Jim lived in Cheltenham and grew up seeing trains pass his house adjacent to the Kingham line as well as seeing trains from his school playground alongside the busy Cheltenham – Gloucester main line.
'As young firemen we were thrown in at the deep end at Gloucester.'
In February 1962 aged 15 I joined British Railways as an Engine Cleaner at Gloucester Horton Road loco sheds, shed code 85B. On Saturdays I would ride the footplate with Horton Road crews on London trains as far as Swindon. After a year mainly working as an office boy I passed for firing in February 1963.
At Gloucester shunting and local trip workings were diesel shunters so as young firemen we were thrown in at the deep end on main line trains.
Horton Road crews had turns to Bristol,Birmingham,Cardiff and the top link went to London,we also had the branch to Hereford and the Forest of Dean branches,plus one of my favourites, the Chalford Autos.
The following pages list turns and locos that I worked on at 85B between 1963 and 1966.
My firing turns started and finished at Gloucester unless otherwise stated.
Continued in Gloucester Horton Road Fireman - 1963.