A Spot of Bother


		Here are a few recollections of things not quite going to plan.

		DERAILMENTS: In August 1952, I holidayed at Weymouth, and spent most mornings trainspotting on the embankment which had good views of Weymouth station and overlooked The Jersey Sidings. Pannier tank 7408 was shunting one morning. Then "Clatter, bang, bump", and she was off the road. A couple of hours later, with the help of a breakdown crane, she was back on the road, though she retired to shed, no doubt for an inspection. But the following day she was once again shunting the sidings. About the same time, though I cannot be sure whether it was 1952 or 1953, I witnessed another derailment. One lunchtime, a long freight train was leaving the goods yards at Stourbridge Junction, heading south behind a 7200 class 2-8-2 tank loco. At the points adjacent to the south end of the southbound platform, there was another "Clatter, bang, bump". This time the loco was well entangled in the pointwork, but then I had to return on the 1.28pm "Dodger" to Stourbridge Town, to be back at school by 2pm. The next day, all was in order, and any damage to the pointwork had been repaired.

		FORGOTTEN RAILTOUR: Also in 1953, there was the matter of a forgotten Railtour. To be precise, the S.L.S tour from Birmingham Snow Hill to Swindon to commemorate the passing of the "Saint" class 4-6-0's. I booked as soon as the tour was advertised, then completely forgot all about it. Some months later, well after 2920 Saint David had been withdrawn from service, I came across the ticket.

		LOCO FAILURES IN TRAFFIC: In BR Steam days, I can recall only two instances of a loco failing completely, and being taken off the train. The first was in June 1958 and involved King class no 6011 King James I, whilst working the 8.00am Birmingham Snow Hill to Paddington. At Leamington South, a message was thrown to the signalman. The loco ran satisfactorily to Banbury North, where we stopped and the loco came off and was replaced by 4987 Brockley Hall. The problem with 6011 was believed to be an Injector failure. The second occasion was in July 1959, whilst I was returning from a holiday at Filey. V2 2-6-2 no 60975 was replaced at Gascoigne Wood by LMS 4F 0-6-0 no 44206, which was clearly not in the best of health. We staggered up the grade past Brackenhill Junction, then stopped at Wath Road Junction box to request a fresh engine. What the problem was I do not know. Maybe short of steam, or injector problems. Or maybe a hot axlebox. We got a fresh engine, 44082, at Masborough Sidings, Rotherham, which proved to be an excellent substitute. LOCOS SHORT OF STEAM: I recall two instances where lack of that vital commodity, steam, made it necessary to stop for a blow up. The first was on Saturday 20th July 1957, when 5067 St Fagans Castle, whilst working the 8.00am Manchester to Penzance, was forced to stop at Leebotwood, on the climb to Church Stretton summit. The second occasion was on 16th April 1966, when BR Standard 4MT 4-6-0 no 75020 worked the Pwllheli to Shrewsbury return leg of the Warwickshire Society "Cambrian Farewell" railtour. The loco ran short of steam on the climb to Talerddig, and was forced to stop for a blow up at Llanbrynmair, and again at Talerdigg.

		MORE RECENT TIMES..THE 1980's ONWARDS: The "Main Line Steam" era has had it's fair share of problems. My experiences of failures has almost exclusively involved ex Great Western engines, principally the Kings and Castles, the main problems being hot axleboxes and poor steaming, the latter often as a result of poor coal. Also Southern 4-6-0 no 850 Lord Nelson had occasional injector problems, which rather spoiled an otherwise fine reutation. Then in 1994, Castle class 4-6-0 no 5029 Nunney Castle was to break all the poor running records on the Settle and Carlisle line, totally expiring southbound near Kirkby Stephen through poor steaming, and requiring the help of a Class 47 diesel.

		BUFFER COLLISION: On a more recent railtour, Pathfinder Tours "Bone Breaker" to East Anglia, the tour had to be abandoned at Walton on Naze when the Class 58 "top and tailed" train failed to stop, and hit the buffer stops, albeit at low speed, causing several injuries. Passengers were bussed to Thorpe le Soken, travelling home from there via Liverpool Street on scheduled services.