Always check the background

Summer came… and, as of writing, summer seems to have disappeared again. Oh well, it makes managing steam engines slightly more bearable; coal dust and sun cream do not mix well!

Anyone in more than one department will agree that sometimes managing your roster inevitably ends up either with some clashes, or some weekends that don’t feel like weekends as you work both days. Last weekend (the sunny one) was one of those for me, starting off with my second day out on the footplate, this time on 7903. Day one had been spent trying out the shovel, this time I was labouring up and down on coupling duty.

It is safe to say having everything you’re working with around shoulder height makes things slightly more difficult. It will be denied, but, when watching from the safety of the platform, the coupling process seems a lot easier when you have a height advantage! I had worried previously whether or not coupling would be something I’d be able to do. However, down at Cheltenham Racecourse, “thunk” and it went over - what a relief! 1 down, about 6 more to go.

Safe to say I did not stay that clean

As has been for the last couple of weeks, 35006 was on the other train, and spent the weekend on train 1. All of our engines look good in the sun, and the cleaners have been doing a good job keeping them shiny and photogenic. Who could resist?

Can you spot the rogue photobomber?

It seems our esteemed former blog writer has been missing recording the antics and experiences of the department, as when he spied me taking this shot, he decided it needed something extra in the background. Unfortunately, he also still has overall control of this blog, as well as a significant amount of say in progression within the department, so any ‘obvious’ attempts at retribution are fruitless…

It’s so good to see people on the platforms again

Sunshine brings heat, and heat brings dry kindling in the trackbed, particularly down at Cheltenham. I stepped out of the brake carriage, and, upon greeting the station master, was met with the smell of bonfire. My usual query as to whether the engine crew wanted tea (or ice cream) whilst filling the tender this time began with “chaps, I know it could be a bit tenuous between guards and crew in the old days, but that didn’t mean you had to try and set me on fire!” Meanwhile, the stationmaster was extinguishing a very well placed, thankfully small, trackbed fire dancing merrily away directly under the guard’s compartment. Only slightly disconcerting!

In the shed, things carry on as normal. The 2807 group had a victory this past week as they added a component back onto their loco, rather than removing one. In a Covid world of delays and setbacks, this is a very welcome victory.

Tucked in amongst the steam engines in the David Page Shed are two ongoing overhaul projects. One is a Class 26 diesel, as the Diesel dept needed some more space to work than was available, and the other is a wagon, currently displaced from its usual home in Winchcombe and being cosmetically restored. Newly qualified guard Alex has done a write up on the C&W blog and I expect will be updating on its progress on there, but to whet your appetite…

I understand from Alex’s write up that this is a 5 1/2 plank GWR open wagon

Alex, I will leave further information provision to you and the C&W blog team! I personally am more interested in the boiler and smokebox peeking out behind but all signs are pointing in the right direction for future planning.

That’s all for this week, however I shall leave you with the highly amusing (to me anyway) background on one of the computers in the new loco office that greeted me on Saturday. Alas, the current version of Windows means they randomly rotate so I doubt it will be a permanent fixture, but it made me giggle all the same.

Hello there!

Bryony

Back to training

The recent silence on this blog should not be considered a cause for concern, loyal readers! Team blog has recently experienced some significant changes on the wage-paying side of life, but hopefully, much like the railway, normal service can soon resume. Anyway!

May’s usual standards of weather since I’ve been at the GWSR seem to have disappeared this year, leaving a few crews on the slightly soggy side in the wet and windy period. Despite what some may think, even guards don’t escape the inclement weather, and at the moment, one of the brake cabins doesn’t have a working heater - guess which one I’ve been stuck with most recently…

Thankfully, the sun has still come out on a few occasions, most notably a few weekends ago whilst cleaning 7903. A new polish has been procured by the ‘Working Engines’ team that apparently can be a “one polish does all” and I undertook a crash course in how to use it, both slightly nervously up one the safety valve bonnet, and then more comfortably on 7903’s driver’s side nameplate. If I do say so myself, the nameplate came out quite well!

The wheels were also cleaned up, after the photo was taken!

My time spent sat atop a loco is still minimal at the moment, so pictures from up there are few and far between. The view is nice though, if a bit warm! Not really surprising, given what’s in the firebox at the time.

Anyone for bbq?

Eventually 7903 left the shed for the day, and I got stuck in helping with various tasks that come with bedding in a new building - none of which are really blog worthy, but I did pop round to snap a quick shot of 7903 before she left for the day’s trips.

Sat waiting to join the stock

The following weekend was slightly less enjoyable weather wise, and there was a slight irony in some of the activities occurring around the yard. Whilst most were engaging in restoration or various training sessions, John and myself got stuck in to building the new furniture for the outside mezzanine, and getting thoroughly drenched in the process.

And of course we got papped whilst doing so! (Keith S, I will have my revenge!)

The white chair is doing a very good job in highlighting the reason why we have gone for full benches rather than singular chairs, our thanks to the commenter who offered to donate, as there were concerns inclement weather could result in a “Mary Poppins” situation with chairs landing on the running line. The feet also had a nasty habit of sliding through the floor as you sat on them, hard as that may seem, so something more sturdy was needed.

Not the wind! It was decided it was easier to tighten bolts like this

Of course, every so often a washer or bolt would fall through to the ground below, with someone needing to run down and collect it; who needs a treadmill!

Out on the running line, some practical training has resumed, on those engines with the space to maintain a safe distance for crew members. The lifting of restrictions on 17 May also meant rostered cleaners could once again be invited to join the crew, much to my relief as I was rostered that coming weekend.

Looking resplendent in the sun

Having spent my minimal amount of footplate time out on 35006, this time I was very kindly invited by Jim and Andy to join them out on Dinmore Manor for the day, much to my excitement. Finally out on the “correct” style of footplate - reminder, I’m from Swindon, therefore I’m pretty much obliged by blood oath to say that. Tom, meanwhile, was getting back to grips with firing “the wrong way round” on 7903.

Can you spot him?

Whilst the recent return of the sun is welcomed 99% of the time, on a footplate it is slightly cursed, as has often previously been reported. We were afforded some comforts though, as the threat of rain and more than a slight breeze seemed to keep the temperature fairly manageable. From what I hear, 7903’s crew had more than just a threat, with the showers following them rather than us.

This being my first full turn out on a footplate, I was struck how different the line seems to be experiencing it in panorama as opposed to out of the brake van windows. It will be interesting to see how learning more about what the crew are doing impacts my decision making as a guard, and vice versa, as well as learning what all the noises I have just come to expect coming from the engine actually mean. It wasn’t until I got out on a footplate I realised just how many foot crossings the line has!

The mezzanine does provide a nice view!

It will be exciting to see what comes next.

Bryony

Did you know - it’s the GWSR’s 40th anniversary this year! Various events are being (provisionally) planned for the next few months, with one confirmed being a photography exhibition in the Tim Mitchell building at Winchcombe, opening on 18 July. If you’re thinking about visiting us, make sure to pop in and take a look through the GWSR through the years.