Tough times but happy ones

Jun 9 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

Tough times but happy ones

FORMER British Railways driver and fireman Spencer Wissett, left, remembers the great days of steam – and the not so great ones, too.

Back in 1964, he was fireman on The Merseyside Express, the main businessmen’s service from Liverpool to London.

On this occasion, it was hauled by the celebrated Princess Coronation class steam locomotive, Duchess of Hamilton, now preserved at the National Railway Museum, York, but then based at Liverpool Edge Hill depot.

In spite of “the Duchess” being one of the most powerful locos in the country, it was heavily taxed by hauling trains far heavier and longer than nowadays.

“We had 14 coaches on at Lime Street and then a further two through coaches from Southport to Euston were added,” says Spencer, 71, who started at Brunswick shed and finished at Warrington in 1996.

“It was a tough job for the engine to get such a big train up Edge Hill cutting. You didn’t want to use too much water, as Halewood troughs had been removed with the line being electrified.”

These troughs were laid between the tracks so that steam engines could scoop up water without stopping.

“The driver was very conscious of the water, coaxing the locomotive along until we could stop for water, which made it harder for me,” says Spencer.

“A fireman would shovel four to six tons of coal on the three hours 45 minutes fast run to London, and have to climb into the tender to pull coal forward. You were done in by the time you got there, but I was young and fit in those days.

“I suppose that’s what’s kept me going – that and the pills!

“Working physically hard was just part of the job. As railwaymen, we had a grand time socially. There was great camaraderie.

“On that run with the Duchess, we arrived about 30 minutes late into Euston which, with all the speed restrictions due to the electrical engineering work, was about average.”