Tales Of The Rails: John Fletcher Main Line Footplateman

Product Description

John Fletcher began his railway career at the age of 15 at Lostock Hall loco shed near Preston in 1962 He soon progressed to became a fireman working around the shed & on the footplate in the twilight years of steam in the North of England Following involvement in the last BR steam runs in August 1968 he decided that the new railway was not for him so left to pursue a different career before returning to the railway until 1974 However it wasn't long before his skills were in demand on heritage railways & he found himself once more on the footplate firing on preserved locos on the West Somerset Railway & in particular the North Yorkshire Moors Railway eventually making his home in Grosmont From there he progressed to firing on main-line-registered steam locomotives on the national network taking him all over the country from Plymouth to Inverness & Norwich to Newport John is a natural story-teller & his fascinating & lively 'tales of the rails' not only explain the techniques of firing steam locomotives of many different classes but vividly convey the hard work the challenges & the sheer exhilaration of being 'on the shovel' when man & machine are working together out on the line These lively & varied tales include a stint on Hogwarts Castle on Glenfinnan Viaduct for one of the ' Harry Potter' films & journeys aboard a wide variety of engines from the ' Big Four' & beyond including among many others the LMS's No 6233 Duchess of Sutherland LNER 'A4' Sir Nigel Gresley SR No 34067 Tangmere GWR No 6024 King Edward I & the unique BR ' Pacific' No 71000 Duke of Gloucester