds the end of the summer events programme. In days gone by, the September do was the final event of the year at Statfold and everything was packed back into its box after that. Memories of the country farm railway back then are quite unrecognisable when compared to today's commercial juggernaut of an events venue, but things must evolve in order to survive. Seven 2ft gauge locomotives were rostered for this weekend's event, supported by two more on the 12.25" Mease Valley. I was extremely pleased when the roster came out a couple of weeks ago to see my name penned to my Statfold favourite: Bagnall 2820 of 1945, "Isibutu". I could never moan about being rostered onto this lovely old thing. The blog archives revealed that I last drove 2820 in 2022 and so today would be a welcome return to her regulator. For many years unchanged, the 0630 sign on had been moved to 0700 this year and so, a little later than usual, the assembled hoards arrived at the engine shed ready to find our respective steeds. "Isibutu" was waiting patiently against the shed door, with "Howard" tucked in behind...
Having signed in and having re-read the notices (they're emailed out in the days prior too now), I met up with fireman Charles and cleaner Stuart at the engine. Charles was staying on site and so had kindly been in the day before and warmed the engine through nicely. Having checked the boiler water level, Charles cleared the remnants of his warming fire with the iron before preparing to relight. It wasn't long before he had a nice blaze going, with the 4-4-0 starting to sing almost immediately. The foreign coal (all we can get these days since the loss of Ffos-y-Fran) creates some pretty nasty smoke, but it's that or the spark spitting ovoids. I'm always up for a debate, but for me proper coal will always win out...
At the risk of repeating myself in type, for the portion of the post devoted to "Isibutu"s history I've included this extract from an earlier post, written in 2016 (God, I'm old!). Built in 1945 by the popular firm of Bagnall's, 2820 was one of 13 other large 4-4-0s of the same type, built to operate on the Tongaat Sugar system in Natal, South Africa. The first of the 4-4-0s dated from 1907, with 2820 being the last of the engines produced, nearly 40 years later. They must have been good over there, despite their long wheelbases. Having said that, the Tongaat system apparently covered around 90 miles and so the locos needed to provide prolonged steaming and good water capacity. 2820 was built as "Egolomi", named after one of the neighbouring sugar farms. She later assumed the name "Robert Armstrong" and, along with her sisters, was recorded as being laid up in South Africa in 1970, with Tongaat having ceased rail movements. Tongaat was the first of the large South African sugar companies to move over to road transport. We believe that 6 of the Tongaat Sugar Bagnalls survive today: 4 in the UK and 2 abroad. 2820 was brought back to the UK and stored at the now defunct Knebworth Park and Wintergreen Railway. 2820 had a spark arresting balloon stack chimney back then!
I don't believe she had any restoration, as such, carried out until she found a home at the NGR at Toddington. Full restoration of the large 4-4-0 was carried out there and she returned to steam once more. During a visit to the WHHR at Porthmadog in 2007, the engine suffered a faulty regulator and was sent to Statfold for contract repair. She never left, and became part of the superb collection housed there. In preservation, 2820 has always carried the name "Isibutu". It seems that when she was chosen to come back to the UK, those who had her in Africa wanted to keep the "Robert Armstrong" nameplates and thus sent 2820 with the plates from her scrapped sister engine: Bagnall 2374 of 1929. 2820 has been "Isibutu" ever since and now offers a fitting tribute to the Tongaat Bagnall's that no longer survive. These days, another Tongaat Bagnall can be seen operating at the Lynton and Barnstaple railway (2819). Each time I prep "Isibutu" I always wonder about the 'modification' to the bottom end. One assumes that originally it had oil fed split brasses around the crank pins. At some point however, it received solid bearings, pressed into the rods and lubricated by grease. It had these in a photograph from Knebworth in 1976, so it's likely to have been done in Africa. A liberal application of grease takes up the characteristic "clank, clonk" for a couple of trips...
Whilst I went around the engine doing the oiling and greasing, Charles and Stuart were at work with the polishing rags, giving the Bagnall a really good buffing up. The usual 0830 safety briefing was undertaken on the lawn, with the expected chorus of heckling muffled by the munching of freshly delivered sausage baps. Brief complete, it was back to our engines to complete the final checks. Being buried at the back of the pile, we would likely be last off shed and so there was time to do some more cleaning and of course wash up and get changed at our leisure. It was a little before 1030 when we got the call to leave the shed and draw down to the signalbox. There, we waited for the next up train so that we could take that stock over. The sun was shining, for now...
Our stock duly arrived and, after the next down train had departed, we were signalled into platform one in order to couple up. I crept the 4-4-0 up through the points as carefully as I could but, even with drain cocks open, she still vomited a torrent of sooty water out and over her freshly cleaned barrel (always the way). Some railways put a sheet over the engine whilst making their first moves, in order to catch this morning condensate. Once coupled up, we got to work cleaning off the smuts in readiness for our onward departure. Next train in, off we went. After a pleasant first trip around the railway, by 1110 we found ourselves back on the shed, facing the opposite way. Whilst we sat in our garden chairs enjoying the calm, "Isibutu" simmered in the September sunshine. This view then presented itself...
"Resting on the shed"
Following a short break, we were called back down from the shed to wait outside the signalbox once again. 0-4-2 Bagnall "Isaac" duly arrived with our next train, which included the large replica American saloon "Carrabassett"...
By 1200, after another pleasant run around the railway via Cogan Halt, "Isibutu" was simmering at Oak Tree awaiting the next down train. As usual, she was master of the job: steaming well, sounding well and pulling well...
Whilst stood at the front of the engine, I managed to grab a quick snap of the BR (M) lamp adorning the smokebox. We regularly carry this lamp on "Isibutu" in memory of late SBR fireman Mick, who was the Bagnall's regular fireman for quite some time. The bench opposite the signalbox at Statfold Jnc also commemorates Mick and his contribution as a volunteer to the Statfold Barn Railway...
Returning to Statfold once again, it was time for a quick turn on the table. It's much nicer going forwards, particularly as you get less dust from the bunker in your face (no slacking hose on this old gal). The Bagnall was feathering at the valves as I took this snap of her waiting to come off the turntable, with Statfold Seed Oil in the background. God knows how many times I've captured this scene...
And just like that, we were back on the shed again, this time on the middle road. The eagle-eyed will notice the different shade of green on the bogie wheels...
It was nearing 1300 when we drew back down the gradient from the shed to prepare for our third departure. "Isibutu" really is a handsome old engine...
Below, a view of the road ahead, with the platform one starter signal in the 'on' position as an arriving train has been signalled into platform two. Also note the pressure gauge, with needle gradually creeping towards the red line...
During our third trip the weather began to take a turn and, after our next shed layover, we'd encountered an annoyingly persistent rain shower. A damp "Isibutu" is seen here waiting in platform two with our fourth departure of the day, with cleaner Stuart making up the fire under the supervision of fireman Charles...
"Waiting in the rain"
For our fifth and final trip I stood in the corner whilst Charles drove the engine and Stuart fired. Giving up any trips on "Isibutu" always proves difficult, but you should always try to let the fireman have a go! As always, "Isibutu" proved no trouble throughout the trip, with the marine boiler providing plenty of steam when you wanted it. It's a very capable machine and I don't think I could ever get tired of it. As narrow gauge engines go, I think it's up there with the best, certainly for me. After our fifth trip we were instructed to uncouple and proceed, obeying all signals, back to the shed. I took the Bagnall chimney first back up the incline, coming to a stand on the middle road. We were soon joined by younger Bagnall cousin "Isaac"...
"Days end"
We were then left with only the usual disposal tasks to complete: quieten the fire, fill the boiler, isolate the necessaries and give her a wipe over. With all of the above carried out and the paperwork filled in, it was time to sign out and head down the bottom for a well earned pint before heading home. I was particularly pleased to see Purple Moose available for a change, offering a welcome taste which brought back memories of our time at Bala. All in all, a very pleasant fourth turn of the year at the Statfold Barn Railway. Grateful thanks to Phil & Stephen for rostering me and of course to Charles & Stuart for their efforts and company today. You can never have a bad day aboard "Isibutu". Until next time then, Ciao ciao.
