We spend a full day on the footplate of the Standard Class 4 tank 80080 on the East Lancs Railway. The day starts with sub-zero temperatures and snow, signing on at 08:00 at Bury Loco shed. The cleaners have been here since 06:00 doing an essential job, and we take over 80080 just before full boiler pressure is reached. We move the loco through the yard and across Baron Road. The cylinder drain cocks are open continuously to allow the cylinders to get to full working temperature without damage from condensation, making very difficult to see at times. Eventually we couple up to the 4 carriages waiting for us on the platform.
The starter signal gives the all clear and we take the train over the 'ski-jump' and the M66 and on the Heywood. 80080 struggles a little to run freely and produces a plume of dark smoke to mark the occasion. Run round the train and back to Bury and onto Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall. Steaming more freely now we take on water at Rawtenstall and then run steadily back down to Bury.
We head back to Rawtenstall through the tunnels and take on water again at Ramsbottom, then run round at Rawtenstall.
We see late afternoon shadows as we return to Heywood. Then back to Bury. Allow the fire to die back a little, and move the loco back across Baron Road to the shed. We clean down the loco ready for the next crew to take her out again later that evening.
Many thanks to the 3 man footplate crew for their time and effort, and to the ELR for allowing me on the loco.
This was a 10 hour day reduced to 15 minutes for RU-vid. If you are interested in seeing more I can produce a 50+ minute DVD for a very reasonable price. Let me know if you are interested.
6 сен 2024
