It's a Washout

After many years of wondering why I actually write this blog, I finally discovered what it is, it's so that I can be reunited with items of lost property.  Many thanks to Rod for finding my lost watch in the four foot at Broadway and returning it to me.

Still telling the right time...

...and why it became detached from my wrist

 The gala is all done and dusted now, and the locos all returned whence they came, or sent on to wherever they're going next.  Before 70013, Oliver Cromwell departed though, the pseudo Garrett shown below was to be seen in the yard.

Photo courtesy of Brian Andrews

 The last of our gala visitors, 6023 King Edward II left during the week

6023 on the unloading road, photo courtesy of Peter Gutteridge

 There was even a very nice thank you note on the mess coach notice board from 6023's CME.

We'd love to have her back

 For some while now, we have had rostered turns for people to put warming fires into locos the night before they are to be used if they are not already warm.  This has proved to be very helpful, however there was nobody rostered to do this for 35006 on Friday, so I made my way to Toddington to sort it out for myself.

Warming fire started

 We seem to be going through a phase of lots of boiler washouts at the moment, 2807 and 7820 both being part way through the process and 35006 ready for one after Sunday's running.

Dinmore Manor in the shed...

...just in case nobody noticed that the boiler was empty

 By very late that evening, Mark & Mike had boxed up and refilled the boilers of both 2807 & 7820 and put warming fires in, in anticipation of steam tests on Saturday.  I had to disappear fairly early as I had an early start on Saturday morning... that didn't prevent me from getting updates as to how the process was going though:

Photo courtesy of Mike Solloway

Mark & Mike were still on site at 11pm before they had refilled the boilers of both 2807 and 7820 as well as getting warming fires going.

It's fair to say that I hadn't done a warming fire in quite a while, so I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I arrived on Saturday morning.  Suffice it to say I was in no rush to get the fire lit... apparently Mark had "enhanced" my warming fire after I had left.

Footplate crew don't just pass out at a particular role, and then stay there forever, you have to prove that you can still do it every 2 years... and that is for both practical exams and written exams.  On Saturday was time for my biennial practical firing exam.  I prepared in the only way possible, with a brand new pair of shiny boots.

Shiny boots!

I can only conclude that we must be desperately short of firemen as I was passed again.  Just imagine if we had to retake our car driving tests every couple of years.

After having had to do it all myself for the first round trip under the watchful eye of Chris (the inspector), for the second round trip, I thought I'd make Jeremy (the cleaner) earn his keep:

Filling the tender......

...wrestling with the elephant trunks...

...and putting fire in the belly of the beast

Our driver (Paul) moonlights by day in the GWSR's admin department, I had been forewarned that he was bringing a bin bag full of confidential waste that needed to be incinerated.  He could tell me what was in it, but then he'd have to shoot me!  Personally I think it was juts a ploy to reduce the railway's coal bill by getting us to use alternative fuels.

The saucer bin bag full of secrets

Jeremy feeds the alternate fuel into the fire...

...well, most of it anyway.

The following day, Jeremy had a trip out on the big railway behind 35028, Clan Line, another Merchant Navy class loco.  He was sat in his seat, when another passenger walked past, looked at him and said "Weren't you firing one of these yesterday?".  It's a small world at times.

It seems that inter-departmental transitioning is a thing at the GWSR, I noticed that Saul, who is more normally noted for being a guard is now training to be a signalman

Saul waits to collect the token, Tony keeps an eye on the proceedings

Running round at Broadway

According to Paul, having got the cleaner to do most of the hard work meant that I should have sorted out the lamps and headboard for him.

Paul, miffed at having to change the lamps and headboard himself

Paul, back in the driving seat.

It still seems odd, handing over the train to a diesel, in this case, it was the class 47

After disposal, 35006 was due to go out on an evening Fish & Chip special, crewed by Phil & Aaron.  The F&C's are obviously quite popular with crews as you can order a fish and chip supper to enjoy on the footplate.  It's less usual to also have a fish and chip supper before the turn as well, though that is exactly what Aaron did.

Aaron with his first portion of fish & chips, Phil wonders if you can get fish and chip pizza.

Apparently the "Cheltenham Fryer" headboard's brackets are not deep enough to clear the smoke box locking arms on 35006.  It is possible to fit the headboard on the lower middle lamp bracket, but only upside down:

Australian fish and chips anybody?

Suitable extenders for the brackets were eventually located and the headboard was finally displayed correctly.

Aaron finally attaches it where it should be fitted

What of the boiler washouts?  Well 2807 passed hers on Saturday, however 7820 failed with a slight leak from the lower gauge frame test cock.  She was left to cool down, the boiler partially drained and the test cock re-sealed before the steam test was passed on Sunday.

7820's Leaking test cock

2807, washout completed

This is all good news, as 35006 was stopped for a washout after working on Sunday.

Moving on to Sunday, a couple more photos from Matthew Harris, Mike & Mark had finished 7820's washout now, just in time to start on 35006's.

7820 passed her post-washout steam test (photo courtesy of Matthew Harris)

Matthew had continued the excellent work of painting 3850's frames (photo courtesy of Matthew Harris)

And finally, I have been fortunate enough to receive a small collection of photos of lorries that have hit our bridge at Broadway in years gone by.  I believe that all of these are from the 1980's and as can be seen, the lorries definitely came off second best. 

Many thanks indeed to B. Jordan who provided the above 4 photos.  Should you happen to know any lorry drivers, don't hesitate to let them know what the consequences of not knowing the height of your load is.