Loose_Grip/Pete's photos with the keyword: fire

The GCR tried a new event this weekend running trains continuously overnight Saturday to Sunday. I was rostered to sign on at 04.00am on BR Standard 5 4-6-0 73156. We headed the 05.00 Loughborough to Leicester North service . On our return we went on shed where I serviced the loco cleaning the fire & emptying the ashpan. After rebuilding the fire we still had 2 hours before our next train at 09.30. This gave me time for breakfast on the shovel. The bacon had already been cooked & consumed and was followed by sausages. All very tasty & fried in a jiffy.

What could be more welcoming than a warm coal fire on a cold December day? We had a mug of tea in the NAAFI under the road bridge at the GCR's Quorn & Woodhouse station and sat close to this crackling fire. Meanwhile from time to time a steam engine would arrive with its train at the platform outside.

The warm cab of British Railways Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214 as we ran slowly onto our stock in platform 2 at Loughborough on the Great Central Railway.

Sunlight versus firelight on the footplate of British Railways Standard 9F 2-10-0 92214 during prep on shed at Loughborough.

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.

We were on the shed road 2 ash pit at Loughborough while prepping Southern Railway N15 4-6-0 777 Sir Lamiel for the Wartime Weekend. I have posted shots of a steam engine's fire from the footplate before but this shot of the fire is from underneath through the damper door showing the ashpan and firegrate ! Not for the fainthearted... The firebars in the grate are not really aligned in parts & there is a gap on the left. This is to a certain extent the legacy of using Welsh coal which burns very hot & has distorted them. The grate was later replaced with new bars. The curved pipe on the left is actually the hose pipe I had introduced through the damper door & used to damp down the ashes before raking out the pan so no loose abrasive particles get into the bearings, etc.

On the footplate of 70013 Oliver Cromwell heading for Barnetby in Lincolnshire. While speeding along the virtually flat ex-MSLR/Great Central four track main line east of Doncaster, Roger inspects his fire. We finally arrived at Barnetby at 18.03 after a 10 hour journey from Southall in West London. After turning the engine on the triangle via Ulceby it was coaled & watered in the Down Cattle Dock and then stabled for the night at the head of the Cheshireman stock in the Down Sidings.

At speed on the Great Western Railway main line between Slough and Ealing and the only light is from the white hot coals through the partially open firebox door silhouetting the fireman's profile while the driver keeps an eagle eye on the road ahead. Among the many and varied noises as we rushed through the night was the satisfying ring of the AWS bell indicating a clear road ahead. Southern Railway N15 4-6-0 30453 King Arthur is on the Saint George's Day (Sir Lamiel was Welsh) Cathedrals Express steam special returning to Clapham Junction from Stratford upon Avon.

The West Highland line in Scotland has some very gutsy, long gradients. The climb to County Marsh summit from Crianlarich is 7 miles of mainly 1 in 60 & here on the footplate of K1 62005 Neal is working hard on the climb.

Cleaning the fire of K1 2-6-0 62005 on Fort William depot in the evening after it had pulled the Jacobite to Mallaig and back.

Deep in the heart of the machine! Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 46521 is over road 2 pit so we can go underneath to clean out the hopper ashpan of ash & clinker before going off shed.

Bathed in warm light from the firebox, the driver of British Railways Standard 9F 2-10-0 92212 looks out for the guard's flag.

Coupled up, 76084 & 46521.

Any resemblance to the surface of the sun is purely coincidental BR Standard 2-6-0 76084. Leicester North station Great Central Railway

Matt feeds the fire on Beasdale Bank. British Railways/LNER K1 2-6-0 62005.

Fire & mash cans on the footplate of LMS Black 5 4-6-0 45305 . I think this shot sums up the footplate experience. The contrast of darkness & light. Elemental: Earth, fire & water. And tea...