SPECIAL EDITION: 5542, We Meet Again

S P E C I A L   

5 5 4 2   E D I T I O N

Some of you may recall that about a year ago 5542, a GWR 4575 Class 2-6-2T "small prairie", left us in the March of 2016. Affectionately known as the Planet's Favourite Prairie, it was a very much loved engine on our friendly line in the Cotswolds. It was an efficient, powerful, and beautiful tank engine which I had never heard a bad word said about - all I spoke to were saddened about its departure last year but as 35006 and 7903 were about to make their comebacks, there was unfortunately not enough work for her to do. At the time of her departure, Ray had written a brief history of the locomotive with various photographs and drawings that you can find here.

As it was approaching a year since the PFP left us, I thought it would be nice to mark the occasion by giving the loco a visit to see how the last year had gone, and to find out about what the future holds in the short term for 5542, which, at the time of last year's "Farewell" blog, did not have anything booked in for 2017.

The Chairman of Locomotive 5542 Limited, John Wood, has kindly put together this small piece summarising 2016 and the hopes for the season to come:

"After a very successful 7 years on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway we bade a sad farewell to them at the end of March. 5542 has provided them with about 600 days of use both before and after the last 10 year overhaul and has covered over 30000 miles on their tracks. A 150 mile journey west along the M5 found our summer home at the Torbay and Dartmouth railway where we spent the peak season transporting the holidaymakers along the Devon Riviera. Whilst this line is renowned for its steep grades it is not dissimilar to the WSR stretch between Williton and Bishops Lydeard and although we didn’t expect 9 Mk 1 carriages to be the norm the loco performed admirably when put to the test in early April and handled 7 coaches comfortably. 5542 was in action mainly on midweek services Tuesdays to Thursdays but saw more intensive action around the middle of July and most of August. September 8th was our last running day of a very successful first visit to the Torbay and Dartmouth Railway. Our loco covered some 3400 miles in transporting many thousands of holiday makers on the Devon Riviera. We left South Devon in mid-September heading for the WSR for the last of our 4 contracted visits centred on their Autumn Gala. Sunday (16th October) saw 5542 relieved of the normal duties and used to haul the Quantock Belle which on this occasion had Auto 233 added. This gave a group of our friends and supporters the chance to enjoy a day out at Minehead being transported in, and hauled by, our own property for the first time ever. 5542 and 233 are very unlikely to have worked together in B.R. days as Auto gear has only been added to our loco during our ownership. A very enjoyable trip was had and we also enjoyed some very pleasant Autumn sunshine. Upon return to Bishops Lydeard we left the Q.B carriages and set off in full Auto mode for a quick trip to Norton and back. Although this happened in almost total darkness the auto train atmosphere was very nostalgic. Very many thanks to all who helped operate and organise this trip. In late October we planned to retreat to Buckfastleigh to undertake some winter maintenance and other overdue overhaul work. The first rule of Railway Preservation, never state something will happen before it actually has. We were pleased to be able to delay our winter work when we had an 11th hour call from Minehead requesting that we postpone departure to remain as cover during the Christmas period. A number of locomotive problems had occurred and steam locomotive coverage was looking a little thin. We eventually found use on 8 days and were pleased to have been of assistance. 5542 is now quite definitely at the SDR having passed her Annual boiler exam and about to partake in a few days of operation at the SDR Half Term Gala possibly along with 233, then we have just a few more weeks to complete some maintenance work. 

As for work in 2017, we are pleased to be returning once again to the GWSR during the peak season of June to the end of August. We had some discussions about work during the Spring period which unfortunately fell through so the loco will remain at the South Devon Railway until the end of May. This will allow us more time to attack those maintenance tasks that we never quite get around to and perhaps a few additional days of S.D.R. running. With the final figures for 2016 now in, the loco covered 6594 miles on 110 days of use last year. We are now 4 1/2 years and just over 30,000 miles into the current boiler certificate with 5 1/2 years to go. 

We wonder where that time will take us?"

- John Wood, Chairman 

Locomotive 5542 Limited

February 2017

As you will have gathered from the above, 5542 will be joining us for summer 2017 once again! It is a very pleasant surprise and demonstrates that the environment of heritage steam is always changing, sometimes with unexpected results. 

Researching into the comings and goings of locomotives up and down the country rather resembles a large scale version of musical chairs, their movements dictated by a requirement to make money to keep them steaming and to fill voids left by locomotives taken out of service for overhaul. 

7820 Dinmore Manor will be leaving the GWSR for a holiday to the West Somerset Railway, (alongside 7822 Foxcote Manor, normally to be seen at Llangollen) to fill the gap left by 7828 Odney Manor which is out of action for maintenance. Likewise our Merchant Navy 35006 will be going to the Mid Hants Railway for their Summer Gala. This means of course  that now there will be some work for the little prairie tank, supporting 4270 and 2807 during the summer.

I was able to arrange a visit to the South Devon Railway to see the loco - unfortunately due to circumstances beyond my control the only day I could visit happened to be a day that the '42 was not running. Still, it was nice to catch up with Ray Lee of the 5542 group, one of the familiar faces that used to frequent the GWSR along with John Wood while the loco was here.

The day of the visit, 13th February, was a cloudy day with sunny spells, slightly windy, but dry overall. Not a drop of rain in sight - more favourable conditions for what was the SDR's Winter Gala. After my 2.5-hour drive I parked up and made my way along the footbridge, which gave a great view of the station, shed and workshop beyond.  

5542 sits waiting for her turn out

5542 is in the centre, with a simmering GWR 0-6-0PT 6412 on the road next door. Autotrailer 233 is on the left hand side which will be used later in the week for the gala alongside other Autotrailer examples. Note that the winter work is still ongoing on the SDR; the shed roof is in the process of being replaced and there are new sidings being put in, eventually leading to a new carriage and wagon shed. The large shed at the back is a big and extremely well-equipped workshop with tonnes of very specialist equipment. The water tank on the left came from London but was very luckily a GWR-designed example so it fits in well to the area.

From the platform I was unsure of where I should be going to meet Ray, so I was assisted by a very well presented and well spoken young gentleman who was obviously very proud of his role at the SDR. I'm not sure what his role was but he was only too happy to help and we chatted about our respective railways whilst we found a way to get to the shed (the normal path appeared to be obstructed by the P-Way work on the new sidings).

The loco roster for today was a little quieter than on a weekend, as you'd expect - it featured one of their home fleet, 1369, another GWR 0-6-0PT that was built in 1934, and visiting loco L&SWR 2-4-0WT No. 30587, built in 1874 and designed by W. G. Beattie:

L&SWR 2-4-0WT No. 30587

After finding Ray, it transpired that I'd be having a ride out on the footplate of 6412, which was a surprise, in more ways than one.

GWR 0-6-0PT No. 6412

30587 had been failed the day before but had now been fixed, and there was time for a test run before the first train left the platform later that morning. We'd be double-heading with the Beattie engine for one round trip from Buckfastleigh to Totnes and back with a brake van accompanying. 

But before we could go anywhere, a fair amount of shunting had to be done; 5542 had to be moved onto the other road so there was a patient wait until I was invited aboard the 6412, with Giles (driver), and Will (fireman).

See you later, 55!

While aboard the footplate of the 64, what struck me most was the compactness of the back head; I had never been on one of these smaller GWR 0-6-0s before so it came as a surprise. It's all there, but, on a slightly smaller scale compared to the locos we have at the GWSR. I noted that the red line on the pressure gauge was set at about 170, far lower of course in relation to her bigger sisters. 

The compact backhead of 6412

A more arty view, with part of the Autotrailer
equipment mounted in the background

The 64XX class is unique in the world of pannier tank engines as they were all fitted with the apparatus needed to run auto trains. Indeed the SDR has the use of at least two Autotrailers to make use of this feature - one example, 233, is owned by Locomotive 5542 Limited.

With the Beattie attached to the rear and the brake van behind, the roof hatch was opened and we made our way out of the shed and down the 7-mile stretch of line to Totnes, in the beautiful valley of the River Dart, which we follow for most of the journey.

Blue sky visible through the hatch. It was a much nicer day than
what we had been previously having

The River Dart, which the SDR line follows

Will throws some coal in the firebox

When the firebox doors were opened, the compact size of the footplate became more apparent - as you're generally closer to the fire than in a bigger engine, you can certainly feel the heat on the legs! It was incredibly hot, and required strategic shuffling to ensure that you didn't get too toasty. 

The view up front

Only being a relatively short line, it didn't take awfully long before we had reached Totnes. There is a large gate towards the end of the platform which serves as a division between this small, previously branch line, and the mainline.

Station sign, Totnes

The mainline, as viewed from inside 6412

With the mainline being so close it was a bit of a novelty to see a few modern trains passing us by just beyond the gate; GWR, Cross Country, and an old FGW unit all going through at various points throughout the day. 

The pause at Totnes gave us time to chat and become better acquainted - I was very surprised to hear from our fireman that the driver of 30587, Dave Knowling, has just completed his 62nd year of continuous work with steam locomotives. What a fantastic achievement! Dave is their longest serving driver and today he was at the helm of their oldest visiting locomotive. Here he is with his steed:

Dave Knowling, the SDR's longest serving driver,
with 62 years under his belt

Another feature of the an SDR footplate is the use of soap - not for anything fancy of course, but to keep relatively clean throughout the operating day. A fantastic idea, and, as hot water is conveniently supplied by the pep pipe into a bucket, it's a great way to keep hands and faces clean whilst on the move. Until that is, you run out of soap and when you're sharing a sliver of soap between two footplates, things can get a bit trickier. All this being said though, there's nothing quite like getting filthy dirty, it's proof of a hard days' work!

Playing with trains is good, clean, fun you know.

Glowing coals in 6412's firebox

The stop also allowed the Beattie engine to fill up with water. Only having a 550 gallon tank, means that she had to take on water fairly often.

30587's fireman (l), and Giles, the driver of 6412,
pull the water chute arm into place

"Fill her up!"

Shortly afterwards it was time to head back, trundling along at a modest pace as the small river trickled on by in the opposite direction. There was many a walker along the route, plus photographers and families, most pausing to wave to us as we went by. 

Back at Buckfastleigh I was to have a tour around the shed and the workshop - Ray handed me over to my guide, Mike Webb, but I just had to snap a photo of the 55 before we got started. It's such a shame it wasn't on the roster today.

5542 tucked up ready for the morning

...and I couldn't resist this shot of 6412. She was on her
way back to the shed but the floor was being cleaned with the pep pipe beforehand

The first subject of the tour was sitting just behind 5542, with a warming fire gently pushing out smoke into her chimney and filtering up through to the rafters:

GWR 0-6-0 No. 3205

3205 - Sadly, she is the last remaining loco of her kind - the 2251 Class. Built in 1946, they were the last of the 0-6-0 tender engines to be built in Britain, with a total of 120 examples made. The class was built to replace the ageing locos in Wales that were left over by the Welsh railway companies that were merged into the GWR after the 1923 grouping. As time went on some of the class migrated down into the south west, and 3205 could be found in the Somerset/Dorset area later in life. She was withdrawn from service in 1965 and bought for preservation by the 2251 Fund, whose principal trustee was David Rouse. 3205 arrived at Buckfastleigh for preservation later that year.

Plaque on the side of 3205, in honour of David Rouse

As it says on the plaque, this engine's survival is due to David's involvement - she probably wouldn't be here at all if it were not for this gentleman. I'm sure with the help of the SDR's many willing volunteers she will continue to represent her class for many, many years to come. 

On the road next door to 3205 was her stablemate 3803. A member of the 2884 class, she is one of the sisters of our very own 3850 which is currently under heavy overhaul back at Toddington. 

3803 - One of 3850's sisters, down in the south

3803 was a freight-pulling locomotive, being part of Collett's 2884 class, a development of Churchward's 28XX class which was the first to pull 2000 tons. She spent her life around the GWR network and was based at Tyseley, then Banbury, Southall and Cardiff Canton, while her days were finished at Severn Tunnel Junction. She was withdrawn from service in 1963 and sent to Dai Woodham's scrapyard in Barry, finally being purchased for restoration in 1983. The restoration was completed in 2005 at Buckfastleigh and she spent 2011-2014 on the Battlefield Line, but now she is back here and waiting to be overhauled once again.

4920 Dumbleton Hall

4920 Dumbleton Hall

Visible from the platform, 4920 Dumbleton Hall sits amongst the carriages and Autotrailers. She's looking a bit faded, however there are glimmers of work taking place, as there is a fresh and glossy coat of black and red paint on her front end.

4920 looking good from the front

Dumbleton Hall is one of the earlier examples of Collett's 'Hall' class of locos. Built in 1929, her shed history included Old Oak Common, Oxford, Cardiff, Reading, Taunton and Plymouth. This old girl was the longest serving Hall class locomotive, outliving the rest of her class by 2 years. On withdrawal in 1965 she had covered 1,396,966 miles and like most of the GWR locos was sent to Dai Woodham's. She was purchased in 1974 by the Dumbleton Hall Preservation Society and now carries the accolade of being the oldest Hall class in preservation. She had worked on the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway in the 90s, now she is awaiting an overhaul.

I am reliably informed that 4920 has visited the GWSR in the past but I would dearly love this loco to visit again at some point in the future, as the real Dumbleton Hall is only 5.2 miles away from Toddington and I think it would look fabulous on our tracks!

Autotrailer 233

I also clasped eyes on Autotrailer 233 - it's beautifully restored and well kept. Mike explained to me how they work, as although I'd heard of them before, I had no idea how they worked or why they were required. 

Next stop was a tour around the large and well-equipped workshop. Unfortunately for obvious reasons, photography was not allowed, apart from up on the public viewing space which offers a generous view over much of the left hand side of the workshop. 

1420 and a Prairie in the background

The Prairie is estimated to be finished in April. On the bottom right of the photo, if my memory serves me correctly, is an original 19th Century wheel turning lathe. It works at 6.5 revolutions a minute, depending on the wheel size, and it can take a day and a half to finish a single pair, depending on how much work is involved. The workshop also features a wheel drop, a 100-ton hydraulic press, Gibson ring rolling machine, re-tyring equipment, and an 8-foot vertical boring machine, amongst others.

In the museum, the most fascinating exhibit for me was 'Tiny', a broad gauge engine built for the SDR in 1868, with its history on a little brass plaque.

"Tiny"

Tiny's history

It is incredible to think that Tiny is the only original broad gauge locomotive left in the world. Other broad gauge locos you may see being exhibited elsewhere are all replicas or recreations - some with more original parts than others. 

To conclude, the SDR was a beautiful line with a unique set of locomotives and well worth a visit if you've not been before.

It's a shame the 5542 was not running, but, I don't think that really matters as we will all be seeing a certain little plucky Prairie scampering up and down between Toddington and Cheltenham this summer!

Finally I will leave you with an improved and more vibrant version of the artwork I made last year for 5542's departure after many years here on the GWSR - this time though she's on her way back!