Loose_Grip/Pete's photos with the keyword: 2-6-4T

Another episode in the long-running "The Romance of Steam" series! Those purple/blue flames tell the story of BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T 80080's fire. It was well and truly clinkered across the back of the grate and although this didn't actually cause any problems out on the line we did run shy of steam pressure. Now back on shed I had to try and clean it off the bars. It didn't help that the 80080 locomotive owners had decreed that the grate shouldn't be rocked as it wasn't fitted with an ashpan spray. After pushing the live fire forwards I set to with the bent dart and pricker to clear the back while trying not to damage the finger bars. Not an easy job but as you can just make out they are coming clean - I took this shot during a well-needed break in the activities. I then had to rake the live fire back again to cover the grate and have a go at the front bars which fortunately weren't too bad. When this was done I still had the smokebox to empty but as we were not on the pit at least I didn't have the ashpan to clean. A real labour of love.

Back on shed at Loughborough locos occupied both pits so 2-6-4T 80080 was stabled under the bridge on road 2 - at least it was dry for the disposal. The fire was well and truly clinkered across the back and although this didn't actually cause any problems out on the line we ran shy of pressure. Now I had to try and clean it off the bars. The 80080 owners had decreed that the grate shouldn't be rocked as it wasn't fitted with an ashpan spray which didn't help. Alongside is Standard 2 2-6-0 78018.

Inside Barrow Hill Roundhouse with the sun streaming through the hanging smoke from a variety of LMS engines but not from LT&S 3-cylinder 2-6-4T 2500.