[Midland Rly. Compounds]

Sorry Scriv I can't put a date to the photo or the closing of the Melton branch, I do think the fireman should be making sure the train is leaving the platform in a 'safe and orderly manner'! I describe leaving a station and firing on that class of work in my 'blog, My Best trip' I've probably posted it before but new members might like it.                                                                                    

                                                                         My Best Trip

On Friday evenings back in the days of steam it was usual for the 18.40 St.Pancras=Bradford express to have extra coaches added and an extra engine manned by a Nottingham crew to assist.
One Friday in August 1960 with Dvr. Charlie Stuart we arrived at Kentish Town Loco.to find we had not only been allocated a rather scruffy old Midland Compound engine, not to assist but  to work a duplicate train 10 minutes before him. I found this a bit daunting as I’d never worked out of St.Pancras with a compound before but one thing you could count on at K.Town was top quality steam coal so it was up to me to make the best use of it. Coupled to the 18.40 engine down to St.Pancras we separated, he onto his 9 coaches and us on to 8 coaches in the next platform. I had been building up a good bed of fire during the past hour and as 18.29 ticked by I put a good 10 shovels of coal  round  the firebox to keep it in place in case of a wheel slip on starting off blowing it out of the chimney! So with a sarcastic shout  across the platform of “keep out of our way” we were off with a very welcome ‘push start’ out of the platform  from the class 4 tank engine that had brought our train down from Cricklewood sidings, a practice frowned on by station staff due to the noise & smoke in the station.

Charlie was soon able to wind back the gear lever and go to ‘Compound’ mode by opening the regulator to its full extent, this opened the main valve in that dome shaped bit on the top of the boiler which directed steam into a third high pressure cylinder between the engine frames before exhausting the once used steam into the two outside cylinders to be used again. An economical system much used on steam ships but not developed or used elsewhere on the UK’s   railways. This action gives a curious ‘feel’ on the footplate, almost as if the engine is being retarded but the sequence soon sorts itself out  and ‘Big Brother ‘ in the middle soon shows his power, not bad for a 4=4=0..

Now into our stride, back past K. Town, West Hampstead passing in & out of those short but almost continuous   tunnels that must have made  for poor living conditions above with the smoke puthering out all day. Little & often with no lumps of coal bigger than two clenched fists was the rule when on this class of traffic, 6-10 shovels per charge delivered as fast as possible and the firebox doors closed again as air drawn in through the ash pan was better for combustion than ‘cold air’ through the doors. Clear of the tunnels we were soon passing the Police College at Hendon in 10 minutes, one minute late but with the engine (& myself) nicely warmed up those 7ft. Driving wheels were really covering the miles on that undulating stretch of railroad thro’ Mill Hill-Boreham Wood-Radlett etc. to St. Albans  Passing the  aptly named “Heath & Heather” ware-house of Sam Ryder, seed merchant  who  started his business life selling ‘penny’ packets of seeds to the workers  and later following a chance meeting with some American golfers he founded the “Ryder Cup” Golf match between the USA  & Europe. Nearby is a raised plinth with the Roman name for St. Albans “Verulam”, then on through Harpendon to Luton with the ‘lost’ minute being well recovered. A few extra shovels full along here ready for the climb up thro’ Leagrave and on up to Sundon where motorists on  the nearby M1 compete with us ,anyone beating us is breaking the speed limit before they veer away from the  line towards Toddington services. No break for us as with regulator open for economy of steam but maximum speed down the long descent towards Bedford we ‘fly’ through Harlington-Fliwick-Amptil-& Millbroook so fast there’s no time to count the chimneys at the London Bick Works! The noise of speeding steel wheels on steel rails together with the beat of those 3 cylinders is tremendous with hand signals or shouting the only means of communication, if noise equals speed  we have to be doing over 90 miles an hour!

The small unusually named signal box ”Houghton Conquest” (2 names put together, village is about 3 miles away and worth a ‘Google’) is just before Bedford, the station itself  is off the Main Line on the Up side so with a blast on the whistle we rattle over the junctions at Bedford South & North Boxes as we speed past.
The ‘drop down flap’ covering the lower third of the firebox opening has been raised from the start, not only firing over the top of it but building up the fire so that the last shovel or two almost fill the opening, the first shovel of the next charge scattering it around the box together with the fresh coal, now even this was increased as north of Bedford we not only have quite a gradient to climb, heavy enough for most freight trains to be routed  a longer but easier route via Wimmington before rejoining this 4 track railroad at Wellingboro’, but halfway up it levels  out to allow us to take on water on Oakley troughs. I have to close the tender door to operate the scoop handle, a little care is needed as it’s quite easy to get the scoop blade so deep in the trough the pressure keeps it therewith the excess water being ejected through the top tank opening and washing down the first coach! Experience teaches you to turn the scoop down  fully then back 2-3 turns to leave a gap in the hinged elbow beneath the tender making it easier to control the amount of water taken on, no problem this time (big head) so on thro’ Sharnbrook and the ‘top of the hill’ and aptly named signal box ”Souldrop”. Back up to speed again past Higham Ferrers then, as there is no speedometer on the engine the driver has to use his judgement for the 65mph W’boro junction onwards passing Neilsons sidings, the halfway point for all that Leen Valley coal we bring  in trains from Beeston, then Finedon and a sniff of ‘Weetabix’ at  Burton Latimer as Charlie gives 1 long & 2 short blasts on the whistle to let the signalman know we want to turn right at Kettering (straight on for Mkt. Harborough & Leicester) then hard braking for the 20mph crossover at the platform end gives us a very heavy climb up to Glendon South junction, past the isolated box at Geddington  whilst ahead is the heavy pall of steam & smoke from the massive steel works of Stewart& Lloyds at Corby (now long gone!) Leaving the ‘smoke’ we dive into the 1300 yard long wet darkness of Corby Tunnel, no slipping downhill as we emerge following the contours of the Welland valley.

 

As we pass Gretton we catch a glimpse of one of those massive Victorian masterpieces and the largest brick built structure in the UK, Harringworth  Viaduct.  Around a long bend and there it is, over a mile of dead straight track across the top of the 60ft. high & 82 arches viaduct.                                                 
So flat out now for the climb out of the valley up through Seaton & Glaston tunnels- Wing and Manton (the junction southbound for Stamford & Peterboro’) then into the ½ mile long Manton tunnel  and top of the hill so back up to speed again enough to rattle the crossing gates at Oakham-Langham, noted for its all the year display of geraniums and fuschias, Ashwell with the ? hunt kennels alongside so a quick blast on the whistle sets all the hounds yelping! Wissendine and then the long deer fence around Stapleford Park hopefully keeping the deer off the track.- Saxby and extra shovels full again as I close the tender door ready for another tank fill up on Brentingby troughs,  a bit more care here as the troughs are quite close to a crossover. Melton Mowbray, noted for its “Pork Pies”, is passed with the brakes hard on for the 40mph curve towards Nottingham,(straight on for Syston etc,)Heavy climbing again as we pass Holwell, where another steel works has ‘disappeard,’ Gretton soon follows and then into into the gloom of Old Dalby tunnel (I once picked a 1lb.of ‘Bluebuttons’ in  30 mins. in the field above)almost done now, top of the hill at Upper Broughton, station long gone but lots of left over flowers, especially in spring when the sides of the cutting are covered in Primroses.

 

Coming to the long straight down through Widmerpool and the ¾ mile long Stanton tunnel so time to think of the ‘shed’ staff so get the rake down of the tender rack and give the fire a good rake over and levelling off but still firing enough to maintain pressure and maximum speed through Plumtree and Edwalton and then the ‘distant signal’ for London Rd, junction tells us we are clear into the station. So braking hard on what is now Lady Bay Bridge we coast beneath London Rd. and into No.6 platform. Coming to a stop I get off the engine and walk along the platform to change the headlamp code to ‘light engine’ when returning I was met with a wall of passengers hurrying for the exit. I stopped halfway along the engine and noticed the builders nameplate on the wheel splasher, it read at the top “Midland Rly. Co.”, at the bottom “Built at Derby Rly. Works” and in the centre the date year”1924”! 4 years before I was born and this 36 year old engine had just worked the 125 miles from St. Pancras, London to Nottingham in 120 minutes, an average of over 60 mph and do you know Folks not one of those 300 or more passengers noticed, they didn’t even notice we were 10 minutes before time!
Putting the tail lamp on I climbed back into the cab and Thanked Charlie for the  best trip I’d had even if I had shovelled away nearly 4 tons of coal and used over 7000 gallons of water. “Yes” he replied “we did that 6 days a week before the war and put the engine away afterwards”! He meant WW 2 when 10 hour shifts were worked!

 

Only the original Midland Railway Compound No’ 1000 out of the 240 that were built survived the end of the steam era and is usually on display at York Railway Nuseum.

[Things you don't see anymore]

"Just a moment I'll get the ladder!". Its obviously a 'photo shoot' but where did they stack them  at the end of the day?        

[Things you don't see anymore]

                            

 

A bit early for Christmas but this was Victorian times and no 'fridges!

[Big wheel]

Nope! won't do it!  I was going to post 2 video clips of my "ride" on the "North Star", quite a trip, like being on a motor bike going round a looong left hand bend passing the Council House about every 6 seconds. I did it twice actually, first time I pressed the wrong button on the video camera and finished up with two sets of still photos. Silly B.

[Chilwell Depot]

Thanks 'retji' for reminding me of the pleasant times with the Chilwell Rifle club at the Brickyard outdoor ranges.               An unwritten rule said 'Men Only' on Wednesday evenings, shooting finished by 9pm and in the "Charltom Arms" by 9.05pm. One evening I played a 'prank' on a Doctor member he was coming down the caravan steps as I went to enter, obviously going for a 'wee' against the nearby wall, I waited while he started and then called out "Good Evening Rosemary" and dived into  a wardrobe in the 'van. Oh dear, wee & blackberry juice all down his left leg as he'd tried to hide behind the bushes, after he'd tried to box my ears he joined in the joke but it cost me a 'G & T in the Charlton Arms. So many memories including manhandling that 3 ton caravan through the gate as the towing truck couldn't make the turn!

[Midland Rly. Compounds]

   One of the LMS Compounds working a 'local' passenger train, probably to Newark & Lincoln whilst alongside is a Stanier designed 'Jubilee' leaving for London.

                                            

[Midland Rly. Compounds]

Back in 1902 the Chief Mechanical Engineer (CME) Stephenson of the Midland Railway Co. was asked to design an express locomotive capable of competing with other rail companies. The 4-4-0 engine design was already established so after consultation with marine sources the Midland 4-4-0 Compound  engine was the result with  5 prototypes being  built, with 2 ‘low pressure’ outside cylinders and a 3^rd.‘high pressure’  cylinder inside the frame Despite some starting problems these 5 proved so good his successor  CME Deeley corrected the starting regulator problem and ordered 40 more and these 45 engines, numbered 1000-1044 proved their worth.  Particularly during the first world war frequently hauling 12-14 coach troop trains, and continued  in service even after the Midland Rly’s. 1923 merger, to become the London Midland & Scottish (LMS),  until the early 1950s. Not a bad record!
After the 1923 merger, to become the London, Midland & Scottish Rly. (LMS), CME Fowler was so impressed with the performance and economy of these engines he ordered a further 190 to be built, Nos.1045-1199 (?) then 900-939 There is some confusion whether he had the driving wheels reduced from 7ft. to 6ft.9in. for this order or if it came later when, after 40 (100?) had been built, he made a major design change by moving the Driver and all his controls from the right  to the left side of the engine. If he was so impressed with the Compounds it seems a costly change to make, these engines in fact, remained the LMS express engines until the early 1930’s.when CME Stanier was appointed. He immediately made his mark with first the Class 8 freight engine then the 2 cylinder mixed traffic ‘Black 5’ and then the 3 & 4 cylinder ‘Jubilee and Princess’ express engines. As good as these Stanier engines were the Compounds although usually relegated to ‘assisting or local duties’ were kept “in service” until about 1960 before being withdrawn and scrapped. Only this, the first one, Midland Compound No. 1000, being preserved 

No. 1000 still working a ‘local’ passenger train in 1952 and after restoration in 1956.

 

[The Master Cutler]

Catching up with my reading I came across the post from DJ360, 13,5,1920,, referring to 'coloured engines' especially the Midland Compound No. 1000. I was a fireman back in the 1950's and one August Friday afternoon in 1956 my driver & I were sent to Derby Shops,  not the loco., to bring back to Nottingham MPD Compound 1000 ready to work a 'special' on the Sunday. I was told the 'before' photo was taken in 1955, as she's still hauling a local passenger train that wouldn't be a bad record for a 1902 built engine! I have to admit that for almost 50 years I thought I was the 'first' fireman to take charge of the restored engine until I googled Midland Compounds when doing my blog "My Best Trip" and found I was down in the teens, I'd even bought a Hornby Dublo model of No. 1000 as a memento! Oh well, memories!

[Nissen huts]

If anyone is still thinking ‘cars’, forget it, this is a Nissan Hut    -  the doors at both ends assuring adequate ventilation! When doing my 2 years Nat. Service (1946-48) I had the misfortune to spend three periods living in one, the first time was a real shocker!  Our initial 18 weeks had been at the Victorian barracks at Deal in Kent (nuff said!) moving in September to Lympstone in ‘Glorious Devon’, what a difference. Brick built chalet type huts right on the banks of the River Exe, cafeteria served meals, NO fatigues-guard duties-church parades etc.

 

This ‘holiday camp’ period of training ended the 1^st. week in January when 20 of us travelled by rail overnight to a ‘camp’, concentration comes to mind, 3 miles inland from Towyn, mid Wales. On the parade square we were treated to a ‘chocolate box’ view of Cader Idris, the second  highest mountain in Wales at the head of the valley and this morning bathed in sunlight showing off the cap of fresh fallen snow!    A nice memory among some very physically rough ones to end on as ‘life’ in the huts has been well described!                                               

[Viking's on the Trent!]

The 'Topic' says ''Vikings on the Trent', I recollect reading an account of these 'invaders' not the title but I feel sure it was by Bernard Cornwell, one of his very good historical novels.

[Pub Singers]

Oh Mary ,do Saturday night 'sing songs' still happen? 20mins. ago I could give several but click on 'reply' and my minds a blank, Uncle Len could give a good rendering of "If you were the only girl in the world" whilst my mate ,Jack Thompson, had the ladies attention with "That old Black Magic". Dad's contribution was usually sung outside after about 20mins. saying "Good night", ' It's just a little street where old friends meet
 

                                                                                                                                  I'd like to wander back some day etc!

[Colwick Woods]

PS to previous post, when I say 'by hand' we did have spades of course!

[Colwick Woods]

Sorry HSR but there was a 'Pitch & put course' at the top of Greenwood Rd. opposite Ripon Rd. tickets to play were 'bought' at the Bowling Green keepers hut, trouble was it was out of sight of the keeper so if you had your own clubs no one was around to check you, same problem at Southwold(?) so we lost both of them!

Colwick woods have some very good memories for me being in the Army Cadets at Jesse Boot School (1942-46) and training in the woods but before that during the war time "Dig For Victory" campaign the playing field at JB was dug up  by hand, quite a lot by Sneinton Boulevard school. Mr. Lowe, one of the teachers really took to it selling the produce to pupils and locals and even set up a pig sty, 3 pigs for starters with 'shares' @ 2/- each, 3/- paid out "later"!

Dakyn St. football ground was between the road and railway line and used by S B school for sports, the 44 trolley bus terminus was there as well, opposite was the 'kissing' gate' entrance with a uphill path both ways, further along was the rail crossing with the 'cliff' to the right and a swampy area with lots of newts, continuing along that valley towards Greenwood Rd. was the mentioned 'spring & ice house'. The 'P & P course' was played on the right hand hillside with ,(I think) the 6th. hole played  back from near the cliff so steep the if you didn't get on the green in 3 we just took a 5 and carried on!       OMG! that's over 40 years  after we dug the playing field up!   

[Help needed]

Many Thanks for replies, sorry i was a bit short on the tecknics 'cos I'm not too sure myself. The camera device is a "Portal" installed as a Xmas present by my son and it clips on top of the TV, it's served via my computer router to my Facebook account and as far as I know my daughter uses a 'messenger app' on her phone to connect Up to last week it's been brilliant as you can see in the first photo it's like having her sat in the corner of the living room, every thing except the glasses clinking! My son will call us  tomorrow for his weekly chat but he'll be on a laptop, just a thought I'll send him the two photos to see if he has any ideas! Oops second thoughts, they're both 'senior citizens' now, no wonder I'm feeling my age! Thanks again, it's nice to be able to call on friendly people.

[Help needed]

Help needed (again!)2weeks ago 

                                                           

 

 

 

Can anyone tell me why the picture has changed, my daughter lives in the Isle of Wight and we have a "drink together" every Wednesday but this week both the image and sound were hopeless.cn u elp?

 

[Yesterdays News]

Thanks for the Good Wishes, I'll pass them on. Highlight of the day was at 3pm. when the 'Portal' device (Xmas present!) on the TV lit up and my Daughter in Law had programmed a family meet up, son & wife,2 grandsons & wives, the 2 great grand children and then our daughter in Arnold joined in so we had 5 pictures on the screen for an hours chat. They closed the chat when the light started flashing again and our daughter & son in law down in the Isle of Wight came on for another 50 minutes chat, very thirsty time so good job I had a couple of bottles open.

[Yesterdays News]

                                                                                  

[Artificial grass]

I 'cut' it with a stiff broom several times a year otherwise NO maintenance required and from a short distance it still looks good but a close look does show up several small patches of moss which is why I asked for suggestions for removal or prevention?  i.e. do the chemical 'Moss killers' etc. stain the 'grass' ?                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

[Words you dislike ?]

Many years ago my English teacher told the class " there is no such word in the English langwidge as 'GOT', I usually try not to use it but as Compo say's there are times when you just have to! The worst culprit I know is Alexander Armstrong on the TV program 'Pointless' when he turns round saying "and on the board we have GOT......",  

[Artificial grass]

I know its not every ones favorite but i have a 'labour saving' front lawn, it's on plenty of sand plus a membrane and is 5 years old. While sweeping some debris off it I noticed i now have several patches of moss, the stiff brush helped but its definitely not labour saving. Does anyone have an answer Please?

[Hempshill Lane Bulwell, 'Sankey's Tip' and Fun in the 1960s]

Still not sorted this photoimage, i tried to put these two together for comparison but got it wrong. This one is from a OS1940 edition map, the previous is I think more 1970s. so shows quite a bit of the building that taken  place, including the completion of Aspley & Broxtowe estates also the Apollo & Snapewood estates The mini estate I'm on, Meadow Rise, is fitted in between Hemp. Lane, Low wood Rd. & the cemetery.

[Hempshill Lane Bulwell, 'Sankey's Tip' and Fun in the 1960s]

[Hempshill Lane Bulwell, 'Sankey's Tip' and Fun in the 1960s]

I think it was posted on FB by "Nottingham from the Past" but it said it was Hempshill Lane, a comment asked ''was it the darts Team outing? Typically FB took it down next day but I thought DJ360 might have recognised it!

[Hempshill Lane Bulwell, 'Sankey's Tip' and Fun in the 1960s]

Reading all these post makes me feel very much a 'newbie' but the calendar tells me that in two weeks time we will have live just off Hempshill Lane for 35 years so Thanks for the history lesson. I had never heard of the Black Horse before DJ360's post but just this evening whilst catching up on some FB notifications this pic. came up!                                                         

[Nice Prezzy]

Many Thanks everyone for the Good Wishes and Yes we (I) had a very good  birthday & even better Christmas day when our youngest daughter & 2 grandsons joined us for dinner and an extended 'chat' into early evening. Our sons present was a 'video phone' device on the TV so we can see them, this really paid off this afternoon when our elder daughter 'phoned' from the Isle of Wight to show us a picture of our third Great grandchild due to arrive on July 11th. OK it was only a scan but so clear you could almost say 'Hello', but No, GD in Law doesn't want to know till his/her birthday so we'll just have to wait!                                                                                                                                            ( the chair Ben was a present from the wife a couple of years ago, quite comfortable but you need a foot stool if you nod off other wise you can slide out!)