Hard Working Steam..Classes 1 and 2

I have a great affinity for small engines. In the 1950's and early 1960's, it was always a pleasure to travel down a branch line. And I did so quite often. And I also sought out those trains that operated on the main line that were worked by the smaller, and usually older, locomotives.

WEBB LNW 0-6-2 COAL TANK..58903: So I will start in 1954, on the S.L.S Birmingham New Street Centenary Tour on 1st June 1954. The train was hauled by Webb Coal tank no 58903, and it's itinerary included the line from Old Hill, through Halesowen, over Dowery Dell viaduct, and through the Austin Motor works yards. This was my "home" line, which I could see from my bedroom window. And this was the only occasion I ever travelled on it. We were booked to take 3 minutes for the 1 mile 70 chains from Halesowen to Hunnington, pass to pass. A somewhat unrealistic schedule given that it is a 1 in 60 upgrade most of the way. In fact we took 7 minutes from a standing start at Halesowen. The engine was working hard, but was struggling to hold about 15 mph. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

IVATT 2MT 2-6-2T..Why these splendid engines were rated as class 2 rather than class 3, I will never know. In 1955, I had several runs on them. On 9th March, 41279 took me from Birmingham New Street to Rugeley and back. And the loco sailed up the grades to Hednesford with it's 2 coaches. In November 1955, I had 41285 from Leamington Spa Avenue to Rugby, and we reached 62 mph near Marton. But the best was on 2nd September 1958 on the Otter Valley line. From Tipton St Johns, 41318 roared away 4 minutes late with 3 coaches, one of which was the through Exmouth Coach off the Atlantic Coast Express. First stop was Newton Poppleford, and the restart towards East Budleigh was a crescendo of sound. In 2.4 miles, we were up to 62 mph. This continued on to Budleigh Salterton, and to the summit beyond. Tremendous! I continued from Exmouth on to Exeter Central with another member of the class, 41306, but the running was modest by comparison..

9000 DUKEDOG 4-4-0 no 9021..29th August 1957. A trip from Penychain (Butlins Camp) to Towyn on the Pwllheli portion of the "Cambrian Coast Express". With a 5 coach load, the loco ran nicely and kept time throughout. No trouble on the steep gradient from Fairbourne. Excellent!

M7 0-4-4T..13th July 1955, and I was destined to have three M7 runs in quick succession. 30676 on the 4.45pm Exeter Central to Exmouth, 30023 from Tipton St Johns to Sidmouth Junction on the 5.45pm from Sidmouth. And 30671 from Sidmouth Junction to Exeter Central on the 6.38pm from Honiton. Top speeds were in the mid fifties on each run. An entertaining 2 hours or so. On 4th July 1956, I travelled from Brockenhurst, via Wimborne, to Bournemouth West on the 2.08pm service with 30040, with the loco propelling. Finally, on Sunday 2nd September 1962, 30024 and 30025 double headed the Southern Counties Touring Society "South Western Railtour, comprising 7 coaches, from Sidmouth Junction to Budleigh Salterton, Exmouth, and Exeter Central. And that was, for me, the end of the M7's. Or so I thought.

0415 ADAMS 4-4-2T no 30583..On Sunday 24th July 1955, I travelled behind 30583 on it's "home patch", the Lyme Regis Branch. From Axminster I caught the 1.00pm service, and returned from Lyme Regis at 2.50pm. The maximum speed was 38 mph in the outward direction after Combpyne.

CLASS H 0-4-4T no 31193..On Sunday 1st April 1956, I caught the 6.11pm Tonbridge to Sevenoaks, 31193 on 1 saloon coach and a van. We maintained a steady 30 mph up the grade to Sevenoaks tunnel, and just kept the 15 minute booking (well, a few seconds over)

1600 CLASS 0-6-0 PT no 1630: On Thursday 5th August 1954, I had my only journeys over the Severn Bridge on the Lydney to Berkeley Road line. The return journey from Berkeley Road was delayed by 33 minutes awaiting a connection from Gloucester. But in order to ensure that certain passengers were able to get to Lydney in time to catch the 4 O'clock bus to Cinderford, 1630's driver ran hard, very hard in fact, and pulled back 5 minutes. And so the bus connection was just made.

1400 CLASS 0-4-2T: Apart from the hundreds of times I travelled from Stourbridge Town to Junction with 1414, 1438, or 1458 during my school lunchbreaks between 1950 and 1955, my runs behind this class were relatively few. On 5th August 1954, during a tour of branch lines in the Forest of Dean area, I got 1445 from Ross on Wye to Monmouth Troy, and later in the day, 1401 from Cinderford to Gloucester Central. On 4th August 1957, I had 1452 on the 2 coach 10.05am Paignton to Newton Abbot.

Subsequently my only other 14xx experience was on the S.L.S "Restored Locomotives Cavalcade" tour of 19th September 1965, when 1420 worked with 4555 from Worcester to Alveley Colliery, Wolverhampton, and back to Worcester.

Above Left: Sidmouth Junction 1955 with M7 in the headshunt. Above Right: Adams Class 0415 at Sheffield Park, Bluebell Rly.