Great Central Railway, Rothley 30th July 2006. The "Mail by Train" Gala. I fired GWR Priarie 4141 with Albert as driver on 2 trips. The first train was the 13.50 Loughborough to Rothley local passenger with a 55 minute lay-over in the up Rothley siding (in the right distance by the white building) followed by the 15.15 TPO empty stock back to Loughborough. The second trip, after another 1 hour lay-over on shed, was the 16.50 minerals train to Rothley with the "Windcutter" rake of wagons. This photograph was taken from the bunker of 4141 after arrival at Rothley while pulling coal down. I had unhooked the engine & we are sitting on the single track by the Up Advanced Starter watching our stock being pulled back to Quorn by 45305 where it will be stabled. We were signalled into the Up siding again to let 48305 on the Leicester to Loughborough passenger train through. After it had cleared the section we ran light engine to Quorn where 45305 was hooked on & we returned to Loughborough both light engine. 4141 had been wheezing all day & on shed the fitters diagnosed piston ring problems. Subsequently leaking superheating elements were also suggested. The picture shows the injector top feed & brass safety valve cover well. The square nuts sticking up on either side are on the clack valves and, when cleaning the brass cover, are ideally placed to burn a perfect square scar on your wrist as they are extremely hot!

These water feeds to a steam boiler were known as clack valves and would allow water in but not let the steam out.

Now you know!