92214 'On The Footplate' at GCR Autumn Gala 2015 (Fri 2nd Oct 15):

Another of my Footplate videos at the GCR but this is the BIG one quite literally. Despite this being a Gala Weekend, this video unashamedly concentrates entirely on the BIG 2-10-0 9F 92214 and was filmed over two complete runs on Friday 2nd October.
As a former BR Fireman I have done many miles on 9F's so the opportunity to do a few more with two other former BR men, ex collegues & friends (fully authorised I might add) was impossible to miss & it was a real pleasure to get my hands dirty once again.
Although rather long at 40 minutes, (and maybe a little repetetive, as working a steam loco is!)which was never intended but I hope that those who love the 9F's or just want to see a little of the work of Driver & Fireman will enjoy it nevertheless.
My thanks to both Alan's & the GCR for making this video possible.
Note: Further footage taken of 92214 in 2012 when she was 'Cock O The North' on the NYMR prior to moving to the GCR can be seen at • 92214 Meanders Down Th...

[@rishi-eq8kx]

I love trains....I loved every moment of the video....like 26:08 to 26:35....strongly built fireman gets his 27seconds break sitting cool with legs up against the engine-wall.....Thanks for the upload....I am born '61 in a valley in North India...as a kid done a lot of train-journeys in steam-locomotives...befriending a lot of engine-drivers and operators. Best Wishes for more such videos...

[@SYKAROST]

Thanks Rishi, glad you enjoyed it and hope you find the other Footplate videos I've uploaded too. I hope there will be more to come but things have been difficult as you well know. My thoughts are with you, stay safe. Brian.

[@rishi-eq8kx]

@@SYKAROST Thanks and welcome.

[@rishi-eq8kx]

@@SYKAROST Just visited your channel.....OH ! What A Bonanza For Me, SYKAROST, I'm sure I have a lot to watch here now....and live up an entirety of life and 'scenic landscapes' around the trains that comes with the 'chugging feel' . Thanks .

[@SYKAROST]

@@rishi-eq8kx Welcome aboard Rishi. Diesels have dominated this past year but steam is now returning so keep following and enjoy... ... and share with your friends.😉

[@rishi-eq8kx]

That's cool.

[@Simonize41]

I love the 9F, fantastic locomotive. Not sure why it’s taken over 5 years to find this video but I’m glad I have. Cracking video - thanks very much!👍🏻

[@SYKAROST]

Me too, used to fire the beasts myself in BR days!! Well I'm glad you enjoyed it and it was worth that 5 year wait Lol. Best Wishes, Brian.

[@84asrd84boxy]

A perfect day out Brian, I bet that footplate ride bought the memories flooding back, I also noticed the two different styles of firing, one the Western way and one the LMS way, thanks for sharing your great day out on the GCR, cheers...Bill

[@SYKAROST]

+84asrd84boxy Yes indeed Bill, an opportunity I could not miss. The 9F was top of my 'wish list' & was given my undivided attention Gala or not!! I always fired them WR way as it was easier for a 'right hander' to fill those back corners & if you had an heavy handed Driver you could f##t in his face!!!!! Cheers, Brian.

[@antman09ful1]

A fantastic afternoon for you Brian, and I enjoyed your footage with the feel I was on the footplate with you. I like how the guys swapped over driver and fireman jobs. Mike.

[@SYKAROST]

+antman09ful1 It was indeed Mike and I'm glad you enjoyed the ride too. As for swapping over, this was quite normal practice on BR too, all part of the 'apprenticship' for Firemen to become Drivers (providing the Driver was fit & healthy enough to ply the shovel of course)..... Brian.

[@no23mk2]

Excellent from start to finish. Top job by all involved. Thank you.

[@SYKAROST]

Thankyou, glad you enjoyed it and hope you get to watch my other GCR footplate videos..... Cheers, Brian.

[@diaryofaherbert7423]

The 9F really was Riddles masterpiece, wonderful to watch and listen to.

[@drby0788]

As an America i must say, British steam locomotives are absolutely GORGEOUS to look at! Way prettier than American steam as much as I love it.

[@SYKAROST]

We love them too lol. As a small island with so many in preservation we don't have to go far to see them in action either.

[@jb-fy1oc]

Fantastic thanks for sharing

[@Parsound]

Most enjoyable Brian. Showed well the user friendly layout of the Standards. Good job I wasn't there with all those Alans...Alan

[@SYKAROST]

+Parsound Thanks Alan, yes the BR standards were all nice to work on & the 9F of course the most spacious..... Yes, I would have really been confused with another Alan.... Cheers, Brian (not Alan)!

[@Rainhill1829]

Fantastic work, very interesting reverser unit on those 9F's.

[@SYKAROST]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Yes, very common on the later BR Standard designs... No problem on the main line but a nightmare to shunt with but good for the biceps lol. Brian.

[@annajeannettedixon2453]

she looks lovey in green re-built from scrap Dai woodman would be a proud man too see her now and the credit goes the guys who re-built her top job and in top hand of two good locomotive engineers

[@SYKAROST]

+anna jeannette Dixon Yes a very smart loco Anna & I will tell the Crew how good they are....lol. Thanks for watching, Brian.

[@harrymurray2515]

The guy at 0:51. His name is Alan. I use to be paired with him during volunteering on the Great Central Railway from High School.

[@SYKAROST]

I do know this Harry as we are personal friends and former BR collegues of years ago. I take it you are no longer at the GCR.

[@harrymurray2515]

@@SYKAROST After I left My high school, no. But I have plans to re-join the shed crew every Friday. The only thing stopping me is Covid-19.

[@SYKAROST]

@@harrymurray2515 That's good to hear but yes, Covid is certainly doing no one any favours.

[@BCSchmerker]

*Thanks for this vid of a day's work for a British Railways 1'E Crewe.* I noticed that many English-built decapods have fairly large drivers, compared to their counterparts (e.g. the 2-10-0 Pennsylvania RxR Altoona Works Class I1s) in the United States; was that for speed with load, as was the case with their exact Stateside contemporaries the Union Pacific 4-8+8-4 American Single-Expansion Articulateds Class BB-1 (which needed sixteen drivers for pulling up to 1500t single-handedly over the steep grades of the Wasatch)?

[@ramonwilliams5721]

I always thought the 9F were great engines, when I was a fireman in steam days, we used to work them from Hereford to Rowley Regis on oil trains.Kind regards.

[@SYKAROST]

Hi Ramon, they were indeed, I fired many of them myself at Saltley prior to 68'. Were you Hereford based at the time and if so did you know a Fireman Chris Martin? Anyway, hope you enjoyed your 'ride' back on the 9F and thanks for commenting, Regards, Brian.

[@piccaluga35]

What was it like firing a 9F with a heavy freight in BR days? I believe the grate is 40 sq ft so it would have been fairly demanding in times of high steam demand? Thanks very much for the detailed video.

[@SYKAROST]

Glad you enjoyed the video & thanks for watching. Although a long time ago I still have fond memories of firing these great loco's. Yes the box was 40sq ft, the grate was flat and wide and it was quite a knack firing into the back corners which was essential. As the largest class of freight loco we did indeed work some heavy trains but they were more than capable and not particulary hard work if in good condition and worked properly. Towards the end of steam on BR in 1968 some of them were becoming a little careworn and could be more challenging but all in a days work. The spacious cab and padded seats were very welcome compared to some loco's lol. Regards, Brian.

[@piccaluga35]

SYKAROST thanks very much for your recollections. They are invaluable!

[@wooltman]

Go on get in that driving seat, you know you want too! Did you put any shovel fulls in that firebox Brian? What a great day to be on the footplate of a 9f....Thanks for sharing.Chris.

[@SYKAROST]

+wooltman Glad you enjoyed that Chris, it certainly cannot be fired with a 'tablespoon' like your's.... lol. Cheers, Brian.

[@wooltman]

Cheek! it was a dessert spoon,LOL!!

[@SYKAROST]

+wooltman Ha ha, so that's what i need to bring next time if I want to have a go?

[@rhombagonVA]

Could you describe the experience of driving/firing a steam locomotive? I live in America, but I've always wanted to go to a heritage line in the UK just to see these titans of the past.

[@SYKAROST]

+Simple Curiosity Well you have plenty of 'Titans' in the USA if this list is accurate en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heritage_railroads_in_the_United_States but of course we are the birthplace of steam so you should pay a visit eventually. Impossible to answer your question fully here but I can only say (as most others would I'm sure) that for me it's one of the greatest experiences there is. Man & Machine working together and dependent on each other. Save your dollars and go do it yourself www.railroaddata.com/rrlinks/Engineer_Experience_Programs/ Best Wishes, Brian.

[@Jaidencharlotte]

To put it simply, it’s very loud and very hot

[@mattseymour8637]

She sounds and looks lovely. Well driven Alan. How does she handle?

[@ronfisher2-railwaytravelvideos]

👏👌👍

[@amccall999]

I was the signalman at Quorn - the delay was because I was waiting for your train to be accepted by Swithland due to a problem with the ground frame at Rothley and trains were stacked up

[@SYKAROST]

+amccall999 Thankyou Sir, i appreciate this was your situation and I have since been 'briefed' on the circumstances at Rothley. I'm sure you understand why I felt no explanation was needed in my captions. I hope the rest of the weekend was troublefree as you Guys put in a great effort on these complex schedules & I'm sure that 10mph TSR don't help... lol. Cheers, Brian.

[@ramonwilliams5721]

No mate I was at Stourbridge and then to Kidderminster for my job, and left in 1972

[@SYKAROST]

Sorry Ramon, just an assumption on my part that you were working out rather than back home lol. Take care mate, Brian.

[@petergrossett6763]

Why does'nt anyone think about re-wheeling a 9f into a pacific?

[@SYKAROST]

They have.... You, but a Britannia is as near as damn it and although I'm not an engineer I presume the measurements don't stack up!!

[@drby0788]

9F?

[@SYKAROST]

9 is the power classification (the highest) and F is for freight which is what it was designed to haul. They could comfortably work passenger trains too.

[@annajeannettedixon2453]

All she needs now is a nice brass name plate ,

[@annajeannettedixon2453]

that coal looks rubbish