Alan Newman Nine Elms Engineman 1st January 1962 - 8th July 1967

35011 at Nine Elms
"Just another day doing the best job in the world, with the finest steam locomotives ever built" - Alan Newman.
Photo copyright A.E.Hooker, Alan Newman collection - copyright Bernard Wright

A MERCHANT NAVY PACIFIC'S FINEST HOUR

A regular duty at Nine Elms for No 2 Link was the 2.45am Waterloo to Bournemouth West paper train. The return train was the Up Royal Wessex departing Bournemouth Central at 8.40am. stopping at Brockenhurst, Southampton Central and Winchester City, due to arrive Waterloo at 10.53am. I worked the Up Wessex with my regular mate Driver Bert Hooker over thirty times in my time with him, but one trip stands out from the others.

In August 1965 we had 35011 with 12=404 tons behind the tender. I was enjoying a good trip. We made our final stop at Winchester, where the starting signal remained 'On' I then saw the Station Master walking from the signal box. The Station Master came up to the cab and infomed Bert, that a freight train had failed between Winchester Jct and Wallers Ash tunnel. Control wanted us to unhook and go forward light engine to assist the failed train into Wallers Ash loop.

The plan was to clear the failed train into Wallers Ash Loop then to return wrong road and get our own train. Bert said the job would be better done taking our own train, the extra weight would add to the momentum, for starting on the 1/250 gradient. Bert was always up for a challenge! We duly set off to the point where the failed train was standing, just past Winchester Jct.. We stopped initially to pick the guard up who had walked back putting his detonators down as protection. Bert stopped 35011 about 10 feet short of the failed train.

The fireman (Alec Jones of Eastleigh) was waiting in the Guards brake van. Alec informed Bert that all the brakes apart from the brake van were fully released. The failed train had a type 33 diesel with 60 empty van fits plus a Guards Brake van. Bert told Alec to release the hand brake when the buffers were about 8 -10 inches apart. Bert sounded the whistle code (1 Crow) to alert the driver on the Diesel and duly eased 35011 into forward motion we gently eased onto the rear as soon as the buffers came into contact the momentum started the whole ensemble up the bank. We were soon up to 15/18 mph Bert working 35011 at 50% cut off.

For my part we had 250 psi steam and just over 1/2 a glass of water. Bert encouraged 35011 into action saying "come on old girl do it for Gaffer Gilmore" whose regular engine she was when brand new at Nine Elms. On clearing the failed train into Wallers Ash Loop Bert stopped then waited while Alec secured the failed train with the hand brake. Bert eased 35011 back and stopped making sure the hand brake was holding the failed train, and it did not follow us out of the loop. The Wallers Ash signalman gave us a green hand signal as authority to drop out of the loop and we stopped behind his home signal. The signalman set the road and cleared his Up signals. The rest of the trip was bit of anti climax, and Waterloo was reached just 30 minutes late.

It a shame the event was not captured on film, Bert said it was probably the heaviest train a Merchant Navy ever tackled. Bert estimated the total weight to be around 1,200 tons. All started on a 1/250 rising gradient without a slip, Bert was indeed the Driver for such occasions.

Alan Newman Nine Elms Engineman 1962-1967

MY FINEST TRIP

In October 1964 I was promoted to No2 link with Bert Hooker I was just 17 years old. My previous driver in No 3 link had been George Enticknap, whose way of handling a locomotive had been some what different to the Bert Hooker approach, but I soon learnt. A regular turn in No 2 link was the 0830 Waterloo - Weymouth which we worked as far as Bournemouth. The following is my account of a trip we made in the first week of September 1965.

We signed on duty at 0656 at Nine Elms on perusal of the Engine arrangements sheet we were allocated 35007 which was in the new shed. I went to the engine and checked we had all the required tools, I then went to the stores and collected the oil and a supply of brown and white clothes. On my return to the engine Bert had arrived and we got on with preparing the engine. I made up the fire and Bert attended to the oiling. With oiling done and the fire made. We moved 35007 back over the pit where the boiler blow down was operated; I then cleaned the boiler back plate and washed down the foot plate.

Bert Hooker (left) and Alan Newman at Waterloo on 34060
Photo copyright Bernard Wright

We dropped back to the turn table and then onto No 1 pit road we stopped at the water column and filled the tender, then moved under the coal hopper. I then went to make the coffee while Bert trimmed the coal on the tender. I was usually allowed to drive the engine to Waterloo, the normal arrangement was to couple in the Waterloo siding to the engine for the 0835 Bournemouth. The fireman of the 0835, engine had which left the loco just before us, coupled up. We then run coupled tender first to Waterloo, stopping at the Home signal on the Up Relief line. As we were the leading engine it was my job to uncouple. We then moved on to our train which was standing at platform 11. I coupled 35007 to our train which consisted of 11 coaches. Our guard waited on the platform as I coupled up he then went to speak with Bert and advise him of the load, and then carried at the brake test. The time was 0820 and a gentleman approached 35007 who greeted Bert, the chap turned out to be Mr G Sands the assistant Motive Power officer. Mr Sands was travelling to Southampton with two colleagues for a meeting. Bert duly invited Mr Sands to ride on the footplate, assuring him he would not get dirty on the trip.

Bert at his position passing Southampton New Docks with 35007
Photo copyright Alan Newman collection

At 0830 we departed next stop was to be Southampton Central. As we passed over Westminster Road Bridge I started the injector and sat down until Bert shut off steam for Clapham Jct. At this point I shut off the injector and cracked open the fire hole door. With the speed at the permitted 40mph Bert set the cut off at 27% opened the regulator with 180psi indicated in the steam chest, I started my firing, the boiler pressure was about 210psi. On the climb to Earlsfield the boiler pressure was up to 250psi the water level showing about ¾ of a glass I started the injector. This was my normal approach, since being with Bert I had adopted the little and often approach to firing, keeping the floor clean and the making good use of the tender spay, thus avoiding dust in the cab.

View from my side of 35007 approaching Redbridge
Photo copyright Alan Newman collection

It was soon evident that 35007 was in very good nick, and was making light work of the 11 coach load. Bert was working 35007 at between 20/25% cut off with 180psi in the steam chest. Between Walton on Thames and Oatlands signal box 35007 lifted the safety valve, I responded by closing the back damper to about ½ open. We had a very good run with the boiler pressure being maintained very close to 250psi red line. At Michledever Bert eased the regulator for the run down the bank, I fully closed the back damper. The boiler pressure responded and I maintained about 200psi.on the run down through Winchester. We suffered the customary signal check at Eastleigh thus arriving at Southampton Central some 3 minutes late. Mr Sands departed thankfully still clean as when he stepped on the footplate at Waterloo. I put the pipe in, with the tender full I returned to the foot plate, in all this time 35007 had not made a single pound of steam, the pressure gauge still indicated 200lbs. I opened the back damper in readiness to set off for Bournemouth.

Off we went and 35007 soon responded to my firing, the boiler pressure was back to the red line by the time we passed Millbrook. After passing Brockenhurst I worked a little harder to build a bigger fire in readiness for our relief at Bournemouth. We arrived at Bournemouth on time, as we alighted from 35007 Bert turned to me and said "Alan one day some one will ask you to describe the perfect firing trip, you will remember this day, as it truly was the perfect trip" Bert added it was made even sweeter because Mr Sands was of Eastern region blood, and on leaving us at Southampton, he said to Bert that 35007's performance that day was as good, if not better than any trip he had with an A4!

If only every day was like that.

Copyright 2009 © Alan Newman - Nine Elms - Southern Engineman

Jim Arkell has written:
I just read the new item you posted, and I was a bit puzzled about the reference to Geoff Sands. I encountered him several times, partly because my stepfather knew him. I always thought he came from Crewe rather than the Eastern region. Also that he was shedmaster at Salisbury at the time the warships took over the Exeter jobs - that's how I understood it anyway. He told us he was one of the prime movers behind the proposal to transfer ten Duchesses from the LM in 1964. That didn't happen in the end because they wouldn't fit through Southampton, and so they were lumbered with the WR diesels between Exeter and Waterloo - the WR rarely sent the best ones! Five MN's were based at Exmouth Jnc at the time and were withdrawn (strangely, four of them still survive today), but Geoff managed to retrieve three of them, including his personal favourite, 35010. Bert Hooker in fact was the driver they used to set the timings on the London side of Salisbury with a warship. Anyway after retirement Geoff Sands went to Bressingham steam museum and was quite proud of the fact they had a duchess there. He didn't stay there all that long though, because unfortunately he died after only a few years.

Jim Arkell later added:
He was an engineman on the Eastern, and knew Bill Harvey quite well. He believes that Geoff was originally from the Midland, but transferred to the ER, and then to the Southern. His progress on the railway was not dissimilar to Dick Hardy, except that Dick was originally from the ER and ended up on the LM. There was another fellow called Bill Thorely who was from the Midland and ended up on the ER.

Orginally the LT&S which of course was Midland anyway. Geoff and Bill became quite friendly with Bill Harvey who was at Norwich, and sorted the Britannias out in the 50's. I'm not sure if you'd know, but they weren't very good when they first came out. Bad valve events, wheels coming loose, and motion off for re-bushing every weekend in some cases. The two that were at Stew lane were there for political reasons at the behest of Stewart Cox, who didn't like Bulleid at all. I've been told that was because they both applied for the job as Gresleys assistant, and Bulleid got it. Geoff Sands was in the process of getting the J15 going at Bressingham when he became ill and died.

My contact also believes that Geoff Sands was at Salisbury, and he knows the story about 35010 which he got from Geoff's own lips, who apparently said to him that it was the best engine they had at Salisbury. I had to point out it was never a Salisbury engine. But of course the Exmouth Jnc engines did the same range of jobs, so he would have known it anyway. He thinks that Geoff was at Salisbury at the time that 35010 broke a cylinder. But that doesn't quite square with Alan Newmans account, because it was in 1966 that happened. I remember the engine was at Nine Elms afterwards with motion still on. In fact Bert Hooker took some photos of it like that, and I have copies of those somewhere that he gave me.

Alan Newman replied:
I know that Geoff Sands started on the Midland because Bert said as much, My comments were that he had only recently arrived at Wimbledon from the ER. I am a little confused re the comment about 35010 as I have not as yet mentioned this engine. 35010 was my least favouite MN I had a few trips with it she always steamed well but the Cab was a tad loose on the frames and as such gave the impression of a rough ride. In my opinion she always seemed to need to be pushed a little harder than the others. I actually witnessed the end of 35010 when working an up train between Walton and Hersham. I was working the Warship operated 9.00am Waterloo - Exeter with Bert Hooker, Bert said look at this comming towards us "the engine has got the water up" and sure enouph as we passed the front end was missing on the RH side. The Driver in charge was Bill Walker and his fireman was Ray Harris both of Nine Elms. Bert duly made a stop at Walton on Thames where I informed the signalman of the fate of 35010. As I remember it was about the first trip 35010 completed after No 6 Valves and piston overhaul which had been done at Guildford shed. Bert did indeed take some photos of the 35010 at Nine Elms the next day when we were getting our engine ready for the 8.30am Bournemouth turn which we worked day about with the 9.00am Salisbury at the time.I can confirm this was indeed in 1966. I remember the last trip I had with 35010 was on the Up Wessex and we had a tender of good yorkshire hard coal. Working up through Shawford I had to blow the boiler down as we were getting out of control too much steam and far too much water in the boiler. If she had lifted the safety valves she may have suffered the the same fate earlier. This was the only occasion I remember having hard coal with a Merchant Navy.

I do not doubt that in better times she was a good engine as all the Exmouth Jnc engines had good reputations, but by the time I started to get on them it was late 1963 early 1964 when they were passed their best.

Jim Arkell added:
I think the picture is becoming clearer, although I still don't know if Geoff Sands was actually at Salisbury, or whether the message became confused at some stage. The problem is that he is long gone, and so are most of the others who would know. His attitude towards 35010 is interesting, because as Alan relates, it wasn't actually anything special towards the end.

I've picked up odd snippets of information over the years about different engines. Particularly MN's. For example 35012 developed a leak in the boiler barrel, which resulted in it being withdrawn. 35007 & 35026 were kept going by swapping wheelsets with withdrawn engines, 35022 & 35011 respectively. Only for 35026 to be withdrawn a few months later with a loose tyre. Whilst there are people still around who remember these things, I think it's a good idea to collect and record such things.

Alan Newman further replied:
Regrettably unlike 'Bert I did not keep a daily diary except for some notes I kept of particular events usually associated with the photos I took at the time. I do not know the exact date of the demise of 35010 but Sept 66 seems about the right time. One other interesting point I remember about 35010 is that she had one of the last series cab fitted with the metal window frames Bert jokingly said that it fitted only where it touched, and I remember it had a couple wooden wedges inserted around the top between the cab and the fire box.

You were right about 35011 being a strong engine, we were working the Up Wessex with 12 on. We stopped as normal at Winchester where we were told that a freight train had failed between Winchester Jct and Wallers Ash tunnel. We were advised by control to unhook and go forward light engine to assist the failed train into Wallers Ash loop. The plan being to return wrong road and get our train. Bert said the job would be better done without unhooking and that we would take our train with us. Bert was always up for a challenge. We duly set off to where the failed train was stuck just around the curve from Winchester Jct. Bert stopped about 10 foot short of the train, this after we had stopped initially to pick the guard up who had walked back putting his detonators down as protection. The fireman of the failed train was waiting in the Guards brake. (Alec Jones of Eastleigh) he told Bert that all the brakes apart from the brake van were fully released. The failed train had a type 33 diesel and 60 empty vanfits + guards van. Bert told Alec to release the hand brake when the buffers were about 8 - 10 inches apart. Bert duly sounded the whistle and eased 35011 into forward motion we gently eased onto the rear of the failed train. As soon as the buffers came into contact the momentum started the whole ensemble up the bank. We were soon up to 15 mph Bert working 35011 at 50% cut-off. For my part we had 250 psi steam and just over 1/2 a glass of water.

Bert encouraged 35011 into action saying "come on old girl do it for Gaffa Gillmore" whose regular engine she was when brand new at Nine Elms. It a shame the event was not captured on film, Bert said it was probably the heaviest train a Merchant Navy ever tackled. Bert estimated the total weight to be over 1,000 tons. All started with out a slip, on a rising gradient Bert was indeed the Driver for such occasions.

I am note sure if 34060 was Bert's favourite small Bulleid but he did indeed have it when it was brand new, his regular MN 35020 was having its first major overhaul.

For the record my favourite was 35012 if only because I had more trips with her than any other. She was not the fastest that was definitely 35020, but 35012 was the best all round in my opinion. The most popular MN amongst Nine Elms chaps in my time was with out doubt 35022.

More comments from Jim Arkell:
I heard that, or a similar story from Bert before, but didn't know which engine it was. Bert told it in the context of having written an account of it for a magazine, and he was unhappy that they had changed it in many ways to make it sound a lot more dramatic than it really was.

On a long return trip from a steam special over the long drag one time, a group of us including Bert were discussing the Bulleids and which ones were good, and not so good. He was quite in favour of 34060, and I think that was the first time I heard the story about the up train that was stopped at Queens Road and the driver relieved and put on shunting. Bert said the engine was 34060 when it was new. Alan Cook used to front up occasionally on those trips - in the early 80's - and he insisted on calling 35012 the leg chopper. Talking of nicknames, have you any idea why 35023 was called the pram? 35012 in fact holds something of a record between Appleby and Ais Gill when Bert did a trip with it in June 1964. We got quite close to his time on a couple of occasions with 46229, but his record is safe I think. The engine might have made it to the end, but it was failed by Jack Finch at Nine Elms with a leaking barrel joint on the boiler a couple of months into 1967.

I hadn't realised 35022 was so popular. It has survived, but I'm not sure what its future is now. In the last few months I heard more about 35008 being a favoured one, although 22 had gone by then. One of the longer standing members of MNLPS said many years ago that their original target was 35017, and when that went, 35022. Finally 35028, because it was the last one through works to get a fresh boiler, and supposedly a fast engine although most people said 35003 was faster. Something I found out only a few weeks ago was that the last two boilers removed from engines 35027/8 were actually repaired to go on engines but were scrapped without being used again. The railway really knew how to waste money.