Sir Hectimere
Prep & Disposal - 30856
One of the more arduous aspects of footplate work illustrated here.
After coaling an arriving Lord Nelson 4-6-0 No. 30856 "Lord St. Vincent," a Nine Elms fireman, engaged on prep and disposal work, starts to stack and bring the coal forward by hand, piling the larger lumps around the outside, and shovelling the rest to form a neat pile in the centre of the tender. Prep and disposal duties consisted of long arduous days and very little glamour.
The firebox on a Nelson was very long and dropped forward over the rear axle, any clinker down in the front of the box under the brick arch was a pig to get out using the long 'paddle' shovel. No drop grates on a Nelson, just plenty of 'collar.'
To the left, the first rebuilt Merchant Navy pacific No. 35018 "British India Line" prepares to depart for Waterloo. Whilst rebuilt West Country class pacific No. 34016 "Bodmin" follows 30856 over the ashpits.
Camera - Fed II 35mm.
Film - Ilford HP3.
Prep & Disposal - 30856
One of the more arduous aspects of footplate work illustrated here.
After coaling an arriving Lord Nelson 4-6-0 No. 30856 "Lord St. Vincent," a Nine Elms fireman, engaged on prep and disposal work, starts to stack and bring the coal forward by hand, piling the larger lumps around the outside, and shovelling the rest to form a neat pile in the centre of the tender. Prep and disposal duties consisted of long arduous days and very little glamour.
The firebox on a Nelson was very long and dropped forward over the rear axle, any clinker down in the front of the box under the brick arch was a pig to get out using the long 'paddle' shovel. No drop grates on a Nelson, just plenty of 'collar.'
To the left, the first rebuilt Merchant Navy pacific No. 35018 "British India Line" prepares to depart for Waterloo. Whilst rebuilt West Country class pacific No. 34016 "Bodmin" follows 30856 over the ashpits.
Camera - Fed II 35mm.
Film - Ilford HP3.