Preparation & Disposal of a Locomotive on the

Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway

 

The Day normally Starts at around 7am when the fireman signs on duty and arrives at the Locomotive Running Shed to Start Preparing and Raise Steam on the locomotive

 

  

Before a fire is lit in the locomotive there are a number of checks to be completed including checking the firebox and smokebox for any signs of leaking water

 

 When all of the morning checks have been completed the fireman will light a fire in the locomotive firebox using wood and an oil soaked rag and then slowly adding coal to build steam preasure

 

  

While steam is been raised the fireman will ensure that the locomotive is cleaned and the brass work is cleaned ready for the days work on the line

 
 

When the steam preasure in the locomotive has been raised the locomotive starts the task of been inspected over the inspection pit

 

  

Once the locomotive has been inspected the ash is dropped and the locomotive boiler is blown down.

 
 

Next the locomotive bunker is filled with coal ready for the days work

 

  

Also the locomotives tanks are filled up with water

 

Once the locomotives days work has been completed the task of putting the locomotive away for the night begins by arriving at the yard at Llanfair

 

  

The locomotive is checked over to ensure all is in order after the days running on the line

 

The ash pan on the locomotive is dropped to remove all of the ash from the fire during the day.

The smokebox of the locomotive is also emptied of all the ash and soot from the days running before the locomotive is placed in the shed for the night.
 

The locomotive will simmer late into the night as the steam preasure drops and the fire burns out in the locomotive