Description
Object description
British civilian fireman and train driver in GB, 1939-1945 and post-war period
Content description
REEL 1: Background in Swindon, GB, 1921-1939: story of being given model railway engine on fifth birthday; family; ambition to be engine driver; apprenticeship in drawing office at Swindon works; began work in engines shed, 2/1937; duties cleaning locomotives; working hours and wages; promoted temporary fireman and permanent fireman, 1939; duties shunting engines for freight and passenger trains; memories of driver Bill Hinder. Recollections of period as fireman and engine driver in GB, 1939-1945 and post-war period: worked for whole career out Swindon sheds; organisation of runs and rotas; suspension of compulsory rest periods during wartime; duties as fireman; coal consumption; story of test run with 6001 engine, 2/Jul/1953; design of firebox; number and weight of coaches; further comments on coal consumption; age and cost of locomotive; story of selling of name plate; spotting signals; oil lamp signals; crew rotas; daily consumption of coal; cleaning and maintenance of locomotive; raising steam to working pressure; boiler; comparison of working hours, loads and mileage between steam and diesel locomotives; typical diagram work for diesel engine; importance of maintenance; effect of high speeds on driver and question of concentration.
REEL 2 Continues: comparison of driving steam and diesel trains; opinion of apprenticeships on railways and classroom tuition; description of picking up water on the run; opinion of 'King' class locomotive; question of driver being reported if late at passing points; role of inspector; importance of teamwork; safety and punctuality; number of years as fireman on passenger trains; knowledge of road book signed every three months; daily records of journeys; servicing of locomotives on mileage basis; question of being called up and reserved occupation; transportation of food supplies during war and problem of food shortages; rationing; story of being buzzed by Heinkel 111on Dauntsey Bank; story of searching American troop train for food; story of mutiny by soldiers in Southampton; problem of fog; danger of hitting bridge with poker; description of automatic train control; various problems encountered including derailment, embankment slippage, cattle on line; cars falling onto line from road bridge.
REEL 3 Continues: memories of Coventry Blitz; stopped train at signal box during air raids; length of shifts during wartime; food; opinion of American S30; description of how locomotive works; use of discs on cab to indicate loading and permitted routes; restrictions on 'King' class locomotives from Saltash bridge; weight of locomotives and pressure on wheels; number of locomotives passed through shed in one year; description of running in new locomotive; description of how cylinders worked; problem with pistons; clearing cylinders of water; lubricator types; examples of bad engine driving; attitude to role as engine driver; story of driving through fog and reaction of passengers, 1952; memories of famous passengers including Anna Neagle and Arnold Ridley; amusing story of dissatisfied passenger.