The Mighty 9F & Tom Wootton (Former Saltley Driver):

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Digging through my old archived material recorded onto DVD's I found this little gem.
It was a series recorded in 1997 called 'Classic Trains' (They all feature elsewhere on RU-vid) and the reason I recorded this one was because it featured one of my former work collegues who I worked with on BR in the 1960's at Saltley MPD in Birmingham.
If you would like to read more of our working relationship and are on Facebook go to my page at..... footplatemem...

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12 июн 2020

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Комментарии : 57

@user-ty6ok3py1p 6 месяцев назад

Remember my first firing shift on a 9f well. Northampton to Willesden 1956/7 Never ever seen one before, this shift usually had a 7f to haul us up the steep bank with 50 coal wagons behind us, quite a struggle. Anyway, this early am turn had a real good start. My driver was about 5 foot tall and round and he couldn't get on the footplate without me grabbing his bag and hauling him to the bottom step. Anyhow the steep bank didn't prove a problem for this great engine and we soon reached our destination in north London about 2 hours which was virtually half the time with the super D

@SYKAROST 6 месяцев назад

Thanks for relating that experience, the 9F was indeed a great loco and I spent many hours on them at Saltley. Thankfully, never set foot on a 'D' but saw plenty of them at Bescot.👍

@kenharris5390 2 месяца назад

One day at Cardiff Central, the King heading the Red Dragon had to uncouple because the axle loading was too heavy for the last leg to Swansea. The King always ran light to Cardiff Canton shed. Whilst being turned for the return run, the loco was declared failed. The stand-by engine on that day was a 9F. Ninety MPH was achieved several times on that return run. Heads must have turned at Paddington when a lowly freight loco stopped just short of the buffers. The poor fireman that day must have worked almost as hard as Tommy Bray on the 3rd of July 1938 record run. Thanks for a great presentation, and thanks to Tom, once an engine, always an engine man.

@SYKAROST 2 месяца назад

They were indeed a brilliant loco Ken. I loved working on them but never got chance to get such a fast run. There were Drivers and there were Enginmen, Tom was one of the latter and one of the nicest you could work with. It was a real pleasure to put this little tribute together & glad you enjoyed it too. Regards,Brian.

@samstainer6322 3 года назад

Tommy Wooton, The first driver I ever had out on the mainline, down to Bristol with a Class 47 the back up to Brum with a Class 45,he put me "in the chair" between Cheltenham and Barnt Green, 90mph with an express at 16 years old. What a gentleman. I think Tom was an ex Crewe man and was one of the few men to sign Carlisle both ways.

@SYKAROST 3 года назад

Hi Sam, thanks for responding. What year would this recollection be? Tom was indeed ex Crewe and managed to retain his route card which led to some interesting variety of work. I assume by both ways you mean via Shap and the S & C. I learnt so much from Tom and was always 'in the chair' even if I had no knowledge of the route he insisted on simply conducting me and we never stopped laughing. A wonderful mate and a great engineman. Best Wishes, Brian (928).

@samstainer6322 3 года назад

@@SYKAROST Hi Brian, it would be late autumn (November?) 1978, I only had Tom a couple of times as he was in Link 1(I think) and I was only a kid fresh on. I definitely remember he told me he was a Crewe (North?) man then moved down to Saltley, but you would know him much better than I did. It was such a lovely surprise seeing him again after well over 40 years, what a great Driver he was. They were some great characters at Saltley weren't they.

@SYKAROST 3 года назад

@@samstainer6322 Hi Sam, so you didn't have the joy of steam lol. I'd been gone 10 years by then after having my final 6 months with Tom so I left on a high note. Saltley was indeed a melting pot of great characters..... if your on Facebook and want catch up search for 'Saltley Seagulls'.... take care, Brian.

@michaelwootton9656 Год назад

He was a pretty good dad also.

@emmawootton5716 4 года назад

Thats my grandad xxx

@SYKAROST 4 года назад

And one you are quite rightly very proud of Emma. Look foreward to catching up with you soon.x

@tonikeep4420 Год назад

"And there's a place. Where i can go.... When i feel blue and i feel low.and its my mind.

@jamesallen03 Год назад

This is great to see. His son, Denis, is my grandad. Heard some great stories over the years and it's nice to know people thought highly of my great grandad Tom

@SYKAROST Год назад

Hi James, glad you enjoyed it and yes. I know Denis too. You can indeed be proud of your great grandad , a truly lovely person and the best of drivers to work with and there were many. All the best, Brian.

@johnjennings3232 3 года назад

What a fabulous video. It was great seeing Tom again and hearing his calming voice. One of the best drivers I ever worked with. The Don Bilston record also brought back the fact that I had quite a few records of his. As an old driver he really knew how to capture the feel of the footplate in his music.

@SYKAROST 3 года назад

Another blast from the past John, glad it bought back those good memories of Tom, one of the best without a doubt. Don was another character and I still play my LP's (and remember most of the words). Best Wishes, Brian.

@michaelwootton9656 4 года назад

the 15 tons of coal came from a Carlisle trip during the war when given an overloaded tender on a baby scot and still had to go on to Holbeck for coal due to the engine being worked on full gear.

@highdownmartin Год назад

You earned your money that trip ,brother!

@anthonykot Год назад

The incidental music is to die for... hope so..

@paulyouphone2793 25 дней назад

Thoroughly enjoyed that. Thank you ! BUT! - WARNING TO ALL (!) If you have any content that you value on home-recorded DVDs , COPY THEM to another format for safe keeping : use something like "DVD decrypter" to copy the ".vob" files on the dvd and store them on memory stick and the cloud : DVD+/-R or RW can be very unreliable over time.

@joshuaethan 4 года назад

Put a massive smile on my face! Thanks, Brian.

@SYKAROST 4 года назад

Well Andrew, Tom always put a smile on mine too so it must be infectious lol. Glad you enjoyed it mate..... Cheers, Brian.

@sorshiaemms5959 Год назад

Awesome video nice to hear Toms story can t get enough of the 9 F s

@robmasterman 4 года назад

That's one of the Best videos I've seen for some time Brian, absolutely stunning piece of work, featuring a wonderful man who typifies a real Railwayman that made the Railways such a great organisation to work for...Best wishes....Bob

@SYKAROST 4 года назад

That's very nice of you Bob but obviously I can only be credited for editing the work of others (but with some obvious success). A great character and a proper engineman although if you have read my FB page it was all diesel work by then and he had his feet up most of the time. It never felt like we worked for BR, more like being self employed and playing with trains !!!!! All the best, Brian.

@Backwardlooking Год назад

Wonderful.

@staffordian 4 года назад

A great mix of sound and vision there Brian, and so evocative of times past. I'll bet great memories came flooding back as you complied that. Cheers, Rob

@SYKAROST 4 года назад

As I said to Bob, I only tweaked what was readily available Rob but I'm glad you enjoyed it. Yes, the memories never fade and this applies to all my former collegues. We remember every detail from the 60's but not what we did yesterday, it certainly created a lasting impression on us. Cheers, Brian.

@stephensmith799 11 месяцев назад

priceless

@grahamallen1970 3 года назад

I was a train man 'D' at saltley 360 of drivers and 355 where a pleasure to work with but the other 5!! Went to garston depot to get my drivers job in 1990...one of the driving instructors once passed a pearl of wisdom to me...sorry for swearing...any arsehole can make the train move but stopping in the right place in the right manner is the hard bit! True words

@SYKAROST 3 года назад

Haha, know what you mean Graham but in the main a great bunch of lads at SY (21A when I started). Your instructor was of course right. I loved the vac brakes for station stops, slam it on then bring it off & come to a stand with 21" ready for the off. Great days.

@grahamallen1970 3 года назад

@@SYKAROST Oh yes but not on fright with AFI...overcook it and your done!

@SYKAROST 3 года назад

@@grahamallen1970 I guess you missed out on the joys of loose coupled freights, that was the real test of driving skill using just the loco straight air brake. 😉

@grahamallen1970 3 года назад

@@SYKAROST when passed out our class was going to be the first air only! Soon sent us on a vac training and then lose coupled course....cost them more in time and money as when ballast job rocked up as a class9.... sat spare!...so once trained done a fair bit 'class 9' until it was all but outlawed and everything was fitted!...just got in for the twilight of the golden BR years ..not bad for a 21year old boy! Never a dull moment!

@nigelparker5886 Год назад

A bit late to the party, but bloody lovely content and comments too! Cheers

@SYKAROST Год назад

You're never too late but glad you found and enjoyed it. Tom was a wonderful guy and a real privilege to have known & worked with in those halcyon days.

@robinpearn6736 4 года назад

Good story Brian.

@SYKAROST 4 года назад

Cheers Robin, hope you are well and we can catch up again soon.

@chrislyon7147 19 дней назад

John Peel Commentary

@petergrossett6763 4 года назад

Thanks for the upload. John Peel narrating from a series from the nineties?

@SYKAROST 4 года назад

Pleasure, and as I mentioned it's 'Classic Trains' from 1997 and all episodes are available on RU-vid.

@joshuaethan 4 года назад

I thought I recognised the narrator but couldn't put my finger on the voice ..Thanks

@stephenwalton7811 Год назад

My Grandad was a Saltley Seagull and was pals with Tom. His name was Bill Walton, a top link driver

@SYKAROST Год назад

I do recall the name but am certain we never actually worked together. I'm sure you're proud of your grandad.👍

@stephenwalton7811 Год назад

@SYKAROST My dad went to Tom's funeral taking Alf Johnson with him. I worked with another chap who fired for Bill a few times, Carl 'spider' Webb at Land Rover. Another name was Harold Sartorius. Great days. 👍

@SYKAROST Год назад

@@stephenwalton7811 Thanks for sharing that, all familiar names and 'Spider' started a month behind me in 62. They were indeed great days!!

@user-jy1rt8qr5f Год назад

What is A “clun train” I used to watch this series and always wondered what he was referring to?

@SYKAROST Год назад

Do you know, I've just watched again as had no idea what you meant. I still can't answer the question as it sounded like 'Clum' to me and I used to work with him l...... sorry!!

@eight-two 10 месяцев назад

Does he say Plum?

@haroldpearson6025 4 года назад

Tom Wootton, my father was a driver at Saltley Sidney George Pearson. Retired mid 60s. Did you know him?

@SYKAROST 4 года назад

Yes, I knew your dad but not as a regular mate in fact I don't think I actually fired for him.

@haroldpearson6025 4 года назад

@@SYKAROST many thanks for your reply. I went overseas to work in 1969 and my mum and dad left Brum to live in Huddersfield. George passed away in 1989 after 5 years of poor health. He loved the railway and told me many stories. I wrote an article for a magazine which covered some of his adventures. If your interested perhaps I could get it to you?

@SYKAROST 4 года назад

Harold, If you are happy for your story of George's 'adventures' to be aired more widely I would be happy to publish them on my FB page. If you go to the link above in my description you can message me and we can discuss it further. Regards, Brian.

@haroldpearson6025 4 года назад

@@SYKAROST sorry mate, you have lost me! What link above what description?

@SYKAROST 4 года назад

Harold, the description below the video has a blue highlighted link to the page where you can read the story about Tom & Myself & decide if you want to message me on there. It may be a problem if you're not on Facebook though.