-
(Time waits no steam crew)!
I trawl the Charity shops for a wall clock! This one’s ‘a bit different’ says the helpful bloke! Its huge! With a 12 inch face? Trouble is that each time i look to it, Then i am back on some rail station somewhere? We drift back to our coaches and I throw up the coupling, Steam heating if needed? And release the spring clip from the vacuum dolly to marry up to the coach counter part to then await that certain departure time? Tease the fire with the ‘Bar’, Then its a direct comparison of steam pressure gauge to platform clock? Drivers back then didn’t spare the horses! Full spat to 60,70, 80 MPH! Whereas goods train setups out of Stoke Gifford or St David’s with bankers! The same use of your little reserve, (under the doors and back corners) while you coupled up to then set off like a scalded cat until the speed fell off to a long hard slog up that St David’s bank hill to Exeter Central! My word, There were some exploits on that hill! But the favourable timing of those big clock faces on the many platforms on route was more challenging to the young fireman!
