A Hall to 'Marke' a poignant weekend of remembrance

7903 'Foremarke Hall' at Toddington after returning from the first round trip - 11th November 2022

Early November heralds the return of the 'November Meeting' at Cheltenham Racecourse, which tends to fall on either the second or third weekend of the month. To add to the occasion for racegoers, the GWSR puts on steam hauled 'November Race Specials'. These are non-stop express passenger services that operate between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse, with a morning round trip and another in the evening. 

 

This weekend turned out to be a rather more poignant affair given that steam trains would be operating on the 11th November, or as it's more importantly known, 'Armistice Day', to mark the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France. Due to the way that the dates fell, this would be the first occasion in six years whereby we'd be running trains on the 11th, with the last time being way back in November 2016.

7903 'On Shed' at Toddington following preparation and a thorough clean - 11th November 2022

I arrived and signed on shortly before 06:30 ready to assist the rostered morning crew. The rostered crew for the first round trip being John (driver), Ade (fireman) and Liam (fellow cleaner). One of the benefits of the November Race Specials is that the timetable allows for more time in the morning before the engine needs to be ready to head off shed. Compared to gala weekends and days when we operate the purple timetable, the additional preparation time is certainly appreciated by the footplate crews and beats the 04:00 start I had during the Mixed Traction Gala. I don't mind the early starts! 

We were fortunate in that 7903 had already been disposed earlier on in the week and therefore the ashpan didn't need much attention. Great, not so dirty overalls then! As a consequence, more time could be spent giving Foremarke a thorough clean. Given that it was the 11th, we were keen to mark remembrance in some way. Luckily, we came across a Poppy which we were able to easily fix to the tender, along with the customary 'At The Races Express' headboard.  

 

A view of the rear of 7903's tender complete with 'At The Races Express' headboard & Poppy. BR Class 55 'Deltic' No. 55019 'Royal Highland Fusilier' can be seen stabled on the left - 11th November 2022

 

Now some of you might be wondering why the headboard and poppy are at the rear at this point. The reason for this is due to the fact that 7903 faces north on the railway. The first service of the day runs southbound from Toddington to Cheltenham and therefore operates 'tender first'. As a consequence, the embellishments needed to be facing in the direction of travel (or to put it more simply, so that the visitors can see them!). 

 

With the loco now ready and good to go, John and Ade headed off shed and approached Platform 1 at Toddington. I was very kindly invited out on the footplate and so Liam and I met 7903 once she had arrived at the station. It was great to see a good number of very smartly dressed racegoers ready for the train. 

 

After receiving the 'tip' from the guard to proceed, 7903 approaches the coaching stock in Platform 1 at Toddington Station - 11th November 2022

The 'tip' from the guard is when a signal is given to the footplate crew to say that it is safe and clear for the engine to approach and buffer-up to the coaching stock. Being a Great Western locomotive, the driver's position is on the right hand side of the footplate, thus the guard cannot easily be seen from that location. As a result, it is the fireman's job (Ade) to be on the lookout for the appropriate signal from the guard. 

Once on the footplate and with a good 30-40 minutes before we were due to depart, it was time for that all important tradition - Breakfast on the shovel! Not to mention a few cups of tea to wash it down with for good measure. There's nothing quite like a bacon sandwich that has been cooked on the footplate. You can keep your oven grill!

It's amazing how fast time flies when you're having fun, let alone eating, and that was just us aboard the footplate. I know the racegoers were in good spirits before we left and I gather a number of beverages were available! Anyway, with a blink of an eye, we were given the off and well on our way to Cheltenham. I haven't been on many non-stop trains at the railway but it's a great experience and it gives the steam locomotives a good chance to stretch their legs for a change. 

Using a steady hand, Liam cooks us some breakfast, kindly provided by Ade - 11th November 2022

We pulled into Platform 1 at Cheltenham Racecourse Station at around 10:55 and duly uncoupled 7903 from the coaching stock whilst the racegoers alighted from the train. Shortly before the hour, a bugle could be heard in the distance from the racecourse. When the clock moved to 11:00, John blew the whistle to mark the start of the two minutes silence. This was a very poignant and moving occasion for us all, to gather our thoughts, our reflections, and to remember all of those servicemen and women who gave their lives in conflict both at home and overseas. At 11:02 the whistle was blown again and the bugle sounded once more to signify the end of the silence.

A few minutes later, John carried out the 'run round' of 7903 to the other end of the train. Liam helped me reattach the coupling and vacuum pipe between the loco and the coaching stock, whilst Ade moved the headboard and poppy from the tender and kept an eye on the fire. It's not the easiest job to couple up and reattach the pipes to the stock due to the confined space, but luckily we weren't using steam heating on the first round trip so that was one pipe less to wrestle with! Here's a photo of Ade & Liam with 7903 taken shortly before we were due to head off with the return trip back. 

Ade & Liam with 7903 at Cheltenham Racecourse Station - 11th November 2022

I couldn't think of something more fitting to be doing on a day such as this, particularly given that both of my grandfathers served in the Second World War and both also had a keen interest in all things railway (especially steam). Sadly, they are no longer with us but I'd like to think that they are looking down on us with fondness at what they have left behind. 

If someone had said to me a few years ago that I'd be riding on the footplate of a steam locomotive on 'Armistice Day' then I wouldn't have believed them. It's a day that I'll never forget and one made all the better with great company and support. It's that 'Keep Calm and Carry On' spirt that keeps us going through the good times and the bad. Life may be difficult at times, but nothing can compare to living through war or conflict. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who have given their lives. It is understood that over 20,000 members of the 'Railway Family' were lost during 'The Great War'. 

The Railway Industry Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire - Photo © Derek Bennett (cc-by-sa/2.0)

 

Our railway runs through an idyllic landscape with the surrounding hills, rolling fields and many picturesque Cotswold properties. We have beautifully adorned period stations, signal boxes, and iconic pieces of railway infrastructure in Greet Tunnel, Stanway Viaduct and Three Arch Bridge, to name but a few. We have superbly maintained locomotives, coaches, wagons and facilities, but for all these wonderful things, we would be nothing without our volunteers - A number of whom have either served or continue to serve in the armed forces and civilian services. It is thanks to their support, dedication, time, enthusiasm, pride and workmanship, not forgetting those from the generations before them, that we are so lucky. For it is the people that make the railway, it is the people that define a nation and it is the people who shape the world that we live in today.

 

 "At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them". - Photo courtesy of Dan Wigg

It is a fact of life that people come and go, new friendships and acquaintances are made, and sadly, due to the passage of time, the generations move on. Life is precious and fleeting, but we will never forget and we will always remember.

 

"When you go home, tell them of us and say, for your tomorrow, we gave our today"

 

As I bring this piece to a close on the evening of 'Remembrance Sunday', I'll leave you with this which needs no further introduction: Edward Elgar - Nimrod (Enigma Variations)
 

Alex (the sooty one!).

All published photographs are my own unless otherwise stated/credited.