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(A new look for the Packet)!
Its the 1950s! And you are an engine cleaner or mail boy on the railway! Todays world fear is of Religion groups like Iran or ISIS and co’ getting hold of Nuclear weapons! The same story repeated of Fidel Castro installing them on the island of Cuba so many years ago? For the possibility of Earths very destruction? You go out with Drivers ‘Turns’ for changes to their time or destination? On your Pushbike or take a light engine to Exeter Central? Be it on Packets Royal Mail, Orient line, Blue Funnel, or Clan line etc? I could lift my arm to say stop! And General Steam Navigation would squeal to a stop beside me and my very heavy and important Mail bag! They now have the new Walshaert gear fitted! Later, You will have your own Merchant navy or whatever? You gaze down in wonder as to how the reverser shortens the valve stroke! You blast away under great strain from the platform to slowly bring the cylinder stroke inlet down as you then coast along at 90 MPH with your exhaust steam barely leaving the top of the boiler! (A short Air Spoiler may of stopped steam reducing our vision)? And should any linkage or fault with Radius arm incur, Then you will be the normal boiler first to Salisbury and at speed for the Radius rod to fall into the fully open position for safety? (It was always expected that a mainline engine would travel at its greatest speed when travelling boiler 1st)? I would keep out of the fireman’s way but watch the tricks? I would feed the back corners for if needed later? Nor fire under heavy going for unburnt coal to find the tubes! Could cold air over the brick arch cause damage? I don’t think so! A steady boiler water level and greater heat created when worked hard made steam the perfect machine! And of all the 1000s of trips i done, then I only stopped on ‘One’!! (The Royal Mail train to Bristol)! But there were some scary ones at times too? When driver give you a grin? You’re doing OK!
