"Rails, Ales And An Eastern Lady"...
Hello everyone. Well, this morning, I arrived in a rather weary state at Shackerstone at a "nice" and early 6am. I was to be crewing the beautiful "Eastern Lady of Leicestershire"; none-other than the immaculate LNER B1 No1306 "Mayflower" herself. Entering the South Yard, I found the day's booked Fireman, Adrian, breaking up pallets for the fire lighting whilst Driver Neil was busy laying the "coal bed" across the grate. After assisting with the breaking of the pallets I helped carry the wood up onto 1306's footplate ready for lighting. It then wasn't long before Adrian hauled the beautiful B1 out of the shed using the "jelly baby coloured" Class 02 diesel, "Diane". 1306 was then lit up and began to "come to life". Myself and Adrian soon set about cleaning the engine, with help from Carl, whilst Driver Neil began oiling round. After an hour or so, one-side of 1306 was cleaned and polished, leaving the rather daunting prospect of "starting all over again" on the Fireman's Side! (But we did so, with some help from Steve!). Meanwhile, out on the South Pit, the diminutive 2-2-0 Aveiling & Porter No9449 "The Blue Circle" was being readied for the day's work herself. This weekend was the railway's first "Rail Ale Weekend" and 5 trains were sheduled; all of which were to be hauled by us, using "Mayflower". With the first train at 10:45am there was no time to lose and 1306 was made ready asap. We then had to shunt "Diane" out of the way and drop the 4-6-0 down onto the waiting 6-coach rake. In fact, this was unsual in the respect that the stock was in Platform 1, following a BBQ train the night before!... 
Departing Platform 1 (very unusual!) on time, "Mayflower" eased across the Crossing outside the Signalbox before beginning to pull away a little harder up the bank out of Shackerstone. Once the last coach (the Beavertail) was clear of the Crossing, 1306 really dug into the climb and we barked away with 1306's voice echoing everywhere. However, "tragedy" soon struck as I got a piece of ash/coal in my eye; unusually from the B1's chimney. Under normal circumstances, the footplate is unusually immune from chimney dust as it tends to be forced down the train by either the wind or the bark of the loco. Also, any coal in the eye is usually gone or washed away very soon. This however was not a "typical" moment. My eye didn't only water, it became bloodshot and a little swollen. The pain was unbarable but, with no sign of the "spec" of coal, I had no choice but to soldier on. Driver Neil drove the first two trains, handing Fireman Adrian the regulator for the 3rd and 4th trips. Throughout the day, my eye did not improve; in fact, it got worse. It became very enflamed and, due to the coal stuck somewhere out of my reach, each 'blink' resulted in a sharp, painful scratch; almost like being 'cut with glass' I would go so as to say. It was really awful and I for one am used to coal in the eyes! I also washed it with both water and specialist eyewash but to avail and the pain got worse and worse. Even so, when offered the Shovel for the last trip, I, even though now classed as an "invalide", did not turn it down!... 
Throughout the trip, on Damper Notch No1 with the Blower 'just cracked', 1306 steamed beautifully, holding well over 200psi. There was also plenty of room in the boiler to fill with water when needed to "cool" the loco down or even just to keep a safe water level (1/3 of a glass +). Arrival at Shenton soon came and 1306 calmed down nicely. I had one last check on my eye whilst "Mayflower" ran round but again to no avail. (No sign of any coal or grit). So, in severe pain and with a 'streaming' eye, I fired the last trip home. On these 'final journeys', it's always necessary to ensure not to add too much coal. Afterall, the loco will be disposed soon after arrival at Shackerstone. However, steam and water are also very necessary too! It's like an obscure balancing act! I was actually quite surprised how easily 1306 steamed on such a small fire, even when simply "filling in the holes". She was a dream and I think I fired better with the injury than before, arriving back at Shack with just under 200psi on the clock and the injector running. (We were already trying to kill off pressure ready for heading off back into the shed!). After uncoupling the stock we ran straight into the loco works and disposed 1306. I again tried eye-wash on my injury as over 6 hours of "putting up with it" was really taking its toll. I was ready to go to hospital! Then, I found a torch and got Steve to take a last look whilst I held up the eyelid. Sure enough, there, on top of my eyesocket, well up behind the eyelid, a small piece of coal was glimpsed, in direct line with the scratches on my bloodshot eye. Using an obscure piece of paper, the coal was recovered and I've never known relief like it! The swelling went down, the pain and the streaming stopped and the eye was soothed instantly. It was like being born again! What an ordeal over such a small lump of coal! Anyhow, though very much marred, it was a very nice day on the "Eastern Lady". Thank you very much to Neil, Adrian and Steve for another good day on 1306. Thanks for reading folks! I need to go and rest my eye now(!), Good Evening...
Hello everyone. Well, this morning, I arrived in a rather weary state at Shackerstone at a "nice" and early 6am. I was to be crewing the beautiful "Eastern Lady of Leicestershire"; none-other than the immaculate LNER B1 No1306 "Mayflower" herself. Entering the South Yard, I found the day's booked Fireman, Adrian, breaking up pallets for the fire lighting whilst Driver Neil was busy laying the "coal bed" across the grate. After assisting with the breaking of the pallets I helped carry the wood up onto 1306's footplate ready for lighting. It then wasn't long before Adrian hauled the beautiful B1 out of the shed using the "jelly baby coloured" Class 02 diesel, "Diane". 1306 was then lit up and began to "come to life". Myself and Adrian soon set about cleaning the engine, with help from Carl, whilst Driver Neil began oiling round. After an hour or so, one-side of 1306 was cleaned and polished, leaving the rather daunting prospect of "starting all over again" on the Fireman's Side! (But we did so, with some help from Steve!). Meanwhile, out on the South Pit, the diminutive 2-2-0 Aveiling & Porter No9449 "The Blue Circle" was being readied for the day's work herself. This weekend was the railway's first "Rail Ale Weekend" and 5 trains were sheduled; all of which were to be hauled by us, using "Mayflower". With the first train at 10:45am there was no time to lose and 1306 was made ready asap. We then had to shunt "Diane" out of the way and drop the 4-6-0 down onto the waiting 6-coach rake. In fact, this was unsual in the respect that the stock was in Platform 1, following a BBQ train the night before!... 
Departing Platform 1 (very unusual!) on time, "Mayflower" eased across the Crossing outside the Signalbox before beginning to pull away a little harder up the bank out of Shackerstone. Once the last coach (the Beavertail) was clear of the Crossing, 1306 really dug into the climb and we barked away with 1306's voice echoing everywhere. However, "tragedy" soon struck as I got a piece of ash/coal in my eye; unusually from the B1's chimney. Under normal circumstances, the footplate is unusually immune from chimney dust as it tends to be forced down the train by either the wind or the bark of the loco. Also, any coal in the eye is usually gone or washed away very soon. This however was not a "typical" moment. My eye didn't only water, it became bloodshot and a little swollen. The pain was unbarable but, with no sign of the "spec" of coal, I had no choice but to soldier on. Driver Neil drove the first two trains, handing Fireman Adrian the regulator for the 3rd and 4th trips. Throughout the day, my eye did not improve; in fact, it got worse. It became very enflamed and, due to the coal stuck somewhere out of my reach, each 'blink' resulted in a sharp, painful scratch; almost like being 'cut with glass' I would go so as to say. It was really awful and I for one am used to coal in the eyes! I also washed it with both water and specialist eyewash but to avail and the pain got worse and worse. Even so, when offered the Shovel for the last trip, I, even though now classed as an "invalide", did not turn it down!... 
Throughout the trip, on Damper Notch No1 with the Blower 'just cracked', 1306 steamed beautifully, holding well over 200psi. There was also plenty of room in the boiler to fill with water when needed to "cool" the loco down or even just to keep a safe water level (1/3 of a glass +). Arrival at Shenton soon came and 1306 calmed down nicely. I had one last check on my eye whilst "Mayflower" ran round but again to no avail. (No sign of any coal or grit). So, in severe pain and with a 'streaming' eye, I fired the last trip home. On these 'final journeys', it's always necessary to ensure not to add too much coal. Afterall, the loco will be disposed soon after arrival at Shackerstone. However, steam and water are also very necessary too! It's like an obscure balancing act! I was actually quite surprised how easily 1306 steamed on such a small fire, even when simply "filling in the holes". She was a dream and I think I fired better with the injury than before, arriving back at Shack with just under 200psi on the clock and the injector running. (We were already trying to kill off pressure ready for heading off back into the shed!). After uncoupling the stock we ran straight into the loco works and disposed 1306. I again tried eye-wash on my injury as over 6 hours of "putting up with it" was really taking its toll. I was ready to go to hospital! Then, I found a torch and got Steve to take a last look whilst I held up the eyelid. Sure enough, there, on top of my eyesocket, well up behind the eyelid, a small piece of coal was glimpsed, in direct line with the scratches on my bloodshot eye. Using an obscure piece of paper, the coal was recovered and I've never known relief like it! The swelling went down, the pain and the streaming stopped and the eye was soothed instantly. It was like being born again! What an ordeal over such a small lump of coal! Anyhow, though very much marred, it was a very nice day on the "Eastern Lady". Thank you very much to Neil, Adrian and Steve for another good day on 1306. Thanks for reading folks! I need to go and rest my eye now(!), Good Evening... 
2 comments:
Hi Sammy
Trust and hope that the eye is now back to normal. You must be able to see during the hours of darkness during your stint on the night run as part of the 24hour fund raising at the pools.
Regards
The Graduate
Hi Peter,
Thank you, I'm very much better now and shall, 'touch-wood', be able to see perfectly during the night run...or NOT as the case may be! (I reckon it'll be pitch black, no lighting in the far reaches of the track!). Things go bump in the night...lets hope it isn't us derailing!
Best Regards,
Sammy's World
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