'vanman's stew'

[hq1hitchin]

We all know about breakfasts 'fried on the shovel' and so forth but what about this gourmet's delight a la Stratford Accident Vans (thats a breakdown train in GE speak). Evidently a speciality of the house, according to Peter Robinson who was one of the last foremen, but bear in mind this was catering on a largish scale and prepared in the riding van of that famous train.

Tins of vegatables, any kind really but mixed veg would be good
Tins of soup, whatever is going handy
Tins of meat,ditto
Loaves of bread

Tip vegetables into a large saucepan and add the soup. Heat and stir slowly. Then cube the meat - Spam or corned beef, whatever. Add the meat to the saucepan and continue stirring slowly until thoroughly heated, season to taste. Slice the bread into doorsteps and then serve to the gang and any other chosen few who were out on the breakdown.

Wonderful!

Sad to think there's nothing left of where the train used to be stabled - it was their proud boast that they could always be off the shed within an hour. Robbo has written a little book 'From Steam to Stratford' which is a good read if you can get hold of a copy.

[Bryan]

For a number of years the P Way gang on the NYMR used the Gresley Departmental converted brake coach as a tool van and mess coach.
At some point it acquired an AGA type stove. It is still installed but out of use currently.
Can anyone say if this is unique?
Anyway the designated cooks / chefs produced some great meals for the then exorbitant price of £1 (mid 80s) for a 2 course hot lunch in the middle of February in Newtondale in 2 foot of snow. For up to 20 men.
Generally a stew but it depended on what was on offer at ASDA.
Once the cook got a bit carried away plate warming and the stew boiled in the dish.
Another time Mince pies and custard Ok. no problem, only he forgot to take them out of the plastic wrapped box first.
Happy times
pass the alka saltzers.

[Solario]

I occasionally helped out on the NYMR P way in the 80s and remember those meals very well - they were excellent.

One of the chefs was called Brian/Bryan and he was also a crane driver.

[60041]

When I was a driver on the North Tyneside Railway, we used to experiment with different, and increasingly bizarre, ways of cooking lunch. The shovel fried sausages bacon and eggs were always popular, but one fireman tried boil-in-the-bag curries cooked in the smokebox with varying success (the bags sometimes melted) but a victoria sponge cake was perfectly cooked - if a little gritty!

[richard]

I would think a smokebox could produce some good jacket potatoes, if wrapped in foil?



Richard

[stembok]

When Bill Hoole was on the pilots at King's Cross Goods pre-war they would be given a part sack of potatoes and place them in the smoke box, leaving them to cook for their meal break. Bit of salt and pepper and there was your hot meal. One of the perks for King's Cross men on the up and down Tees -Tyne Pullman in the 1950s was the coffee and cakes provided, by the Pullman people, either through the corridor tender if the engine had one, or at York on the down journey. While on the LMR the Crewe men on the Fleetwood - London afternoon fish would often be given a parcel of fish fillets to take home .There were loads of these 'perks' on the railways in by-gone days. My great uncle, a ganger on the ECML, would regularly swap rabbits or pigeons for coal dropped/kicked off by his lineside cottage by a Stockton driver in the 1920s.

[Solario]

One of the perks of guarding the NYMR Pullman in the 80s was a very good meal at the end of duty - you had to be careful not to be roped in for washing up though.

In those days, the train ran from Pickering, through to Grosmont and then on the return leg paused at Goathland for the main course to be served. One evening, the Goathland signalman came on board looking for grub; I was unaware of this, and at the appropriate time, noting that the road was set, I gave the driver the green light, a minute later there was the sound of boots running down the train in my direction and of course it was the signalman. I duly stopped the train; he would have had quite a long walk back, I expect that it was worth his while though.