31. Father's Day to the NLR-15.06.14

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2014 > 31. Father's Day to the NLR-15.06.14
For my father's day present my wife and son arranged a driver experience for me on the Northampton and Lamport Railway. No mainline diesel or large steam locomotive here so I had to make do with a Ruston and Hornsby 0-4-0 shunter 'Sir Gyles Isham'! Thanks to the railway, my wife and son for a great day out.
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Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.

2104, 12.30 Pitsford return, Bridge 13 From this angle, it is clear to see the loading gauge of Peckett tank 2104 as it leads the 12.30 return service away from Brampton as it approaches bridge 13. The 1948 built 0-4-0 has been a regular performer on the preserved line for a number of years. recently it was awarded an extension to its boiler certificate but this will run out in two years time when it will need a re-build. Keywords: 2104 12.30 Pitsford return Bridge 13 Northampton & Lamport Railway NLR
764, cab interior & controls, as part of driver experience session, Pitsford sidings Aborad in the cab of Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 shunter number 764 'Sir Gyles Isham ' waiting for some instruction on how to drive it. It was actually a very mechanical process driving this little shunter with gears having to be physically selected with chunky levers. The ride was extremely harsh with it appearing to have no springing whatsoever! Keywords: 764 cab interior & controls, as part of driver experience session Pitsford sidings Sir Gyles Isham Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0
764, cab interior gauges, as part of driver experience session, Pitsford sidings I suspect that number 764, now named 'Sir Gyles Isham', was produced new back in 1948 that its small array of gauges were not mounted on a nice piece of crafted hardwood and that they would not have stayed immaculately polished as here for very long! As far as driver information goes this is pretty much it but it was all that was needed for the Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 shunter to undertake its work in and around the MoD's RNAD Bedenham facility near Portsmouth where it started work from new in 1953. Keywords: 764 interior gauges as part of driver experience session Pitsford sidings Sir Gyles Isham Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0
764, cab interior, build & instructions plate, as part of driver experience session, Pitsford sidings Driving the former MoD shunter 764 'Sir Gyles Isham' is a very interactive experience! It's a case of following the basic instructions as per the brass plate and away it goes up to its maximum speed of just twenty miles per hour. After initially being used at RNAD Bedenham at Bridgemary close to Gosport 764 moved to Wolverton Works in 1975 where it saw use for eight years until being donated to the NLR in 1983 making it their first locomotive. Keywords: 764 cab interior build & instructions plate, as part of driver experience session Pitsford sidings Sir Gyles Isham Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0
764 & me, as part of driver experience session, Pitsford sidings Having successfully completed my driver experience on the Northampton and Lamport Railway without causing a major incident yours truly stands proudly on the running board of 764 'Sir Gyles Isham' back in Pitsford sidings. Keywords: 764 as part of driver experience session Pitsford sidings Sir Gyles Isham Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0
47395, 13.30 Pitsford return, Pitsford station foot crossing Back on the 'mainline' at the Northampton and Lamport Railway after my driver experience, which was confined to the sidings, 47395 works the 13.30 return service. The train is approaching Pitsford and Brampton station with the adjacent cycleway of the popular Brampton Valley Way clearly seen to the left of the train. Keywords: 47395, 13.30 Pitsford return, Pitsford station foot crossing NLR Northampton and Lamport Railway
764 & 2104, stabled & serviced, Pitsford sidings The sidings and yard at Pitsford on the Northampton and Lamport Railway is a busy place! To the left is Ruston and Hornsby 764 'Sir Gyles Isham' that I have just driven as part of my driver experience event. To the right is 0-4-0 Peckett 2104 that is being serviced and watered following its use earlier in the day hauling trains on the line. Keywords: 764 2104 stabled serviced Pitsford sidings Ruston & Hornsby 0-4-0 165DS Sir Gyles Isham 0-4-0ST Peckett R4 Class
47395, 13.30 Pitsford return, Bridge 13 Working the 13.00 return working 47395 pushes the train back towards Pitsford and Brampton station. The train has just crossed the fabled bridge thirteen that was a major project for the railway to completely rebuild. Costing £50 000 the bridge was reopened in 2002 enabling a considerable extension to the north with just another fourteen miles or so to get to Market Harborough! Keywords: 47395 13.30 Pitsford return Bridge 13 NLR Northampton and Lamport Railway
Driver experience certificate My certificate presented after my driver experience on the Northampton and Lamport Railway piloting 764 'Sir Gyles Isham'. Whilst the experience itself was instructional and most enjoyable, I fear that the quality of the poorly monochrome photocopied certificate lets things down somewhat? Keywords: Driver experience certificate NLR Northampton and Lamport Railway

Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.