Unusually, the railcar had been left on Platform 2 and the four coaches for the 'Main Train' were on platform 1. Once again, the weather was kind and there seemed to be lots of passengers. In fact, Bernard believed that we carried more passengers on our four trips down the line to Shenton on the 7th than on any previous mid-week day he remembers. We operated in and out of platform 2 throughout the day, except for the last arrival from Shenton, when we were routed into the southern end of platform 1 where there was just room to unload our passengers. I then stabled the railcar in the DMU Siding.
The diesel railcar in platform 2 at Shackerstone.
One pleasant aspect of railcar operation is that it's fairly relaxed. There's time to talk to the passengers and try to answer the many questions about operating a preserved railway or the more technical questions about the diesel railcar. Whilst the train was standing at Shackerstone or Shenton, it was possible to let interested passengers visit the driving cab in safety - I had a number of children and adults as visitors during the day.
A young visitor in the cab of the diesel railcar.
It takes a minimum of four staff to operate the railcar service - Driver, Guard, Signalman at Shackerstone and Ticket Inspector. But there are an awful lot of other jobs that need doing to keep the railway operating and Wednesday is a popular day for volunteers to come to the railway, forming the "Wednesday Gang". I counted 18 people signed-on at Shackerstone. The coaches in platform 1 were being cleaned externally whilst another group was repainting white lines on the platforms at Shackerstone.
Repainting white lines at Shackerstone.
Yet another group was 'up the cutting' at Shackerstone, hacking away at the undergrowth. Where there are signal wires or point rodding trackside, the signalman's job becomes much harder if weed growth is left unchecked.
View looking towards the signal box from platform 2 at Shackerstone, showing the improved appearance following weed removal.
Another enjoyable day!
All my articles on the Battlefield Line can be found here.
My Pictures
(Includes pictures taken on previous occasions).
Midweek DMU Service (24th July 2013).
Midweek at the Battlefield Line (7th August 2013).
All my Battlefield Line pictures.
