Railway Forum - Introduction To Steam

HELLO TO ALL USERS,

This is my introductory report. I began in the steam days at YORK MPD 50A(now The National Railway Museum). My first experience of locos was a little scary.
The fitter to whom I was assigned had the job of removing a middle big end from an A3 which had failed the day before (AUGUST MON). This had been done when I was introduced to him and when the foreman had left he asked me to help remove the Heat Detector from the hollow crank. To this end he had arranged for a shunting loco to be attached an his mate was to stop it when the crank was in the correct position. Imagine, a 17 year old young lad fresh from school, watching a huge loco being moved above his head!!!!!
In later years I told this tale to the fitter concerned, and he was shocked!
He'd no idea tha I would be as scared as I was. Anyway, the apprentice's tale can be continued some other time. Thanks for reading this and I hope to hear from some of you in the future.
Barrie Pawson