Operation Shiver — Tales of a Duty Line Manager
Saturday 19th December is a date that will be etched in my memory for a very long time. The same I am sure will apply to the volunteers working on site that day. Steve Growcott set the scene for us a few days in advance by sending out an email titled “Operation Shiver” and he was not joking. The weather forecast did not look great but I thought the forecasters always look on the gloomy side, it won’t be that bad. How wrong I was. I arrived at the appointed time of 8:30 noting with some trepidation that my cars external thermometer was registering —9C.
I was met at the crossing gate by Mike Elliman our Signalman for the day who promptly advised me the gates were frozen solid even the bolts would not budge. I was presently surprised however to find all the operation guys already on site and working away. 1369 was coming into steam nicely and the 08 was on charge. The station crossing, steps and platform were thick with snow and ice and Bob Vaughn had already set to work clearing these areas. About this time Stephanie asked Bob to open the frozen door into the Cambrian kitchen. He obliged only to find the door handle came off in his hand with the door remaining frozen to the frame. So my first real job of the day was to take off my shoes and climb through the servery hatch and open the door from the inside. Meanwhile Andy Bunyard was receiving a series of calls in the back office from pre-booked passengers asking if we were running trains today.
Next came the news I did not want to hear from Richard Norman that the 08 would not start, but he had put the loco’s batteries back on charge and would try again in 30 minutes. Meanwhile we found out the waste pipe from the Cambrian buffet was frozen solid. Thanks to hot and a removable fitting Richard Fillmore managed to free up the waste pipe just outside the back of the coach, substituting the drain for a bucket which had to be empted numerous times during the day.
I then received news that the 08 had started, so I made my way towards the yard only to be greeted with news on route that the points could not be thrown properly and hence the Facing Point Locks could not be operated. This was followed by numerous snow and ice clearing activities within the points until the FPL’s could be operated. However upon reaching the 08 Richard advised that despite getting the loco running he could not make vacuum due to frozen valves. Oh dear – the first train is now due out and we can’t move the train! Various conversations with the platform staff followed and we agreed to keep our waiting passengers fully appraised of the situation. Meanwhile Allan Vigar put his thinking cap on and came back from the direction of the steam locomotive with a bucket containing hot coals straight from the fire. The bucket was placed underneath the vacuum gear and just a few minutes later everything was working. Wow that was a great moment and thanks to Allan it looked like the children would be seeing Father Christmas after all. Steve Growcott went though his brake test, all was well and one very reluctant, frozen to the spot train started to move followed immediately by 1369 now in full steam.
We got the first train away just 30 minutes late which under the circumstances was I think an excellent achievement. Allan and I then turned our attention to the steam locomotives water supply as this would be required when the train returned. It quickly became evident that the feed water was frozen and the supply to the locomotives would have to be operated via a short length of hose. Trouble is everything was solid. We looked at the bottom feeder valve only to be greeted with a solid plug of ice, that was not good. Steve Growcott and Richard Fillmore started working on defrosting the short hose supply via the recently insulated feeder pipes. Slowly and eventually they succeeded in getting a trickle of water coming out of the pipe, not enough to fill the steam loco, which by this time was waiting in the platform for water.
After discussions with Richard Weston and Dave Eggelton on the steam locomotive it was decided that they could do a second run without watering, but it would be crucial on the next trip. By the time the train came back the guys had the water running well, so attention turned to coaling which would have to be done after the third trip. Thanks must go to Pete Thomas and Gordon Jenkyns for their timely completion of the insulation of the feeder system. Without this we would have been sunk.
Andy Diston tried in vain to start the JCB Telehandler, but after 30 minutes charging managed to get it running. It then decided to stall and refused to re-start, so we had to take the unenviable decision to hand coal the locomotive. This was achieved with help from Richard and Dave on the footplate, plus Allan, Richard F and Steve C. By this time Andy Diston had topped up the JCB’s diesel tanks with anti wax fuel from the local filling station and had it running for a good 10 minutes. We decided to finish the coaling up with the JCB. The first bucket load went in fine. Andy loaded up second bucket and the JCB stalled again and refused point blank to start. Unfortunately it was part in the coal heap and part over the track effectively isolating the locomotive from its train. Having caught up time earlier we were now 10 minutes post departure time and we had to think quickly on our feet. The decision was made to hand dig two holes in the coal heap in line with the JCB’s wheels and about 3 feet in length so that we could (hopefully) push the JCB clear. After a couple of attempts this was achieved and 1369 was able to sneak past and rejoin it’s train, which departed some 25 minutes late.
The returning train brought back with it a human icicle otherwise known as Caroline Kinchin-Smith who had been the morning crossing keeper at Wainhill. I am not sure Caroline had not completely thawed out by the end of the afternoon but she was still smiling.
Whilst all this was going on the on train staff was working with full trains and frozen toilets. Fortunately John Smith our Carriage & Wagon Manger had recognised the drop in temperature was about to happen earlier in the week, came down to site and drained down the water tanks on the coaches. John’s actions without a doubt saved considerable frost damage. However the continuing cold meant that we could not refill the tanks and toilets had to be managed by the on train staff with large containers of water.
Mike Hyde the Station Master on the day did a tremendous job keeping our passengers advised of what was going on as did Andrew Bunyard. So far as we are aware everyone went away happy and smiling. Anne and Stephanie worked their socks off in the Cambrian coach as did the on train service team, the elves and of course Santa.
It was a tremendous team effort and we ran every service with a maximum delay of 30 minutes.