T.V. crews, Missing Children, and partly dressed ladies

The title, far from how it may seem, is a reflection on my week's guarding on the Severn Valley
Monday morning, and things started well, but soon went down hill. The train, a rake of Mk1s, 8 bogies, 275 tons, loco number 7714, all were they should be, at the times they should be there. Unfortunately, the same could not be said about some of our passengers. It was the week between our two forties weekends, and we had several parties of evacuees (school children) on the train. Just before departure time, a message came through, saying I would be delayed, owning to the education department's lessons over running.
The same morning, we had also had a T.V. crew turn up to film a piece on the hottest job's in britain, with our footplate crew. Panniers are not renowned for being the coolest loco's in Britain, so the had the right train! The film crew came with us as far as Bewdley, and had to cross over to the next up train, how ever, the message had not got through to Bewdley, so it was left to me to work quickly, and hold the up train for them.
The rest of Monday passed off without incedent, so to Tuesday.
Things actually went more or less to plan, appart from a DMU on a test train, running late every where and holding us up.
When we got to Bridgnorth, one of the young ladies who works on the railway boarded the train, and in light of the number of people on it, decided to join the guard in the brake. She dumped herself in my seat, and began to complain about the heat, wafting her top about to get some air down there. Eventually, as we approached Hampton Loade off came the top, and she rode the rest of the way to Kidderminster, clad in little more than a bikini.
Perhaps the highlite of Wednesday really belongs in the 'Quick replies' thread. We drew the set out of the carridge sidings, and, as the loco hooked off and started to run round, a gentleman walked allong the platform and enquired as to what loco would be pulling the train.
'7714 sir,' I replied.
'Could you put that in terms us mere mortals can understand?' he said.
So with my normal good humour, pointed at the loco he had just walked past, which was still on the blocks, and replied 'That un'
Thursday, and the heat was starting to cause problems with the slam lock doors. Leaving Arley, the inevitable happened, as we left the platform, someone spotted a door that I would not have been able to see from the van, which was not shut propperly. I just heard a single whistle, which is a stop signal, and brought the train to a stand, how ever, the driver, who had been our fireman for the rest of the week, and was on the first of his practical driving exams, was less than happy.
We now had a different loco, as the exam was for drivign Western Vacuum braked engines, so we now had Bradley Manor.
The morning was never going to be event free, and leaving Bridgnorth, just as we got stuck into Eardington bank, the regulator was closed, and the train began to slow, comming to a stand just sort of the summit. On such a hot, dry day, the inevitable had happened, and the lineside was on fire. There then followed a short pause, while the fireman gave the grass a thorough doseing with the prep pipe. Of course, with the exams done, and the regular driver back on, the rest of the day started to go well.
Finally, Friday, and the day started in it's usuall style, we left Kidder late, a full ten minutes this time although this time, it was not the education department, as they were on the train on time. we had a party on the train from a special school, one of their careers jumped off the train, and ran down the platform. One of the platform staff put me in the picture.
'We are holding you for a few minutes Ian,' he said, 'They have lost one of the children.'
Surprisingly, there was nothing else remarkable about the day, untill the return run from Bridgnorth last thing at night.
We were running right time, and had not had any passengers for Country Park halt either, but the light engine off the other South end train had been passing us at Highley and delaying us all week.
Approaching Highley, I spotted that we had got the road, but was a little perplexed at the lack of a loco in the yard when we arrived.
'Have I got the road?' I checked.
'He's missed his path,' was the reply, 'He's stood at Bewdley, get a shift on'
He was indeed stood at Bewdley, so after a week of trying to recover time through no fault of our own, we were finally in Kidderminster on time, and I was rather glad to get off, and indulge in several pints of cider from the nearest pub!

 

Great stuff, Ian! More of the same, please!

 

Well, you never know, I have a week on the other end of a train later on this month.

 

That sounds like an eventful week! And, the same as porous pot, more of the same please! =D>

 

Situation normal really mate! I will try!

 

Excellent, Ian. You should send stuff like that to the News. The only reason I started writing was that no-one else was doing it. No-one was writing about what it was like to work at the sharp end for a week, or in your case, at the blunt end. Go for it.

Regards,

John

 

I know John, I keep meaning to send them the story of the flood too, but never get round to it.