Also see Jim Irwin's Gloucestershire Railway Memories 'Gloucester Horton Road Fireman - 1966'
1966
JANUARY 1966
Though Horton Road's own steam allocation was now all withdrawn, steam locos continued to arrive in Gloucester on workings from Birmingham via both Ashchurch and Honeybourne and possibly off other routes as well. Steam still got beyond Gloucester to Bristol, Swindon and South Wales often with Horton Road crews.
Saturday, 1st January 1966 I booked on duty at 12.01am with my driver and walked to Central station enginemen’s waiting room for instructions from Area Traffic Control. After a long wait they told us to report to Horton Road shed for another long wait without a job and we then booked off duty at 9.15am.
Sunday, on duty at 2.00am with driver K.Townsend to prepare 'Black 5' 45038 of 2A Tyseley, and travel light to Barnwood yard for a loaded ballast train bound for Oxley yard, Wolverhampton and work this to Worcester. The engine performed well and was in good condition. Oxley men relieved us and with no back working, we walked to Worcester Shrub Hill to catch the next passenger train back to Gloucester Eastgate , then walked to the shed, and booked off duty at 11.10am.
Monday, 3rd January I booked on duty at 8.00pm with driver K.Townsend and then walked to Central station enginemen’s waiting room to await instructions from Area Traffic Control. A long night as no work was available and we walked back to the shed to book off duty at 4.00am.
Tuesday, I booked on at 8.00pm with driver K.Townsend. We were given a job to relieve Cardiff Canton men in Central station on a Cardiff Tidal Sidings to Stourbridge Junction semi fitted mixed freight. The train had D1699 of 82A and we worked to Worcester where Stourbridge Junction men relieved us. Our back working, a Stourbridge Junction to Cardiff Tidal Sidings semi fitted mixed freight arrived behind D1641 of 87E with a Stourbridge crew. We worked this train to Gloucester Central where Cardiff Canton men relieved us and then walked back to Horton Road to book off duty at 4.00am.
Wednesday, on at 8.00pm with driver K.Townsend. Another long night as no work was available at the station so we returned to shed where we were given a job to prepare for service 'Black 5' 45434 of 5B Crewe South and then booked off duty at 4.00am.
Thursday, booked on at 8.00pm with driver K.Townsend and to Central station for a Pengam to Edge Hill, Liverpool fully fitted express freight with D1645 of 87E. We worked this as far as Stourbridge Junction yard where Oxley men relieved us. With no back working, we walked to Stourbridge Junction to catch a train to Worcester Shrub Hill, then a second on to Gloucester Eastgate and walked back to the shed to book off at 4.40am.
Friday, we went to Central station and then Gloucester South Junction to relieve Bristol men on a Stoke Gifford to Washwood Heath semi fitted mixed freight hauled by D1658. We worked this to its destination and travelled light to Saltley shed. We walked to Vauxhall & Duddeston for a passenger train to New Street and then another to Gloucester Eastgate before booking off duty at 4.30am.
I noted on Horton Road shed in steam was B1 61058 of 40B Immingham, Grimsby and BR Standard 4MT 76058 of 70D Eastleigh displaying Southern Region headboard discs.
Saturday, on duty at 8.00pm with driver W.Nelmes and we were given a job to relieve Canton men in Central station on a Cardiff Tidal Sidings to Stourbridge Junction semi fitted mixed freight . The train had D1925 of 82A which we worked to Worcester where Stourbridge Junction men relieved us. Area Traffic Control told us there was no back working so we travelled as passengers from Worcester Shrub Hill to Gloucester Eastgate before walking to the shed to book off duty at 5.50am.
Monday, 10th January I booked on duty at 6.18am with driver D.Charlett for our rostered job to prepare for service D3991 and travel light engine to Cheltenham St, James yard. On arrival, we carried out various shunting duties and then to the sidings at Malvern Road and up the Midland main line to Cheltenham High Street yard. We then returned and made up a freight in St James yard bound for Gloucester New Yard. On arrival, we ran light engine to Horton Road shed to book off duty at 3.10pm.
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, the same duty and driver with D4168.
Sunday, I booked on at 6.35am with driver R.Langford and walked to Gloucester South Junction for our rostered job a Stoke Gifford to Washwood Heath semi fitted mixed freight with D1925. We worked the train to its destination and then travelled light to Saltley shed. Engines I noted on Saltley shed today were D6809 of 41A Tinsley, D5266 of 16C Derby, D5286 of 2E Saltley and 'Peak' D8 'Penyghent' of 16A Toton.
There was no back working so we used the shuttle bus from the shed to New Street station then caught the next train to Gloucester Eastgate and walked to the shed to book off duty at 5.00pm.
Monday, 17th January I booked on duty at 3.15pm and walked to High Orchard freight yard in the docks to act as second man to driver R.Pulham on D2126. We carried out various shunting duties in and around the docks sidings and then made up the train for our return journey to Gloucester New Yard. We crossed Bristol Road running adjacent to the City Park before joining the main line just before Barton Street crossing gates and on via Eastgate yard to New Yard. After arrival, we ran light to Horton Road shed. I then walked to the nearby Mileage yard to act as second man with driver H.Northfield on D3994.We worked a transfer freight to Barnwood yard and then ran light to shed and booked off duty at 11.35pm.
Wednesday and Thursday I was on the same duties. Additionally on Thursday I prepared for service 8F 48270 of 16C and booked off duty at midnight.
Friday, I started off on the docks job with D2126. After returning to shed, the foreman gave me another job from Eastgate station with driver R.Lee on a Swindon to Cheltenham Lansdown passenger train. Lansdown was now the only station in Cheltenham as St James and Malvern Road had closed at the end of 1965. We relieved Horton Road men on D7050 of 82A with its steam heating boiler working. We worked this train to Lansdown and then travelled to High Street sidings to run round the coaches and return to Lansdown station to collect passengers for this Cheltenham to Swindon local train with the engine boiler switched on to keep the coaches heated. We worked this train to Gloucester Eastgate and then walked back to Horton Road to book off duty at 1.00am.
Saturday, I booked on duty at 3.47pm with driver A. Howe for our rostered job a Llandarcy to Rowley Regis loaded oil tank train. On arrival at Central station, we relieved Canton men on two Type 3’s: D6991 and D6994 both of 86A with me acting as second man as far as Worcester yard where Worcester men relieved us.
Our back working was an Edge Hill, Liverpool to Stoke Gifford express freight that arrived behind BR Standard 7MT 'Britannia' 70051 'Firth of Forth' of 2D Banbury. Unfortunately, when we climbed onto the footplate to relieve Oxley men there was insufficient coal in the tender to work the train to Gloucester and there were no longer coaling facilities at Worcester much to my disappointment. The engine was therefore uncoupled and returned light engine to Oxley.
We had to wait for Worcester men to bring 'Hymek' D7062 of 81A from the shed and coupled up to the train, which we worked to Gloucester South Junction. Bristol Bath Road men relieved us and we walked to the shed, and booked off at 11.47pm.
Monday,24th January I booked on duty at 4.15am with driver C.Cripps and prepared for service 48320 of 5E Nuneaton to run light engine north via the Lickey Incline and the Camp Hill line to Saltley shed. After stabling the engine there, we reported to the shed foreman who told us that there was no back working. I noted on shed were two BRCW Type 3’s: D6546 and D6549 both of 70D Eastleigh, two English Electric Type 4’s: D379 of 1B Camden and D320 of 1E Bletchley, Brush Type 4 D1843 of 5A Crewe North and Sulzer Type 2 D7597 of 15A Leicester . We walked to Vauxhall & Duddeston for a passenger train to New Street and a second train to Gloucester Eastgate to book off duty at 2.00pm on the shed.
Tuesday, booked on at 4.15am and the foreman gave me a job with driver W.Hooper to walk to Eastgate station to await a Paddington to Cheltenham Lansdown express. We relieved Old Oak Common men on 'Western' Type 4 D1003 'Western Pioneer' of 84A Laira and worked this to Cheltenham where I shut down the steam heating boiler. We then travelled to High Street carriage sidings where we ran round the train ready for our return. I had trouble getting the steam boiler to work again. A fitter summoned from Horton Road shed fixed the problem by resetting the stack switch. We then ran into Landown station at and worked this Paddington express to Gloucester Eastgate where top link Horton Road men relieved us. We walked back to the shed and booked off duty at 1.00pm.
Wednesday, on at 4.15am and the foreman gave me a job with driver J.Smith to prepare D4168 and run light to New Yard. We worked various trip and local freight workings to the following destinations: Over Yard Docks Branch Sidings, Eastgate yard and Barnwood yard with me acting as second man. We then ran light back to hed. Our next job was to prepare 8F 48270 of 16C and then book off duty at 12.15pm.
Thursday, booked on at 4.15am and the foreman gave me a job with driver H.James to prepare Black 5 45430 of 2J Aston and run light from the shed to Barnwood yard. we coupled up there to a loaded ballast train that had originated from Lydney and was bound for Worcester where reballasting work was to take place. The engine was in poor condition but steamed okay and Worcester men at the yard relieved us. We walked to the enginemen’s cabin to be given a back working, a Branston to East Usk loaded coal train. This arrived behind D1728 of 87E and we relieved Saltley men in the cab. We worked this train to Gloucester Central station where Severn Tunnel Junction men relieved us and booked off duty on the shed at 3.20pm.
Friday, on duty at 4.15am with driver D.Cadmore for our rostered job to prepare D9527 of 82A and run to New Yard for a Lydney mixed freight. We worked this train stopping at Over Yard Docks Branch Sidings to deliver and collect wagons before travelling down the main line to Lydney where we shunted the yard and made up our return train for Gloucester New Yard. We ran back up the main line stopping at Docks Branch Sidings to collect and deliver wagons before setting off to New Yard and ran light engine to Horton Road and booked off at 11.30am.
Sunday, on duty at 6.00am with driver F. Jeffries on shed duties based at the coaling stage cabin. These duties included keeping boilers filled with water, turning engines on the turntable as required and driving steam engines into the shed after fire cleaning and coaling. Although the shed no longer had an allocation of steam engines, quite a lot of Midland ones came on shed for servicing and this continued for a number of months. I booked off duty at 2.00pm.
Monday, 31st January I booked on duty with driver T.Rue and walked to Central station where Area Traffic Control gave us a job to walk to Gloucester South Junction for a Washwood Heath mixed freight bound for Stoke Gifford. We relieved Horton Road men on D1730 of 86A and worked this train to its destination and then ran light to Bath Road depot. There was no back working so we travelled as passengers to Gloucester Eastgate station and booked off duty 11.30 pm.
FEBRUARY 1966
Tuesday, 1st February,on duty at 1.30pm and was given the job to prepare 48556 of 2F Bescot and also moved a few steam engines around the shed yard before booking off duty at 9.30pm.
Wednesday, I booked on at 2.00pm with driver T.Rue and walked to Central station where Canton men were booked to relieve a Saltley crew on a Washwood Heath to Severn Tunnel Junction mixed freight. However, they were expecting a diesel to be on the train and as it was approaching the station, it was obviously a steam engine. At this point, they refused to take the train forward stating they were diesel only men dressed in their smart green uniforms and were going to return to Cardiff on a passenger train. After a short period of activity, the matter was referred to Area Traffic Control and the hatch in the enginemen's waiting room dropped stating that Horton Road men had the job, which was now waiting on the centre tracks. We relieved the Saltley men on 8F 48220 of 2E Saltley and worked this train to its destination where we were uncoupled at the hump yard and ran light to Severn Tunnel Junction shed. The engine steamed well and was in good condition.
I noted today on Severn Tunnel Junction shed BR 3MT 82005 of 6F Machynlleth, ex Southern S15 30839 of 70B Feltham and 8F 48732 of 2D Banbury all en route to South Wales scrap yards.
We reported to the shed foreman who told us there was no back working so we walked to Severn Tunnel Junction station and caught the next passenger train back to Gloucester Central and to the shed to book off duty at 1.00am.
I noted on Horton Road shed B1 61173 of 56A Wakefield and ex Southern engines - 'Merchant Navy' 35019 formerly 'French line CGT' of 70A Nine Elms and Bulleid Q1 33026 of 70B Feltham both awaiting their trip to South Wales for scrapping. Also, shed favourite 7029 'Clun Castle' had been prepared and was in steam ready to leave Horton Road shed for the last time bound for Tyseley shed, Birmingham and an extended life in preservation.
Thursday, on duty at 2.00pm with driver W.Wren and Area Traffic Control gave us a job to walk to Gloucester South Junction for a Washwood Heath mixed freight bound for Stoke Gifford. We relieved Horton Road men on D1696 of 81A and worked this train to its destination and then ran light to Bath Road diesel depot. I noted on the depot D1911 of 86A and D9517 of 82A. There was no back working so we traveled back as passengers to Gloucester and booked off duty 11.30 pm.
Friday, on at 2.00pm with driver T.Rue and Area traffic Control gave us a job from Gloucester South Junction, a Stoke Gifford to Carlisle fully fitted express freight behind BR 9F 92139 of 2E and we relieved Horton Road men on the footplate. We worked this to Worcester where Oxley men relieved us with the engine steaming well and in good condition. We walked to the yard enginemen’s cabin for our back working a Stourbridge Junction to Cardiff Tidal Sidings mixed freight which arrived behind D1680 of 86A, which we worked to Gloucester Central where Cardiff Canton men relieved us. We walked to the shed to book off duty at 11.00pm.
Saturday, on duty at 1.00pm with driver J.Cambridge for our rostered job to prepare 8F 48700 of 16F Burton on Trent and then travel light to Central station. We awaited the arrival of a Barry to Oldbury, Birmingham freight that arrived behind an English Electric Type 3. We changed engines at the head of the train, which was a full load and meant a lot of hard work for me with the shovel due to the weight of the train. We worked as far as Worcester yard with an engine that was in good condition and steamed well. On arrival, Worcester men relieved us and we walked to the enginemen’s yard cabin to await the arrival of our back working, a Branston to East Usk loose coupled coal train. We relieved Stourbridge Junction men on 8F 48522 of 2F Bescot and worked this train to Gloucester Central station. We were relieved by Horton Road men and walked back to the shed to book off duty at 9.00pm. The engine performed well and was in good condition.
Tuesday, 8th February I booked on duty at 8.00am with driver J.Lee and walked to Central station enginemen’s waiting room to await instructions from Area Traffic Control. No work was forthcoming so I spent a boring day and walked back to Horton Road shed to book off duty at 3.30pm.
Wednesday, I booked on at 8.00am with driver J.Lee to await instructions from Area Traffic Control. We were given a job to relieve Newport Ebbw Junction men in Central station on a Llanwern Steel Works to Frodingham Steel Works, Scunthorpe steel rod freight train. This arrived hauled by D1881 of 41A Tinsley, Sheffield and worked the train with me as second man via the Lickey Incline and Camp Hill to be relieved by Saltley men a short distance from Saltley shed.
I noted on the shed B1 61302 of 40E Colwick and 8F 48728 of 16F Rowsley. Also D1807 of 16A, BRCW Type 2 D5385 of 14B Cricklewood, Sulzer Type 2 D7544 of 16A Toton and Brush Type 2 D5692 of 41A .
We reported to the shed foreman who told us there was no back working so we walked to Vauxhall & Duddeston to catch a passenger train to Birmingham New Street station and then an express to Gloucester Eastgate to book off duty at 5.00pm.
Thursday, on duty at 6.18am with driver J.Smith for our rostered job to prepare for service D 4168 and travel light engine to Cheltenham St James yard with me acting as second man. On arrival, we carried out various shunting duties and then onto the sidings at Cheltenham Malvern Road and up the ex Midland main line to Cheltenham High Street yard. We then returned and made up a freight train in St James yard bound for Gloucester New Yard. We then ran light to shed and booked off duty at 2.24pm.
Friday, I booked on duty at 8.00am with driver J.Lee and walked to Central station enginemen’s waiting room to await instructions from Area Traffic Control. No work was forthcoming so I spent a boring day and then walked back to Horton Road shed to book off duty at 4.00pm.
Saturday, on at 5.50am with driver D.Philips to prepare for service D9521 and then travel light engine to New Yard for the Cinderford freight down the main line as far as Over Yard Docks Branch Aidings to deliver and collect wagons before continuing on to Bullo Pill Junction. We shunted the yard there before carrying on up the branch line to Cinderford where we shunted the yard, made up our return train, and set off back down the branch towards the main line. We also stopped at Bilston Junction to shunt some more wagons before travelling on to Bullo Pill Junction where we collected some more wagons. We then set off up the main line and stopped at Over Yard to collect more wagons and then on to Gloucester New Yard. We uncoupled and ran light to the shed and booked off duty at 12.30pm.
Sunday, I booked on duty at 10.30am with driver W.Nelmes for our rostered job a Washwood Heath to Bristol West Depot freight, which was not running. With no work available, a long day was spent awaiting instructions in the shed enginemen’s mess room and we booked off duty at 6.00pm.
Monday, 14th February I booked on duty at 12.35pm with driver K.Townsend and walked to Gloucester South Junction for our rostered job a Stoke Gifford to Washwood Heath mixed freight with D1901 of 86A. We relieved Bath Road men, working this train to its destinatioh and then travelled light to Saltley. There was no back working and the shed foreman told us to travel home in the guard's van of a Burton on Trent to Bristol express freight, a beer train! We did so, travelling as far as Gloucester South Junction before walking back to Horton Road and booking off at 9.30pm.
Tuesday, I booked on at 4.15pm and walked to Eastgate station coach sidings to relieve a fireman in the oil fired steam generator coach. This coach was mainly used for training purposes but was attached to a long line of coaches with the steam heating pipes connected. It had a Spanner type boiler similar to those fitted on the 'Western' diesel hydraulics. After running it for part of my shift, it cut out and I reported to the Horton Road foreman that the boiler would not relight. Another fireman who relieved me told me a fitter from the shed was on his way to sort out the problem. Luckily, it was not a cold night so the coaches did not freeze up and I walked back to Horton Road shed and booked off duty at 1.00am.
Wednesday, on duty at 4.00pm with driver K.Townsend and Area Traffic Control gave us a job to walk to Gloucester South Junction for a Stoke Gifford to Oldbury, Birmingham mixed freight which arrived behind 9F 92137 of 2E. We relieved Horton Road men on the footplate working this train to Stourbridge Junction yard where we were relieved by Stourbridge Junction men. The engine was suffering from a dirty fire and did not steam particularly well. After reporting to Area Traffic Control they told us there was no back working so we had to travel back in the guard's van of the next freight going our way. The guard wasn’t particularly happy to share his van with us on this loose coupled empty coal train and the van was knocked about quite a bit by the other wagons. We left it at Gloucester Central station and walked back to the shed to book off duty at 2.40am.
Thursday, on duty at 4.00pm with driver F.Rigby and walked to Central station, then to Gloucester South Junction for a Stoke Gifford to Stourbridge Junction semi fitted mixed freight with 8F 48517 of 2F Bescot. The engine was in good condition and steamed well.We relieved Horton Road men on the footplate and worked to Worcester yard where Worcester men relieved us. There was no back working so we walked to Worcester Shrub Hill to catch the next train back to Gloucester Eastgate and then walked to the shed to book off dat 2.40am.
Friday, booked on at 2.40pm with driver C.Cripps and walked to Central station for our rostered job a Cardiff Tidal Sidings to Washwood Heath mixed freight with D1722 of 82A. We worked this train to its destination with me acting as second man and then travelled light engine to Saltley shed. With no back working, we walked to Vauxhall and Duddeston station to catch a local service to New Street station and then an express passenger from to Gloucester Eastgate . We booked off duty on the shed at 10.30pm.
Monday, 21st February I booked on duty at 3.20am with Driver W.Nelmes for our rostered job to prepare 48264 of 5E Nuneaton and then off shed light engine to Cheltenham High Street yard where we coupled up to a loaded ballast train bound for Oxley, Wolverhampton. We worked this to Worcester where Oxley men relieved us. The engine was in good condition and steamed well. Our back working, a Stourbridge Junction to Cardiff Tidal Sidings freight, had D1595 of 86A. We relieved Worcester men and worked to Gloucester Central where we were relieved by Canton men, then walked back to shed and booked off at 11.00am.
Tuesday, I booked on at 3.40am with driver R. Basset and walked to Central station carriage sidings to a Swindon cross-country three car DMU where the driver prepared the unit for service with me acting as second man. Once the engines were checked we ran into Central station and formed a stopping train to Cardiff General calling at all open stations, these being Lydney, Chepstow, Caldicot, Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport High Street. On arrival at Cardiff General we ran empty to nearby Canton carriage sidings and then walked back to the station to catch the next train back to Gloucester as passengers before walking to Horton Road and booked off duty at 11.20am.
Wednesday and Thursday, on the same duty at 3.40am with driver R. Basset.
Friday was my rest day but I went to the shed to hand in my notice to terminate my railway employment by giving 1 weeks’ notice and would finish on the 1St March 1966 as I was entitled to some rest days. My only regret, when looking back, is that I wish I had applied to become a fireman at Weymouth shed as there were vacancies at the time and I could have spent another year and four months or so working on steam engines in the form of Bullied Pacifics and BR Standards that ran until July 1967.
Saturday was the same duty as Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Sunday, I booked on duty at 4.50am with driver D.Keay and then travelled in a mini bus to Berkeley Road on the Bristol main line to relieve Horton Road men on D3994. The engine was moving loaded ballast wagons as instructed by the permanent way gang and used to reballast the main line. Horton Road men relieved us and we travelled back to the shed in the mini bus and booked off duty at 12.50pm. I noted on the shed today B1 61035 named 'Pronghorn' of 50A York and ex WD Austerity 90684 of 56A Wakefield.
Monday, 28th February I booked on duty at 6.30pm with driver E.Morgan and walked to Eastgate station for our rostered job a Newcastle to Bristol Temple Meads express passenger. On arrival, we relieved Derby men on D29 of 55A Leeds Holbeck with the steam generator low on water so I quickly used the water column on Eastgate station to top up. As a result, I ended up getting rather wet. I shut down the Stone type generator when we were on the outskirts of Bristol. At Temple Meads we ran light to Bath Road depot. There was no back working so we walked to the station across the running lines to catch the next train to Gloucester Eastgate travelling as passengers. We then waited in the station enginemen’s cabin for our next rostered job a Derby to Temple Meads parcels train. We relieved Horton Road men on D7008 of 82A . Again working as second man, I shut down the Spanner Supreme type steam heating boiler. At Temple Meads we ran light engine to Bath Road depot. With no back working, we caught the next train to Gloucester as passengers. We then walked to the shed to book off duty at 4.30am.
MARCH 1966
Tuesday,1st March I booked on duty at 6.30pm and awaited instructions in the shed enginemen’s mess room. There was no work available so a long boring shift followed for my last day working as a fireman and booked off duty at 2.00am.
Thursday, 3rd March 1966,I walked to Horton Road from home for the last time to return my railway uniform including my grease top cap.
I noted that it was still possible to see working steam engines visiting Gloucester for a few more months in the form of 8Fs, Black 5s and the occasional BR Standard 9F otherwise all services were in the hands of diesels.
I have continued my interest in railways and have visited most of the UK's preserved lines to enjoy the sights and sounds of working steam engines. However, these railways' locos are not the same as the machines I worked on when engines were generally in poor condition and the facilities neglected in preparation for the change to diesel, electric traction and unitised trains of future years.
My thanks go to my nephew Andrew Reeve who encouraged me to bring my memories into a single form many years ago from the diaries I kept in the 1960s and assembled the content into a computer based format for future reference as an historical document.
THE END