Statfold: Road, Rail and Ale With Fabulous "Fiji"...

"Fijian Freight" (B.Bryan)

Good evening all. Today involved another driving turn at the wonderful Statfold Barn Railway, joined once again by well known Norfolk-based late riser 'Eddie the Late' as my Fireman. As Eddie was staying in Ratcliffe Culey (not a million miles from Statfold), I swung by his campsite on the way to pick him up. Eddie isn't used to functioning before dawn these days and at 05:45 I found him standing wide-eyed on the gloomy roadside with only an Owl for company. Eddie on board, we continued on to the McDonalds at Appleby to grab a quick breakfast before arriving at Statfold bang on time at 06:30 ready to sign in. Having scribbled in the book and read the notices, we continued out to our locomotive which is also much larger than Eddie is used to these days!...

Our large red steed was none other than Hudswell Clarke "Fiji", built in Leeds in 1912. According to my records this was my fourth booked driving turn on the ex-Lautoka 0-6-0 but my first since her recent ten-year overhaul. Having helped Eddie up into the cab due to the engines great height, we set to work checking her over in readiness to light the fire. Eddie was soon gasping all over the cab with the fire iron which no doubt felt like a bargepole now that he is only used to 15" gauge steam! Grate cleared and checks made, Eddie spread a round of coal around the firebox whilst I went scrambling for wood. Sunday turns on a two-day event can sometimes be a game of chance on the wood front but today we were lucky as there was still quite a lot left! Using some old rags found on the tender, Eddie then lit the fire...

Soon the typical 'Jones Column' was rising skyward from the balloon stack...

With the fire now crackling away nicely, I began the process of oiling the engine up. "Fiji" carries outside Walschaerts valve gear which is fairly easy to get at with both a feeder or a pump can. She also carries two large mechanical lubricators on her right side: one for the cylinders, one for the axleboxes. The lubricators carry cylinder oil and motion oil respectively. Whilst oiling around you're always on the look out for anything loose or amiss with the make up of the engine, as seen here...

"Oiling Up" (B.Bryan)

With the engine oiled and the fire now burning away on a good bed of Scottish coal, it was time to empty the ashpan. "Fiji" carries two dampers: one to the left and one to the right. Whilst I manned the hosepipe on one side to calm the dust, Eddie used the long iron to push the ashes through from the opposite side...

As well as "Fiji", there were eight other SBR steamers out today. One that caught my eye during prep was 1919-built Bagnall 0-4-0 "Wendy". She was carrying a chalked-on sad face due to this being her final weekend in service before expiry of her boiler ticket. I'm sure she'll be back before too long...

With "Fiji" now oiled, ashed and making steam nicely, there was little more to do but carry out some cleaning duties. The SBR engines are never filthy as they spend a lot of their time being cleaned. However, having been out the day before, "Fiji" just needed a wipe over with some clean rag to bring her shine back...

"Cleaning" (B.Bryan)

With the engine cleaned there was time to get changed before the 08:30 Safety Briefing on the lawn. Eddie had just added a fresh round of the very smoky coal...

After the briefing it looked like we may get on the move pretty quickly. It was however not to be and we didn't leave shed for perhaps another 90 minutes. This did however allow us the opportunity to give the cab roof and spectacle plate a clean. By 10:00, "Fiji" was simmering in platform 2 at Statfold Junction on the ex-Lynton set, with "Alpha" opposite. The size of the red 0-6-0 is evident...

At around 10:30 we received the road and the "Right Away" to leave Statfold on our first trip. As the main event was taking place in the event field at Strawberry Park, all trains would call here in both directions. With the sun shining, "Fiji" awaits the changeover of passengers at Strawberry whilst Eddie looks on...

A little while later, having passed through Oak Tree, the engine was simmering at Cogan Halt during our first layover period there. As is common at enthusiast events we had to wait for the next down train to arrive before we could commence our return journey. This normally involves a 6-7 minute wait...

It's always great fun driving "Fiji". It pulls well, steams well and rides well. Despite her great size she is an incredibly responsive and docile machine that is gentle in her reactions, making it very easy when coupling up and so on. After a pleasant first run we were soon simmering quietly in the Statfold headshunt, awaiting the call for our next train. A little before 12:30 we were awaiting departure with the freight train...

Under threatening skies, "Fiji" stands at Cogan Halt with the freight...

Following our arrival back at Statfolds platform 1 with the freight, we were asked to remain coupled and then to set back into the headshunt as the freight was being removed for the afternoon session. This was to speed up passenger departures and to save trains having to layover at Cogan Halt. With the freight stabled safely, it wasn't long before we were called upon for another tender first run; this time with the Severn Lamb set. The engine is spotted here after our third trip...

"Safety Valve Test" (B.Bryan)

The final train of the day, though a little slippery due to the rain showers, was back on the ex-Lynton set again. After many hours of badgering him, I finally managed to persuade Eddie to drive this trip and I believe he enjoyed himself! I meanwhile did my best to mess up the firing. It was kind of weird being back on the firemans side with Eddie driving, almost like turning the clock back many years to our many turns together at Shackerstone. After a very pleasant last train, 'Eddie the Late' drove "Fiji" back up onto the shed in readiness for disposal...

It was then time to thin my fire before filling the boiler and isolating the necessary cab fittings. What a very pleasant day: four trips spent in good company with a good mate on a good engine. You can't really ask for more! Thank you to Eddie for his comedic company, thank you to Alex for rostering us and giving us a good steed and finally thank you Barry for your pictures. Cheers all, Sam...

A Royal Visit to Northampton...

On this sunny September morning we were treated to the unexpected sight of 1927-built LMS Royal Scot Class No46100 "Royal Scot", slipping past work on a positioning move with her support coach. The engine was bound for Southall I believe, ready to work an upcoming rail tour. Two of the once 70-strong class survive in preservation, though none in their original Fowler form. The two preserved examples are both in fact Rebuilt Scots, with 46100 having received her Stanier rebuild in 1950. The class were given new frames, cylinders and boilers and so it could be argued that they are a new class in their own right. The rebuilds did however much improve their performance and certainly the preserved pair have put in some extremely good runs since their respective restorations. On this warm morning there was barely a wisp of smoke or steam from "Royal Scot" as she slipped past us. After a quick friendly wave from the footplate crew, the engine opened up and her three-cylinder beat echoed on the breeze as she accelerated southward. Another lovely engine!

                              Please note that the above image was taken from land outside of the NR boundary fence.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway...

We are very fortunate in the UK to have such a wide variety of heritage steam railways to experience and enjoy. Today I ticked off a preserved line which has been on my to-do list for several years: the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway in West Yorkshire. One of the early preservation pioneers, the KWVR ran its reopening passenger services in June 1968: two months before regular steam ended on BR! As well as being one of the premier players in steam preservation, the railway has earnt eternal fame following its starring role in the 1970 family movie The Railway Children, in which it was used as the railway backdrop for the film. As I was passing through the area on business this week I couldn't resist the temptation to call in for a quick visit. My aim was to catch the 11:40 departure on todays Orange Timetable from the lines Oxenhope terminus and so I arrived a little after 11:15, in good time to purchase my return ticket. The picturesque little station impressed me immediately, as did the sight of 1954-built BR Standard Class 2 No78022 as she ran around her train...

First impressions were very good as I wandered along the well kept platform. Having made her way around the loop, the immaculately turned out Darlington-built Standard 2 looked a real picture as she buffered up to the waiting stock...

Right on time, the Guard gave the "Right Away" and we set off downgrade in the direction of Keighley. Though not an extraordinarily long railway at five miles in length, the line has no less than five stations along its route! The first stop was Haworth, home of the loco shed, where one of the railways reopening engines (the red Ivatt 2MT No41241) sat cold on the shed frontage. Next, we called in at the movie star station: Oakworth. Oakworth was the village station made famous in The Railway Children, though today there was no energetic Bernard Cribbins working the crossing gates! A few passengers boarded here before we continued our journey...

The next stop was Damens: another filming location most notable in my memory from the BBCs Born and Bred. It's a tiny station this one at perhaps only a coach length long. However, despite its small stature, it was definitely well cared for and even staffed for this midweek summer service. Damens is also home to the railways passing loop where we crossed with an Oxenhope-bound railcar...

The Standard mogul was finding the downward trip very easy, slipping quietly through the Yorkshire countryside with barely a murmur. After a final calling stop at Ingrow, the engine is seen letting off some steam at the end of the line: Keighley...

The crew quickly uncoupled the green 2-6-0 and changed the lamps before setting back to begin the run round process. The KWVR has a main line connection here, allowing both visiting engines and railtours to come on and off the railway. Here, No78022 barks out from under the station bridge as she steams towards the water column...

The impressive station at Keighley was like a little time capsule. As an avid Peaky Blinders fan, I couldn't help but notice the various areas of the station I'd glimpsed within episodes of the early series of the show. By this point: probably an hour into my visit: I was smitten with the KWVR. The whole place just gave the impression of professionalism. Don't get me wrong, I realise that they've been at it a long time, but so have many other places and they aren't as good as this in my opinion. Everything about the railway was just lovely and I couldn't fault it in any way...

Up at the water column the shiny mogul was refilling her tender...

Over the way I noticed the Keighley turntable. As a kid I remember having a VHS tape from the Railways Around Europe series and Volume 1 featured the rescuing of this turntable from Hawes Junction (now Garsdale) on the Settle to Carlisle line... 

As passengers continued to board, No78022 simmered quietly at the head of the now 12:30 departure for Oxenhope. The climb out of Keighley is quite steep (no idea what the gradient is) and also features a check railed curve which must make it good fun on damp mornings! The friendly driver (an ex-Bradford man) was telling me that it could be hard work getting out some days with the Class 2. He was saying that the trick is to drop some sand when setting back onto the stock: I don't blame him!...

Bang on time, the little Standard summoned her strength and heaved the five-coach train into motion. Up the gradient she went, barking well with her voice echoing around the old market town. It was quite a noise...

The KWVR is definitely uphill most of the way and the little Standard was working well pretty much all of the time. At Damens we crossed over with the railcar again...

Another feature on the line made famous in The Railway Children is the 75-yard long Mytholmes Tunnel. I must admit, in the film it is made to look far longer! Here, No78022 barks towards the tunnel mouth before sounding her whistle...

Here, the engine lets off some steam after her 12:55 arrival at Oxenhope...

As I was mid-journey when I called in at the Worth Valley there sadly wasn't time to explore most of the stations as I would have liked. However, Oxenhope had an impressive museum which was well worth a look and I managed to squeeze this in before I set off northward. There were plenty of engines in there...

From what I could gather, the Oxenhope museum is where most of the out of ticket engines live. The KWVR has quite a fleet of both main line and ex-industrial engines in varying condition. Much like the Severn Valley do with their Engine House, I really like it when railways showcase their none-operational stock in this way. The engines are warm, dry and safe and yet still allowed to be seen and enjoyed whilst they await their turn in the restoration queue: what could be better? A first for me was the sight of the little 0-4-0 Pug, built by the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in 1901. It was the pioneer of the KWVR, being the first engine to arrive there for preservation in 1965. There are two Pugs in preservation: the other is at the East Lancs I think...

Amongst the display of the Pug, 3F, 8F and Standard 4MT tank stood the movie star herself: GWR Pannier Tank No5775, built at Swindon in 1929. Alongside 'The Green Dragon', No5775 was one of the major players in The Railway Children film and, though currently out of ticket, is displayed wearing the fictional livery of the Great Northern and Southern Railway which she carried for the movie. She also wears the flags that she wore in the closing credits of the film and the famous 'The End' chalkboard. It was quite moving seeing this celebrity machine in the metal at last. Next time I watch The Railway Children I'll know I've been there...

After taking in the Oxenhope museum I visited the gift shop to pick Maisie up some pens (her favourite souvenir) before grabbing a final snap of No78022...

Leaving the wonderful KWVR behind for a moment, I drove just up the hill to park up before joining the footpath down to the 'Three Chimneys': the famous cottage with the said number of chimneys which was used as the house in the 1970 film. It is a private dwelling to this day and is visible from a public footpath. (I thought I might as well do all of the sights whilst I was there!). My fairly unreliable Sat Nav (which has the tendency to lengthen journeys by an hour by using farm tracks to save half a mile overall!) took me through Oakworth on my way north and so I turned off the main road slightly to grab a better shot of the station. The crossing gates were shut as I arrived as the railcar was about to depart with a service for Oxenhope...

With the railcar having rumbled away into the distance, I crossed the crossing and got a better snap of the beautifully preserved little station which opened in 1867...

With that, it was time to set sail for my onward journey after a fabulous first visit to the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. To be honest, I can't praise it enough. I would easily count that as the nicest preserved railway I have ever visited...and I've visited a lot of them! It just had a bit of everything: lovely stations, friendly staff, an immaculate and impressive fleet of locomotives, great scenery, a turntable, a tunnel...you name it. It has everything you could want over its five mile length and I couldn't fault it at all. Well done to everyone involved there: you should be very proud of what you have achieved. It is preservation perfection. I'm only gutted it isn't nearer! 

Finally, tagging onto the end of this post, I thought I'd chuck in this rushed shot from this morning of Bulleid Pacific "Braunton" near Miles Platting in Manchester. I was driving in the rain out of the city suburbs (bound for Oxenhope) when I saw a plume of smoke rising skyward from behind some buildings. Naturally I thought it was a bonfire or some kind of arson attack but to my surprise it was "Braunton". Having pulled over, I grabbed a rushed shot before carrying on to the KWVR. Maybe the two Magpies helped...

Two spots in one day: can't be bad. Cheers all and thanks for reading. Ta...

Statfold: A Private Do...

Evening all. Today involved a very relaxing and carefree driving turn for a private function at the Statfold Barn Railway. Alex had asked me last week if I'd like to do it and, not wanting to be the guy who never does anybody a favour, I happily agreed. This morning saw me arrive at the incredibly reasonable sign on time of 10am, finding "Alpha" and "Roger" (the two engines for the day) resting on the shed apron...

It was unusual for me to see "Roger" on the main running shed frontage as the Wren is usually confined to the garden. Once steam had been raised, she would head off to her usual stamping ground to operate the garden railway service...

My fireman for the day: Matt: duly arrived and set to lighting up 1922-built Hudswell Clarke "Alpha" as a very warm August sun shone down on us...

Whilst Matt made up the embryo fire, I began oiling around. "Alpha" is a very easy engine to oil up, with her Walschaerts valve gear meaning that most parts are on the outside and within reach. It was then time to give her a clean...

By 12:30 the engine was ready and waiting in Statfold Junctions Platform 2 with a rake of three Severn Lamb coaches behind her...

To say it was a leisurely morning was a real understatement. The train rides on both of the 2ft gauge railways were part of a larger private function being held at the SBRs impressive roundhouse museum. A large party of VIPs would catch our train with "Alpha" from Oak Tree to Statfold Junction before taking in the impressive workshops of Statfold Engineering and a ride with "Roger" in the garden. "Alpha" would then return the passengers to Oak Tree via Cogan Halt...

Our departure from Oak Tree was planned for around 2pm and so, around an hour earlier, we set sail from Statfold Junction for a lap of the line with the ECS. As usual, "Alpha" pulled the train effortlessly. I can never really fault "Alpha" other than to say it can be a little boring as it just does everything you want with seemingly no effort at all. It always pulls well, steams well and sounds well and is perfect for pretty much any SBR task. Upon arrival at a desolate Oak Tree, we screwed the engine down and awaited our passengers with "Alpha" simmering quietly to herself...

Right on time, "Alpha"s admiring public arrived and she summoned her strength to haul the train back to Platform 2 at Statfold Junction. Here she is after drawing forward from the stock ready to creep towards the turntable...

We had around 45 minutes to run the engine around and so, as our passengers would be returning from the garden, we decided to shunt the coaches across into Platform 1 to save them some walking. The SBR gradients are short but sharp and "Alpha" sounded in great voice as she propelled the stock back up the hill into the old bay platform...

At around 3pm our passengers had returned and we were given the "Right Away" to leave Statfold Junction bound for Oak Tree via Cogan Halt. The Hudswell Clarke made light work of the job and was steaming and pulling a treat as usual. Once back at Oak Tree our grateful passengers thanked us for their ride as they passed the cab and soon enough, with the train now empty again, we set off back to Statfold for some shunting. Our final job was to head back to Strawberry Park and bring the ex-Lynton stock up to provide the two sets of coaches for tomorrows classic car event...

Two round trips done and shunting complete, we returned "Alpha" to the shed frontage for disposal after a most enjoyable little day. The sun even came out again...

With the engine disposed it was time to head for home after a very easy footplate shift. Thank you to Matt for firing for me and thank you to Alex for asking me to do the job. "Alpha" was of course her usual perfect self. Cheers all, Sam...