My first (UK) loco was a A1 at Kings Cross around about 1958, very impressed by the roaring great fire, and how warm the metal was when you touched the cab handrails, etc and the smell of the coal smoke, I'm back there already.
A cab ride on a South Australian Railways, narrow gauge 2-6-0, coming out of the roundhouse, turning on the turntable, then going of down the line to do some shunting (we got off at the depot exit)
I never cabbed anything. I remember watching as my mates queued up to ask to get on the footplate of various pacifics around 1960/1, but I could never understand why (most of them got a firm NO anyway), so I didn't bother.
I could see most of the insides of the cab area just by looking from the platform, and was happy enough with that.
I have driven one diesel, which was 26026 in Scotland about 25 years ago, and it was quite an experience for someone only used to road vehicles.
A1 60134 Foxhunter 1958 at Leeds Central. It had just arrived on an ex Kings Cross express. The driver let us remain on the footplate whilst he set back the length of platform. There were quite a few of us (spotters) on the footplate and he gave us all a task each, whistle, reverser, drain cocks ect.
Drove Austerity 0-6-0STs on the Longmoor Military Railway on a railway operating course in 1953.
Most memorable - Jan 1968 4472 via the tender on a mystery tour from St Pancras.
Most uncomfortable - on the footplate of a Hall Class loco which was the Banbury pilot deputising for a failed Western from Banbry to Snow HIll in December 1963. The crew were determined to make up time! Verily it has been described as standing on a grand piano which is sliding at speed down a hill.
Deltic - Argyl and Sutherland Highlander ; Cadged a lift with the driver from Kings + to Doncaster while officially riding on the sleeper to Edinburgh. Noisy but exhilarating.
Quite likely an N2 or N7 at Hatfield, with my Pa when young.
Best ever, a Zimbabwe Railways Garratt going up the 1 in 39 Vic Falls escarpment. Seeing the small coal lifted off the shovel blades of the two firemen as they neared the stokehole tells you all you need to know about the work being done. They kept the needle just under the red line all the way up too... (Do Garratt engines stay in phase when running? Not when doing that sort of work, much 'lumpier ' than when running on the level.)
Summer 1949, Number 67189, Class F5, Witham to Maldon East.
Grandfather very probably bribed the driver - I was only three, and cried for most of the trip !
I vaguely remember all being well until we crossed the River Brain ( trestle viaduct ) and the ground just fell away.
I can still remember Grandmother saying "Harold, he is far too young" - to no avail. . .
Regrettably, Grandfather was a bit like that - I was frequently taken on visits or put in situations that would have been unsettling for someone at least ten years older. I cannot fault his enthusiasm and it was all well-meant.
First real cab ride was on No48 unfortunately not DONCASTER but NCB Austerity No48 from Shilbottle Junction to pit head and had to earn my ride by firing up the hill.
Hi interested in the area served by 52D. also researching colliery wagonways from same area.
Belvoir's experience reminded me of my own first encounter with a locomotive. When I was about 4 or 5 years old I was taken along to a BR exhibition - one of those that toured the country in the 1950s, presumably to promote the Modernisation Plan. In Leicester it was held at the old ex-GN Belgrave Road terminus. I remember a line of carriages, some wagons and one or two locomotives at the platform. There was a small diesel shunting loco with a smartly uniformed and friendly railwayman who asked my Dad if I'd like to go onto the footplate. The problem was that its engine was running and, as I got near the cab entrance, the noise gave me a bit of a fright. Despite lots of coaxing and encouragement nothing was going to get me aboard that monster! Nearly put me off diesels for life, it did.
My first cab ride (moving) was on an 8F during a visit to Crewe South mpd, backing down under the water tank.
I think my most memorable cabbings on BR steam are:
If cold cabbings are counted, then Henry Oakley and Co at the old York Museum from about 1958 onwards. My one and only cabbing of a BR loco in steam was an L1 preparing to take off the Bradford portion of a KingsX express at Wakefield Westgate one evening in the early sixties. Might have been 67757 - for some reason I did not mark it in my combined volume.
The last BR footplate ride is one I remember- late afternoon Carnforth Aug 4 1968 on 45156,Ayrshire Yeomanry,from loco depot,then carriage sidings to the station.No ticket, had to blag our way off the station.Must be one of the last unofficial rides on the very last day.A very emotional time,listening to her work away from Carnforth, passing the shed of dead and dying engines oozing their last whisps of steam.It seemed very final. Never thought that I would be firing Blackies and others forty years on!,
The first one was something Black working Middlesbrough to Whitby, summer 1957, the driver was a friendly bloke , well he was my grandfather after all. Memories ........ sandwich wrapped in an old bread wrapper and Tea and sugar in twists of paper, sometimes as treat bacon done on the shovel,Black as the ace of spades when I got home eight hours later, what a summer that was did quiet a few trips not bad for a five year old.
First drive....29 at the NYMR about 2000, a footplate experience course.
Oliver Cromwell was the first for me at Bressingham in the late 70's when I was about 5.
manna wrote:A cab ride on a South Australian Railways, narrow gauge 2-6-0, coming out of the roundhouse, turning on the turntable, then going of down the line to do some shunting (we got off at the depot exit)
I'm guessing that was a Y class was the turntable triple gauge?
