The excitement of its first ever run in preservation is over and LMS Fowler Jinty 0-6-0T 47406 stands in the Up carriage siding at Rothley. We were due to pull a freight back to Loughborough but it was cancelled so ended up taking the TPO set instead. The safety valves are lifting - so I had built too big a fire then - but a quick dip of the injector cooled it down. It was interesting being the first person to fire this engine. In Loughborough station before leaving on the 09.35 train I built up the fire, big at the back & thin at the front as advised by my driver Cliff who had fired these at Nuneaton in the 1960s. I had 160psi on the gauge, ie red-lining, and started blowing at the safety valves so all seemed fine but as soon as the regulator was opened the pressure started to drop and was down to 140psi before the A6 bridge. This didn't seem good to me but I have spoken to others who have fired 47406 since and they had the same experience. I suppose it probably means that 4 coaches with steam heat on (plus a defective small vacuum ejector) is quite a load for a Jinty. The shed code 16A is Nottingham Midland.

The footplate of left-hand drive LNWR Super D 0-8-0 49395. The engine steamed very freely & with all the stopping & started involved in the photo charter the risk of the safety valves lifting was high. However, the gauge glass is showing half-full leaving plenty of room to top up the boiler & control the blow. Fortunately the injectors were also excellent. The steam gauge is top right but unfortunately the right-hand part is cut out of the shot. It would have shown the needle on 160-165psi, the valves lifted 10 psi light to the boiler rating of 175psi. The other gauge is the steam heat which was not in use. I heard all kinds of horror stories about how difficult Super Ds were to fire but as long as you can avoid hitting the hand brake & water scoop handles with your knuckles it's not actually that bad. The firebox is very similar to the O4's but the firehole is much larger so easier to hit!