A question for ex-firemen.

[Cuddie Headrigg]

Just been looking at my 'Slow Train to Riccarton' DVD and one of the Hexham crew used the expression "firing off the top of the tender" or something very similar, but I gather it was something he did not like!. Was this exactly as stated or meaning something entirely different, and why would he not like doing this? Please excuse my ignorance.

[bricam5]

I have never heard this particular expression but my assumption would be that the coal at the footplate was so poor that the fireman had to climb onto the tender and move coal forward. This I have done frequently but never had a printable word for the task.

I have done it on tank engines too. Hair raising trip with an A8 on 4-30 am Hull to Stainforth. Climing into the bunker at speed,pitch black, no joke. Pushing coal like mad in order to get back into the cab and fire the bloody thing. Happy days.

[Cuddie Headrigg]

Thanks for that reply, and it would describe what I would think the words meant, if you see what I mean. However, I think he was referring to a class of locomotive. I will have another gander and see what he really said.

Update: A fireman referring to a photograph of NER (?) 4-4-0 9312 said: "It was very uncomfortable - you had to fire of the top of the tender. There was very little room to fire off the bottom plate."

[52D]

9312 was this pre 1946 if so she would be an ex NBR loco the post 1946 4-4-0s were numbered in the 2xxx series.

[Cuddie Headrigg]

9312 was this pre 1946 if so she would be an ex NBR loco the post 1946 4-4-0s were numbered in the 2xxx series.

It could well be - I could not identify it from the encyclopedia pages. I did not think about it being a NBR locomotive.

[52D]

Holmes 633 class (LNER D31) 4-4-0 has a number 9312 look in the Locomotive section of this forum for more info. I dont have my 1923 allocation book with me but i do know they were found at Berwick,Blaydon, Hawick and St Boswells any loco from those sheds could have worked in over the Border counties line. Thinking on Scotsgap or Rothbury could have had one as well. Someone on here please be kind enough to look at the 1923 allocation list. Thanks in advance.

[Boris]

When the MASTER CUTLER first started it was a Darnall turn all the way there and back with an express as well.

At Marylebone, the break time was taken up getting what coal was left in the tender to the front for the return journey.

Didn't give us much time for snap.

Arriving back at Sheffield the last ton was about it.

[bricam5]

Slight thread drift, I know. But I remember a D49 at Botanic, sorry but I can't remember the number it's over 60 years ago. However, the tender was fitted with a large screw handle near the water trough handle and this was supposed to move a false back plate and force coal forward. I could'nt get it to work! I never saw another loco with this modification. If my memory serves, the tender seemed more like a GC one.
Perhaps others may know the history of this type. I fear it may be a short history if my experience was the norm.

[52D]

A coal pusher ive heard of these devices but not seen one.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

I know the LMS Duchess class had a steam operated ram in the tender, as did The Duke (71000) but a screw operated one is a new one on me.