A Western Intruder: 5542 At Shackerstone...
Hello all. Today, after offering to cover a morning shift for fellow trainee Dave, I arrived at Shackerstone just before 6:30am. After leaving the car I walked up through the silent station to the loco yard where I caught my first climpse of the railway's Western intruder; summer visitor No5542. No5542 is a GWR 2-6-2 4575 Class Small Prairie tank and is owned by the 5542 Loco Group; see their website here. The lovely Western tank is visiting until September and will haul trains on the railway every Saturday and Sunday. Anyway, back to me: In the yard were the day's crew; Big Andy and Little Andy (Pockets). As Dave wouldn't be arriving until after the 1st trip, Pockets said I could fire that one. Therefore, as 5542 warmed up, I continued to add more fuel to the already blazing fire whilst keep an eye on the water level and steam pressure. On top of this, I had to go underneath the engine to empty the ashpan which, admittedly, isn't easy on a Prairie positioned over a short pit! Engine crews, particularly Midland men, tend not to like the Western's as they are apparently 'bad for fitters'. However, looking at the underside of this Western I do not see what the problem is! There is plenty of room to move about between the frames and the valve gear. The ashpan is positioned a little far back for my liking but even this is not to drastic effect. However, I do admit, engines such as the 14xx 0-4-2 would be difficult to work on, as would the Taffe Tank's (56xx). One of the best Western's, admittedly in my own opinion, is the 57xx Pannier Tank with plenty of room under the tanks and above them; for boiler access etc. 5542 is seen warming up in the loco yard under the morning sun...
Driver Andy was oiling up the Western throughbred whilst myself and Fireman Andy (Pockets) began cleaning the loco. However, in the meantime, there was also time for me to get a few pics and to examine the 4575 class engine. Firstly from a Fireman's view, this engine is a dream. I fired the first trip and found the injectors to be more than perfect and the steaming to be amazing. In fact, you only needed a very small fire and 5542 would steam beautifully; easily hauling the 5-coach train on the 10-mile round trip to Shenton and back. The ultra-reliable Swindon injectors were a joy and needed minimal effort to get them working perfectly; well done GWR! From a firing perspective, the loco is fired almost from the floor; give or take 2 inches or so. The water valves for the injectors sit either side of the coal bunker cab access...
On the Driver's side, there is good visibility, especially when considering how far into the cab the water tanks intrude! There is a large pole reverser as well as a hydrostatic lubricator, sanders, brake lever, brake gauge, regulator, 2nd injector and blower all on the Driver's side...
The cab is well laid out, even if the backhead does look the slightest bit congested. The two injector steam valves (top), pressure gauge (top), steam heat gauge, regulator, combined steam & vacuum brake lever, hydrostatic lubricator, single water gauge, firebox and firing flap can all be seen below...
I really enjoyed firing 5542; she was a dream. (Thanks Pockets and Andy!). I then handed over to the rostered trainee; Dave. I did however continue to ride on the 3rd and final (5th) trips of the day; just for the interest! I am actually rostered on the Prairie on August 22nd and 28th; really looking forward to those two dates! 5542 is spotted below, waiting to leave Platform 2 at Shackerstone to run round...
Below, trainee Dave gets to grips with firing a Western on the final trip of the day...
Here, 5542 chugs towards "Three Bridges" and Market Bosworth with the final returning trip of the day from Shenton...
All in all, today was another good day at Shackerstone. I will be back down there next Sunday (15th) for another working day in the shed before my 2 days on 5542 on the following 2 weekends. After arriving back at Shack with the final round trip, 5542 went straight back onto the pit for disposal before being shunted into the shed for dry and secure stabling throughout the week. She is a very nice engine and a dream to fire; thank you to her owners for her summer visit. For more details on the operating days of 5542, click here. Thanks for reading folks. Good evening...
Hello all. Today, after offering to cover a morning shift for fellow trainee Dave, I arrived at Shackerstone just before 6:30am. After leaving the car I walked up through the silent station to the loco yard where I caught my first climpse of the railway's Western intruder; summer visitor No5542. No5542 is a GWR 2-6-2 4575 Class Small Prairie tank and is owned by the 5542 Loco Group; see their website here. The lovely Western tank is visiting until September and will haul trains on the railway every Saturday and Sunday. Anyway, back to me: In the yard were the day's crew; Big Andy and Little Andy (Pockets). As Dave wouldn't be arriving until after the 1st trip, Pockets said I could fire that one. Therefore, as 5542 warmed up, I continued to add more fuel to the already blazing fire whilst keep an eye on the water level and steam pressure. On top of this, I had to go underneath the engine to empty the ashpan which, admittedly, isn't easy on a Prairie positioned over a short pit! Engine crews, particularly Midland men, tend not to like the Western's as they are apparently 'bad for fitters'. However, looking at the underside of this Western I do not see what the problem is! There is plenty of room to move about between the frames and the valve gear. The ashpan is positioned a little far back for my liking but even this is not to drastic effect. However, I do admit, engines such as the 14xx 0-4-2 would be difficult to work on, as would the Taffe Tank's (56xx). One of the best Western's, admittedly in my own opinion, is the 57xx Pannier Tank with plenty of room under the tanks and above them; for boiler access etc. 5542 is seen warming up in the loco yard under the morning sun...
Driver Andy was oiling up the Western throughbred whilst myself and Fireman Andy (Pockets) began cleaning the loco. However, in the meantime, there was also time for me to get a few pics and to examine the 4575 class engine. Firstly from a Fireman's view, this engine is a dream. I fired the first trip and found the injectors to be more than perfect and the steaming to be amazing. In fact, you only needed a very small fire and 5542 would steam beautifully; easily hauling the 5-coach train on the 10-mile round trip to Shenton and back. The ultra-reliable Swindon injectors were a joy and needed minimal effort to get them working perfectly; well done GWR! From a firing perspective, the loco is fired almost from the floor; give or take 2 inches or so. The water valves for the injectors sit either side of the coal bunker cab access...
On the Driver's side, there is good visibility, especially when considering how far into the cab the water tanks intrude! There is a large pole reverser as well as a hydrostatic lubricator, sanders, brake lever, brake gauge, regulator, 2nd injector and blower all on the Driver's side...
The cab is well laid out, even if the backhead does look the slightest bit congested. The two injector steam valves (top), pressure gauge (top), steam heat gauge, regulator, combined steam & vacuum brake lever, hydrostatic lubricator, single water gauge, firebox and firing flap can all be seen below...
I really enjoyed firing 5542; she was a dream. (Thanks Pockets and Andy!). I then handed over to the rostered trainee; Dave. I did however continue to ride on the 3rd and final (5th) trips of the day; just for the interest! I am actually rostered on the Prairie on August 22nd and 28th; really looking forward to those two dates! 5542 is spotted below, waiting to leave Platform 2 at Shackerstone to run round...
Below, trainee Dave gets to grips with firing a Western on the final trip of the day...
Here, 5542 chugs towards "Three Bridges" and Market Bosworth with the final returning trip of the day from Shenton...
All in all, today was another good day at Shackerstone. I will be back down there next Sunday (15th) for another working day in the shed before my 2 days on 5542 on the following 2 weekends. After arriving back at Shack with the final round trip, 5542 went straight back onto the pit for disposal before being shunted into the shed for dry and secure stabling throughout the week. She is a very nice engine and a dream to fire; thank you to her owners for her summer visit. For more details on the operating days of 5542, click here. Thanks for reading folks. Good evening... 
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