Sunday Diesel

Events of Sunday, 3rd March 2013

The Battlefield Line had planned to operate a steam-hauled service on the 2nd and 3rd of March. However, bad weather had delayed the completion of essential track repairs between Market Bosworth and Shenton. The railway substituted a diesel railcar service operating between Shackerstone and Market Bosworth only and I was the driver on the Sunday.

I arrived early and the P.Way gang were assembling the Works Train which would continue the track repairs that day. Diesel electric shunter 08 825 was the Works Train motive power. This locomotive is functional but in need of cosmetic restoration.


Works train locomotive 08 825.

'ED' locomotive 73 114 was also used during the shunt but, on completion, this was stabled on platform 2 along with the coaches forming the normal service train. When the works train departed towards Shention, it comprised a 20-ton brake van, well wagons and a tool van, propelled by 08 825, under the authority of an Engineering Possession for the complete line. Once the Works Train had passed Market Bosworth station, a 'STOP' board and red flag were set to protect the train and the Engineering Possession between Shackerstone and Market Bosworth station was withdrawn by telephone and recorded in the Train Register book at Shackerstone signal box. In the meantime, I'd prepared the single coach 'Bubble Car' 55005 for the passenger service.


'Bubble Car' 55005.

Once the signalman 'cleared' the 'dummy' (ground disk signal - also called 'dolly'), I moved the unit down to platform 1. The sun was starting to peek through but it was still cold, so I started both hot air heater units to warm the coach.

One of the two underframe-mounted heater units.

Passengers on the first service to Market Bosworth.

An 'Emergency' timetable was in use, with departures from Shackerstone at 11:15, 12:30, 13:45 and 15:00. We were 'booked' to stand at Market Bosworth around 15 minutes before returning to Shackerstone. The timetable was carried out without incident. The relative comfort of driving a railcar (rather than steam) makes a nice change occasionally.


The neat arrangement of driving controls in the cab of 55005.

I first became a member at Shackerstone when I was an instructor/driver at Tyseley Railway Museum on their driving experience courses. Tyseley had agreed to run additional courses at Shackerstone using 'Kolhapur' and 'Taw Valley'. Shackerstone's resident engine at the time was 'Lamport No. 3' - a very reliable 6-coupled saddletank which I drove many times until her 'ticket' ran out and she was laid-up in the back of the shed. On 3-Mar-2013, I found 'Lamport No. 3' moved to the DMU siding prior to being moved by road to new owners. I said my farewells and took a few photographs.

Farewell to 'Lamport No. 3'.

My Pictures

Works Train on the Battlefield Line.
Bubble Car.
Lamport No. 3.
The Battlefield Line Collection.