Firing a King

[@johndavies5826]

LOVELY bit of film. We too often admire clips of these magnificent machines in action without offering proper tribute to the skill and very hard work of the fireman that made it possible. The split screen, showing both the train in motion and the work on the footplate, is a most effective presentation. Oh yes and back in the steam days, the "runners" would only have one fireman. He probably wouldn't work the doors, but would have to lift and lower the flap which covered about half the opening, as well as seeing to the water feed, dragging coal forward on the tender as necessary, watering it to keep the dust down and a lot of other jobs. True heroes.

[@graemebdh2172]

I found the explanations of what was happening most interesting. Thanks.

[@markbasaj6820]

@Judson Dash WOAH THATS CRAZY! I DONT CARE

[@steamgent4592]

Just got to LOVE the sure footedness of GWR locos even the big driver locos!! Its alot like the sure-footedness of American steam heavyweights only these are more beautiful pieces of engineering artwork!!

[@stephensmith799]

Apparently Robinson’s ‘Black Pig’ 4-6-0s were extremely sure footed. One footplate guest noted that on departing (I think from Leeds) the driver shoved the regular right open ‘to the roof’ and then took up a stance resting his elbows on the edge of the cab looking ahead for the signals. He was totally unconcerned that the loco might slip violently… and it didn’t.

[@simonsadler9360]

Had a holiday using the Cornish Riviera Express ,at times double headed King's!

[@tomtroszak]

Wow! I don't think I've ever heard another British loco bark like this before! Magnificent.

[@rogercantwell3622]

This is a double chimney King. They would have been louder with the original single chimney.

[@tomtroszak]

@@rogercantwell3622 Wow! Was there ever any film footage (or sound recordings) made of those?

[@stephensmith799]

Perhaps the toughest firing turn in the age of steam: a King from Paddington to Shrewsbury and BACK the same day back in the early 1960s...

[@83GrailwayProductions]

London Paddington to Plymouth on a king was pretty rough I’ve heard. five hours with three tough gradients

[@stephensmith799]

@@83GrailwayProductions You’d have to have come up through the links to have the sheer stamina to do that. It would be good to have some more articles by present day main line steam crew who have to fire without opportunities to build up and maintain muscle strength, cardiovascular fitness and all the skill needed. How they rate different classes would be good to know too. What I notice is that Bulleid’s Pacific’s are never shy for steam. When I look at the sectioned Merchant Navy at the NRM, the whole layout of the thing LOOKS free-steaming. Ironmongery it may be, but it’s magnificent! I’m reading ‘The American Steam Locomotive in the Twentieth Century’ (a hellish expensive but fantastic book) and the thinking that’s gone into steam has been very ingenious. As you can see, I’m a steam diehard! Try the ‘Mackwell Loco’ channel here on KZbin for a water-tube wood burning boiler alternative future for ‘sustainable steam’. Recommended.

[@johannessilver8653]

In Finnish locos there were a pneumatic door opener ...no need for the doorman. Kylälä was also a Finn to invent the double exhaust system which was a vital reason for Mallard to record speed. Thanks for the video.

[@robinforrest7680]

What a monster! Magnificent.

[@andrewwilliams2353]

Yup, the Kings and Castles could be Monsters al right - but very Elegant Brutes

[@shidzngigglez]

I genuinely thought that the King was being fired! He's only just got the job! 😂

[@mattyrallye]

Makes the hairs on my neck stand up

[@thetman0068]

Wow. Those great heaps of coal literally being sucked from the shovel into the fire is a tremendous sight!

[@ExoVyper]

I laughed a little reading this thinking it was a 'dramatization'... but no, it was utterly spot on. To see the coal sucked off the shovel is shocking!

[@jacobwoods8738]

@@ExoVyper If you work a loco hard enough (and it is big enough) it will suck the shovel from ones hands if not careful. I know someone who lost a shovel into the firebox in his younger days.

[@bobcannell7603]

I nearly lost a shovel into the fire in Poland. Was using it as a mask to look at the fire and the driver opened the regulator. Was pulled out of my hands. Managed to grab it . Most engines carry a spare for that reason. Fireman has to buy big drinks all round if he burns a shovel.

[@stephensmith799]

@@bobcannell7603 I read of a driver who was about to leave Derby on a GW loco after the gauge glass had shattered. The gauge glass try-cocks had been shut without scalding the crew. The driver was hell bent on maintaining the schedule even though the crew could not know with much accuracy what the water level was. The fireman argued back but the driver opened the regulator and began to move the train. The point of the story? The fireman had the presence of mind to throw the shovel out! The driver was as furious as he was crazy. But the fireman absolutely did the right thing!

[@arthurrytis6010]

@@stephensmith799 .Too right. I could never understand why GWR persisted with only one gauge glass on a loco

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

That king is making a loud noise and I can hear the echoing in the background at this clip outside Stratford upon Avon

[@theoldar]

A hundred years ago this happened thousands of times a day, all over the world.

[@bussesandtrains1218]

not quiet 90 years ago, sure

[@RogersRamblings]

Much less than that, steam didn't disappear from the BR main line until 1968. Steam continued on the Vale of Rheidol narrow gauge railway until 1989 when the railway was sold.

[@chriswilson2431]

Superb. A great match of skill on the footplate of a very experienced competent driver and an efficient fireman. I had no idea the draw from the fire was strong enough to suck lumps of coal that size from the shovel. Wow.

[@Isochest]

The downside to using a loco firebox as a barbecue!

[@richardananedickinson4812]

I was an old oak common fireman back in the I never got a chance to fire a king but you must remember they would never to fireman on the footplate and if you are firing working the doors you would be doing that by yourself and working the injectors as well normally the driver would not be standing it would be on that some head very clever inventions where they would bolt on a padded seat to the wooden one and not get off it until we had reached our destination or we were getting relief

[@kristinajendesen7111]

Makes me appreciate what my colleagues went through at Salisbury. I would have loved to have done it though despite the poor pay and conditions.

[@BrianClark-m4t]

When I was a fireman at Cardiff Canton in the early 1960s I never had a 'second fireman' I had to do it all myself. We normally used the firehole flap and rarely used the doors. I noticed the fireman did not put any coal in the back corners - this usually burnt the back of your hands. As for the driver wearing gloves - whatever next. That said wonderful video and long live the GWR,

[@julianmorris9951]

My old man used to work in Barry in the 80s , last off on valleys lines treherbert, not sure where he was before Barry but got picture of him in Neasden London in the 50s and a nice picture of him with his mate in front of a steam locomotive numbered 6695, the old man sadly passed away in 2008, Marcus morris.

[@leroyholm9075]

An amazing video!

[@harrymurray2515]

There was another version of this by PSOV.

[@gibb253]

without the narration-unfortunately it got taken down

[@harrymurray2515]

Railtour name: The Mothering Sunday William Shakespeare Express

[@zeppo7238]

Desperation is the English way! On most steam locos around the world the driver could operate seated with finger tip controls. This is unbelievable to see how you could possibly give full attention to the signals and tracks ahead. Shovelling from the floor of the tender..! That is absolutely back breaking, nice loco but so archaic.

[@TheSorub]

well it is nearly 100 years old

[@ex48bw]

More specifically, a 100-year-old Great Western Railway engine. The layout of the GWR's engines barely changed since about the year 1910.

[@royceorville2]

"Sire you have been fired" "What" "What"

[@arthurrytis6010]

Royce Orville. Well. Fire me again. Serf !

[@peterdollins3610]

There is no 'second' fireman. One fireman an engine & you are using the flap as you fire.

[@OlanKenny]

Who's t'other fella then?

[@peterpullen958]

This loco has THREE CREW

[@picman1986]

Curious myself, I spoke to a gentleman in my family who was on the railways for many years and had the privilege of driving Kings before electrification. He said that it wasn't uncommon for there to be 3 crew on the King Class on particularly hard climbs. The first fireman would feed the boiler with coal continually while the other would work the airflow via the firebox doors and regulate the water injectors to keep the engine at ful steam. They would then switch over so that the feeding fireman wouldn't be knackered come the top. He did say that the King class of steam engine could be a joy to drive on flat rail, but an utter pig if not fired right up a climb. I hope that helps clears up the question :)

[@ivorwiddison8678]

@@OlanKenny A BR inspector, helping out.

[@robinforrest7680]

The driver used to open the fire doors for me

[@andrewwilliams2353]

seeing the coal drawn off the shovel by the blast reminds me of a tale my Grandpa told me. He was firing a GWR 28xx goods train which was waiting in a passing loop for the express to pass. He thought he'd use the wait to have a bite of breakfast. The bacon was put on the washed coal shovel and put into the firebox. However, the signal came off, the driver started the engine and the bacon went up the chimney !

[@elliottube2008]

Nice one, thanks for that.

[@steamfandan9682]

Remember that happened on top gear back in 2009 when Clarkson was firing Tornado

[@andrewwilliams2353]

@@steamfandan9682 Serve him right ! Pity he didn't go after it !! Only joking.

[@steamfandan9682]

@@andrewwilliams2353 though have known other funny footplate cooking failures like someone tried cooking pork chops on the shovel then someone putting the blower On full

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

I saw that on dvd of the British steam railways with flying Scotsman

[@The8224sm]

Power and majesty, a sight to behold. It's a good piece of driving to catch that slip, the awful wheel slip of Peppercorn A2 Blue Peter shows how a wheel slip can turn into a disastrous tragedy.

[@harrycooke6349]

Amazing thanks for posting, we should never forget how vital the loco was to this country 🇬🇧

[@JamesWarrior]

Wonderful and informative video. Thank you.

[@andrewjohnfox]

Enjoyed all the comments about firing a King. On the Wolverhampton to Paddington run there was only ever a crew of two. i.e. driver and fireman unless they were being inspected as part of routine assessment. But unlike the LNER locos the GWR locos had deep fireboxes which could be filled up to the door at the back with usually about two tons of coal on for the start of the journey . It was hard work though, especially to find the front of the very long firebox. Filling the firebox could keep the engine going for a long time. At the London end of the journey the firebox would be be filled approaching Princess Risborough about 15 miles before Paddington to avoid excessive smoke in the capital city. On arrival the loco would then go to Old Oak Common shed for servicing and about four hours later with no more coal having been added, would back onto a train at Paddington for the return journey. To bring the fire back to life a long bar was inserted into the firebox and used to lift the fire and it would suddenly come alive again. Then the fireman would be hard at work again on the shovel for the return journey.

[@Aaron-uf3sl]

Is there video without the narration?

[@likklej8]

What line is that King on? The foot bridge doesn’t too GWR

[@HenryDover-Porter]

Raw power 💪👌

[@ollywelsh1198]

'Effing wonderful!

[@danguinan7238]

Where is this footage from?

[@ragusaboy96]

I'm afraid it's from PSOV Mainline.

[@ex48bw]

@@ragusaboy96 This particular clip actually comes from a DVD+magazine series called 'British Steam Railways' (or something to that extent) - PSOV Mainline used to have this as a stand-alone video, but that channel has vanished from KZbin for some reason.

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

Psov mainline

[@simonsadler9360]

Has the stupid rail system in the Un -United Kingdom had the sense to use the sand boxes ??

[@BeingRomans829ed]

Now that’s the way to fire a boiler; have you a flunkee to handle the doors for you.

[@rudycarlson8245]

What is the loudest steam locomotive in the UK?

[@7822welshsteam]

Probably a princess.

[@MauserKar98k]

Mayflower is definitely up there in my opinion.