Turns are coming thick and fast this month. It's Sunday, not a day I would normally book but we were supposed to have 'Tornado' at the railway this week; unfortunately it's not here (boiler not ready) so we have the delightful 76084 Pocket Rocket instead. Driver Ed and I joined Third Man Kyle and Cleaner Will at 06:30; the loco is already lit and the day is warm & sunny. I take over the fire and set to cleaning the cab.
Kyle is shining up the copper outside and Will is doing the paint - she scrubs up well for an old girl.
Breakfast done, I take the first trip up and she's going fine. I've got plenty of water and pressure at Weybourne but I don't get enough coal into the front and it's dropped down to 160 by the time we're at the top. You mustn't be fooled by high pressure - it doesn't mean your fire is going to be able to sustain it. Fire the front and the back at Weybourne despite almost blowing off and you will arrive with 200, a decent fire and 3/4 of a glass, as shown on the second trip.
On two occasions I was reprimanded by the RO - I habitually slam the fire door shut after firing, and then adjust it. Sometimes I don't adjust it in time and the inevitable smoke signals appear. The moral of the tale? Don't shut it completely!
As planned, Kyle fires the third and fourth. I take the driver's seat for the third, and as previously demonstrated by Driver Ed I keep to the timetable on the way up which brings smiles and a few comments from the passengers who enjoy the spirited sound the loco makes on the hills. I'm pleased to have stopped perfectly at Weybourne and at Holt, and though I miss the stopping point in the head shunt I put the loco back on the train perfectly.
The down isn't so good - the up train is coming into Weybourne as we come down, and the distant is set to caution as the home will be at danger. At this point you use the distant signal - if it's yellow, you might have to stop so take the hint and slow down. I'm going a bit fast down the hill, but come to a successful halt at the home but then I'm a bit quick again going into the station - you are on the outside of a bend here and it's very hard to see; I overshoot the stopping point by a few yards.
The white slab in the 6 ft shows the beginning of the platform ramp, both at Holt and at Weybourne. You put the nose of the loco by the slab on the down, and the tender or cab by it on the up.
The fourth trip is quite leisurely - Ed drives, Kyle fires and I pick my nose in the back. I've got plenty of energy left to clear the pit:
Next? Same turn, probably same loco, next Thursday.
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