Nocturnal Activities................

My oldest and I were discussing operating steam at night.

Obviously in 'The Old Days' steam operated 24/7 as does the National Network now, however the vast bulk og heritage lines operations are during daylight.

Does the training of train crews and others such as signallers include working at night given that it presents particular challenges.

 

Yes, does for us anyway

 

I've been on plenty of heritage line tours at night. Did a Night Santa Special and a Murder Mystery event many years ago.

 

Try the SVR gala weekend all night service great atmosphere of the 24/7 railways of the past

 

When I worked at Kidderminster on the Diesels there we had a pool of drivers, and secondmen but only a few were passed out for nighttime driving. I seem to recall that it was mainly the guys who drove on the big railway who were passed for it.

 

I woulden't say it's that rare, given how early daylight ceases in December, I doubt anyone has finished their Santa Specials for the day prior to 4PM.

 

I enjoy winter turns for that very reason, I love the sense of chuffing along through the dark with no idea where you are, especially if the driver's going for it with glowing sparks out the chimney!

 

I rather enjoyed 92214 at the start of 2015 at the SVR with the moonlight glinting off the boiler, the glow of the fire and the lovely noise it made up Foley Park bank.... Certainly one of my favorite memories

 

Not unknown to work nights on the NYMR when the Tamper and Regulator are out and about.

 

And evening diners (even during the summer) run into the dark.

 

I've worked plenty of times in the dark. Trouble was spotting the idiots with cameras trying to get their 'mastershot'.....

 

Not often we get to do it at the WHHR but it is vast fun when we do!!!

 

KESR run Pullmans at night, most Saturdays, along with RATs and fish and chip specials. Also Santa specials.
Night work forms part of the training and as footplate crew you have to be available to work evening shifts and I do so quite regularly.

 

Tamper 73214 working at Esk Valley in August 2012 in company with the Ballast Regulator.
The Tamper is never to be seen in action again as it is being reduced to component parts.

 

I have worked one of the 1940's weekend night specials for 16 years, plusa good few others and the odd Gala nigh shift. No training required and a wonderful experience!

 

John Driving 43106, Eardington Bank, 30th June, 2012 by jtx posted Aug 3, 2016 at 8:02 PM

Should have been attached to the reply above. If only I knew what I was doing...

Taken 2359hrs, note position of regulator in the firing shot.

 

I should imagine all footplate crews and guards are trained in after dark operations, as someone said santa's etc are often ran after dark dining trains especially, i can remember on the watercress belle we didnt finish till 1.30 -2 am by time we put the engine to bed you had to learn the railway after dark as part of your training , lamp signals etc, and the footplate at night adds its own problems, look into a white hot fire, then try to loook to see where you are but saying that a cool night with the moon shaddow on the fields, you cant beat it

 

Heritage railway stations after dark with a loco sizzling quietly awaiting the signal are so atmospheric. Its the closest you will get to a time machine transporting you back to the days of yore. I love galas that have a night timetable. Usually 95% of the crowds have gone so it feels so authentic.

 

I have recently completed a night time session as part of my driver training, I think it's in the standard training at a lot of preserved lines.

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