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(The Bulleid yawns on the railway)
(Late 1950s to mid 60s) I would transfer on the 3rd pref’ rule from Southern to Bristol sheds Midland, GWR mix of loco in 64? Its all a bit hazy now? (8 yrs)? but no rail retirement pension plan! / money? Many Oliver Bulleid engines would come n go on the Southern! From Mail delivery boy, to cleaner and fireman, the young man would have similar periods of time on 72A shed! (Exmth jct) Taw valley n Eddystone etc would leave their duties to Blackmore vale, Hurricane, Sir Frederick Pile, Manston, 257, 92 squadrons or Spitfire etc! On shed they were with (fires) ”blacked out” and boilers filled to their gunnels to put them to sleep! So to move was tricky with little steam! But you have to put them on various roads on the shed! You would firstly crack open the sight glass exhaust! (Is the glass full or empty? (Always full)! I would always refer to this as possible water ”carry over”? My very own silly notion ‘maybe’ of a very full boiler lifting water to its many cylinder’s (with two exhaust strokes per cylinder)? They would never move with cocks open? But to reverse an inch, And to try again? then the slightest movement and you open them cocks or damage the engine! But you can hear movement before it happens? Weird but true! But to be quick on the reverser, Regulator and steam and hand brake when the darn thing takes off! The walkway path in front must be clear! It might sound a bit dramatic? And it was! You look for pedestrians, Your cylinders are loaded with steam! You cycle all of them in sequence and only the steam brass trigger brake and even 7 rapid spins of the hand brake as well to stop a mad runaway! And you are on your own! (Your tod)! Just you, and low steam, but a very lively 34072, 257 squadron! So now you find all them points you must pull! Ready for them in bed asleep now, But ready for their daily chores to Salisbury, Waterloo, and Westerly runs for North Devon and the Atlantic coast Expresses! But on standby then its you!! My record is 6hrs standby plus 8hrs Plymouth! But its the railway! And the Bulleid yawns! (sorry this is so long! But its still raining)?
Philip Tomlinson, Mike Ashworth and 4 others1 Comment-
Maybe I should add that on nights the lighting was poor! And sight glass exhaust is to snatch to create a ”Bob”! Bottom its in trouble? From top then pay special care n attention! You see it all ”On sheds”?
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