The loco being cleaned out at the begining is 5051 Earl Bathurst by the looks of it. She survived into preservation and is at the Didcot Railway Centre.
Cleaning the firebox was the job of the junior most cleaner. Hot and airless was just part of the torture, another cleaner might creep onto the footplate and shut the fire door , or smouldering cotton waste would be placed under the grate. A man prepared to suffer such work, then 10-15 years firing , would, by the time he got made up as a driver, be a thoroughly conscientious and dependable servant.
There is no amount of money you could pay me to crawl into a firebox like that! Especially one that was still hot inside! That would literally be like crawling into the bowls of hell! These were some seriously tough men, mentally and physically. I guess you had to be back then. We certainly lead easier (and cleaner) lives now but I wonder if it has made us go a bit soft and lazy/entitled.
You take work wherever you can find it. The railways didn't pay much but there were perks, like concessionary rail travel if you fortunate enough to be able to afford a holiday. Physically demanding and dirty work which put off many possible recruits after WWII resulting in staff shortages. That probably accounted for making a film like this to try to tempt young men to try it for a living. However, despite the downside. there was a measure of job satisfaction for a man in those days a job like this, which you don't get in an office (like me) or in a supermarket check-out. My Grandpa and his brother were railwaymen on the GWR, as was their father before them. Gramps had much to complain about - and who doesn't - but he always had a great affection for steam days . We had a little family holiday in the late 70s which took us for a day to the Severn Valley Railway. Even though he was nearing 80, Gramps was rejuvenated and was able to spring up from the rails to the footplate like a youngster. Amazing !
At about 4:00 you can see the engine number above the driver on the cab roof- 5091 which is Cleeve Abbey, a Star class engine that was converted into a Castle and scrapped in 1964. I assume that this was filmed using two engines for some reason. Near the start you see 5051, Earl Bathurst, and I have had a run in the cab of this loco many years ago.
@@NickRatnieks How was it? (Your time in the cab of Earl Bathurst I mean.) What was your rôle? Did anything uniquely memorable occur? I would love to hear more.
@@JohnWest507 It was in the early 2000s from memory, and the 6024 Society was having its members' day at Didcot. 6024 was not in steam, I cannot remember if it was there or under overhaul, so the GWS had steamed up 5051 and was available for use by the 6024 Society for the day. What I can remember, is that whoever was driving when I was on the footplate was admonished by our engineer for getting off to some flying starts in the yard and slamming on the brakes, he suggested that the engine should be treated with more respect! Having been on the footplate of 7808 in the same yard, the experience with 5051 was way more volcanic but this was reined in after my trips up and down the yard. I stood on the cab of 5051 shortly after the engine arrived from Barry to Didcot early in 1970- a very big difference in condition. When I did the cab ride on 5051 the loco was coupled up to a 3500 gallon tender- not the normal 4000 gallon example. I seem to recall that 5051 ran on the main line with the Hawksworth tender borrowed from Burton Agnes Hall which I worked on, that day back in 1970. Cold and dirty are my memories of that!
The man who is cleaning the clinkers from the fire box is the "Clinker Cleaner" I would if he had nightmares of the door slamming shut and he being caught in fire?
At the start we see 100AI Lloyds the former Star Class loco 4009 Shooting Star converted to the Castle Class in 1925 and ten odd years later renamed and numbered- the 100A1 being the top Lloyds Insurance designation- which is also why we say that something is "A1" to mean it is top class. This loco was probably the first Castle withdrawn in 1950- while class members were still being constructed. One assumes its frames- dating back to 1907 were beyond repair. I don't want to court controversy, but substantial frames were not made for the Churchward class locos- partly to save weight as the boilers which were high pressure and very good, were also very heavy and to stay within axle load limits set by the civil engineer, the frames were a bit skimpy. However, putting a bit more frame above the driving wheels- where they are weakened by the axle cut outs was not going to increase the weight by much- it was never done, likewise on the Castles. Instead extra weight was added over the years by welding on many patches and plates to repair the cracks that developed until the frame was finally condemned. On another matter, 5066 was renamed Sir Felix Pole in memory of the former Great Western General Manager in 1956, as he died that year. Likewise, bestowing the name Sir Edward Elgar on Castle 7005 in 1957 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of his birth.
How do you know this kind of stuff - I think I know my railway history - loved railway history all my life especially GWR but nothing compared to this.
@@TheBroomwagon Much is from having been interested in these engines when I was a kid-they were still around back then- so I picked it up. However much of the stuff- like the frame weakness I got from a book. The writer- John Gibson, had worked in Swindon Works back in the 1920s- he had worked for the M&SWJR-which was absorbed by the GWR- so he was an outsider- looking in, and he was surprised at some of what he saw! www.amazon.co.uk/Great-Western-Locomotive-Design-Gibson/dp/0715386069
Does anyone know why is the oil can on fire (<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="149">2:29</a> and later <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="199">3:19</a>)?
it's not an oilcan which is on fire, it was a flare lamp to allow the driver to see sufficiently in the dark places to be able to use the oilcan without missing the oiling places
These were the days people did HARD work! Not much these days comes close to what these people had to go through! Imagine being stuffed in a firebox when it was still warm😮 Im claustrophobic so just the thought of that makes me shudder. I thought I had done some ‘hard work’ during my 60 years but compared to this NAAAAHH nothing near to it. This is when England stood alone WITHOUT Europe but they survived!
Probably breaking up ground yhat has risen up over time,with ash,coal dust, oil etc, and got patter down due to foot traffic,and might be walking route?