Events of Sunday 1st December 2019
The season had started the previous day, when light Prairie 5542 had operated two 'Classic' services, leaving Shackerstone at noon and 2.00 p.m. On the Sunday, 5542 operated three 'Classic' services at ten o'clock, noon and 2.00 p.m. When I arrived at the locomotive shed a little before 6.00 a.m. it was still completely dark and with a heavy frost but, fortunately, dry. So I set about the familiar routine of oiling-round and examining 5542 whilst, following the usual checks on the boiler, Stephen W. who was firing commenced steam-raising.
Jan carrying out the 'daily exam' on 5542 (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019).
By nine o'clock, daylight had appeared and smoke was drifting above the shed roof
"By nine o'clock, daylight had appeared and smoke was drifting above the shed roof" (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019)
On such a cold morning, it was a priority to couple-onto our 5-coach train stabled in platform 2 and start steam heating the stock prior to the arrival of our passengers. By 9.30 a,m, we were 'hooked-on' and steam was starting to warm the train.
5542 steam heating the stock prior to the arrival of passengers (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019).
Santa Specials to Shenton are deliberately leisurely, to give time for our visitors to be conducted from the train to Santa's Grotto, housed in the 'BG' at the north end of the train. Usually, there's a brief stop at Market Bosworth and, depending upon how many children Santa has to see, there may be a stop on Shenton Bank, just before the end of the line, giving good views over the Leicestershire countryside on both sides of the line. At Shenton, the locomotive runs round its train ready for the return journey. Depending on the train loading, the return journey is often at reduced speed as far as Market Bosworth to give Santa time to see all the children. From there to Shackerstone, Line Speed is often authorised.
Arrival back at Shackerstone is usually into platform 2. Provided the signalman has authorised passing the Stop Board just prior to the platform ramp at the north end, the train is stopped with the engine blocking the foot crossing but with the leading coach just clear of the crossing. With a 5-coach train, it may not be possible to take water from the column at the south end of of platform 2 unless the train is stopped as described. Of course, until the locomotive has uncoupled and drawn clear, passengers have to wait on platform 2 before they can use the foot crossing to return to platform 1 and the exit to the car park since the footbridge is not currently used by passengers, although it is in use as part of a public footpath.
As we ran-round after the first trip to Shenton, I paused briefly in platform 1 and, noticing the bright sunshine, took a picture of our popular locomotive.
December sunshine provides an attractive view of 5542 (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019)
Our second and third trips proceeded without problems and we finished the day having helped to provide a lot of visitors with a good day out. As our last passengers made their way back to the car park, we still had disposal to carry out (filling the boiler with water, removing serious clinker, leaving a low fire to enable the boiler to cool slowly, closing all required cocks, looking for any mechanical problems and completing paperwork on the day). A scotch was set under the left driving wheel and the chimney cover put in place (to slow boiler cooling) then, with one last picture of 5542 in the afternoon gloom of the shed, we could lock the shed for the night.
Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019
Events of Sunday 15th December 2019
This time, I was on 'Wightwick Hall', booked to make just two runs with the 'First Class De Luxe', alternating with 5542 making three round trips with the 'Classic'. Mike S. was acting a fireman, giving instruction to one of our young trainees. It was my first turn on a 'modified Hall' although, some years ago, I had 'Dumbleton Hall', one of the earlier builds of this successful class, which we used at Birmingham Railway Museum for a while on footplate experience courses.
I oiled round the outside but 5542 was still occupying the pit since he was taking the first train. Once 5542 had moved off-shed and we'd sufficient pressure, we moved back onto the pit and Mike and I shared the oiling-round underneath. When that was complete, we drifted off-shed and onto our waiting train in platform 1 so that we could start steam heating the train before our passengers arrived (the morning was pretty cold).
6989 'Wightwick Hall' at Shackerstone on the 'First De Luxe' service (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019)
Although the 'modified Halls' were originally fitted with a flat-sided tender, they frequently became swopped with Churchward tenders with the flared top, which I think looks better. 6989 is paired with a riveted Churchward tender in lined B.R. green livery with the earlier British Railways "Lion astride a mangle wheel" totem. Coupled to B.R. 'Mark I' coaches in maroon (and with the leading vehicle bearing a carriage headboard marked "SANTA'S SPECIAL DELUXE TRAIN") it was very nostalgic.
6989 is currently paired with a Churchward-pattern tender and is shown carriage warming on the 'First De Luxe' service (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019)
The two-port slide-valve smokebox regulators used on larger Great Western locomotives are usually the best you can find but, at present, the one on 6989 is a bit curious and tends to be "all or nothing". The locomotive is also partway through a programme to replace the springs on the coupled axles and this, combined with the regulator behaviour, gives the engine a disconcerting tendency to 'lose its feet' and slip. Once on the road, however, 'Wightwick Hall' shows her Great Western lineage and is a willing performer. The restoration from scrapyard condition over a period of 40 years is a major achievement.
The view below shows the standardised layout of the driving controls on the right side of the cab.
6989 'Wightwick Hall': Driver's vacuum brake application valve with small ejector steam cock (above), large ejector steam cock (right) and blower valve (below right) (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019)
On the first run to Shenton, the steel steam heating pipe running under the first coach 'sprang a leak' and we had to cease heating. Once we'd run round at Shenton, we decided to resume heating, since we should be able to warm most of the train although steam would be escaping from what was now the rear of the train.
Arriving back at Shackerstone, we were asked if we could fetch the 'GUV' bogie vehicle from the DMU siding to a position just outside platform 1 so that "Santa's Helpers" could offload more presents to replenish Santa's Sack. This gave me the opportunity to a take the rather odd view of 6989 apparently 'boxed-in' between its train and the 'GUV'
6989 'Wightwick Hall' shunted the 'GUV' to just outside platform 1 to allow Santa's presents to be off-loaded (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019)
With the presents unloaded, we propelled the 'GUV' back to the DMU Siding and then rejoined our train. In the meantime, Simon P. had 'lagged' the failed steam heating pipe, allowing us to provide warmth to the train.
Passengers boarding the second First De Luxe service of the day (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019)
When 5542 arrived back after his second round trip, we were able to leave on our second trip to Shenton.
6989 'Wightwick Hall' at Shackerstone ready to leave with the second 'First De Luxe' service, showing driver's view ahead (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019)
By the time we'd completed our leisurely trip to Shenton and run round, it was already dusk. I've had tinsel-draped engines at Christmas many times, but 6989 was the first I've had with working fairy lights!
6989 at Shenton with LED fairy lights (Battlefield Line Santa Specials 2019)
By the time we arrived back at Shackerstone, it was dark. I didn't envy the crew on 5542 as they set off on their third and final trip to Shenton. We expected to have to shunt onto the other end of our train and propel it out of the way to the north end. But, in a welcome change of plan, we were told a diesel shunter would do that and we could go straight onto shed for disposal.
Related posts on other websites
The 6989 "Wightwick Hall" Restoration Group.
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Battlefield Line 'Santa' trains 2019.
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