6229 Duchess of Hamilton: a fireman’s tale

The re-streamlined Duchess of Hamilton draws many admirers here. But few, if any, can boast as deep an understanding of Stanier’s masterpiece as the visitor I showed onto its footplate last week. The visitor in question had over 50 years of footplate experience, and his memories brought 6229 back to life.



Climbing onto the footplate was an emotional moment. Tired by the effort of climbing up, he stood staring at the mass of gauges, handles, leavers and wheels.

“Do you want to sit down?” I asked.

“No, no,” he assured me – he was just taking it all in.*It felt strange after so many years to stand where he had stood as a young fireman (and later driver), and he needed a moment to gather his thoughts.

Thoughts gathered, he explained how the ‘mileage’ men hated the streamlined casing. How it rattled, banged and crashed like an ill fitting tin hat, as they raced at 90 miles an hour along the West Coast Main Line. Worse, you could not find leaks, as the boiler was hidden by that damn casing. Why have we put it back?

Not convinced by my explanation, he picks up the fireman’s shovel and laughs. “No man could wheel this for six hours.” The shovel is wrong, too heavy. “These engines were veracious monsters, with an endless need for coal. It was like feeding the fires of hell trying to keep them fed.”

He explained the drivers chose their fireman and then you worked as a team, even taking turns firing: it was the only way the beast could be fed. You carried an extra shovel – your hands were so wet with sweat, the shovel could fly out of your hands into the firebox. It was back-breaking, gut-wrenching work.

So why did he do it?

You got extra money, and there was some pride in working the top services. Only twelve Polmadie drivers, known as ‘mileage men’, were chosen – and you wanted to be one of them. Imagine: you’re just a working bloke, and you’re put in charge of something like this. And paid to do it.

We talked on for another 15 minutes. Then, clearly tired, he climbed down to rejoin his family. I closed up the footplate and returned to my desk, reflecting on the powerful insights first-hand experience throws on this wonderful collection.




Filed under: Rail vehicle collections Tagged: 229, Cornation Scot, Duchess, Streamline, William Stanier

 

Great post.

 

Even more interesting is the driver's opinion of the streamlined casing - nice to see but hell to work with. Perhaps even more a point to remenber when the enthusiast's desires tend to conflict with operational needs as the recent discussion about refitting the German windshields to Flying Scotsman proved.

Reminds me of the advice offered to young men many years ago - rememeber that the model you wish to run and the one you can afford to run may not be the same !

 

History on a plate........

 

I could talk to somebody like that for hours.......

 

Absolultely brilliant.... but you need to get that shovel changed....

 

The comments on the backbreaking nature of the work aren't often heard but are the real truth of the steam age. Although we enthusiasts look on August 11 1968 as the day the world ended, I would guess there were pubs in several places in the UK where the talk and toast of the evening was "Good riddance to the dirty filthy things!"

 

Perhaps an initiative could be started to have these memories recorded either on tape or DVD for playing to future generations.

 

That is a great idea. I feel sad that I didn't think of that years ago. My old bowling captain was an LMS man and retired in the early 1980s. He was based at Barrow but went to Camden during 1944. First engine he ever fired was Duchess of Hamilton and he remembers being openly honest to the driver who was a little fellow, and said that he'd never been on the footplate of one before. The driver just smiled and winked at him and said not to worry. They'd easily get along. Jack learnt so much after just that one run. He remained at Camden until well after the war, had a spell at Crewe before returning to Barrow. So many great stories that he told me and yet I feel bad because I can't remember the dates or locations to many of them.
Another one he told me was being on a 4-4-0 and double heading with a Duchess up out of Euston. He said the noise was indescribable and that he didn't do much firing as the Duchess pushed them. They apparently went like a rocket and they just held on for fear of being bounced off the footplate!