When I returned from national service in September 1953, I went straight into No 1 passenger link with Bill Turner, who was getting near to retirement by then. One of the jobs was to work the 10.52 all stations to Birmingham New St. with a Stanier 2-6-4 tank, 42577 was one of them. We then took the loco onto Monument Lane shed and disposed of it.

The return working was the 17.00 New St - Euston back as far as Rugby. This was a turn for a Class 5 which came on to Monument Lane shed after working in from Liverpool. So, the practice was not to coal up until the coal had been thrown forward, which was best grade passenger coal from Edge Hill. The train was usually 10 coaches and was quite sharply timed, 22 minutes for the 18 miles to Coventry and 15 minutes for the 12 miles to Rugby.

On the day in question we were told that a special party was travelling on the train and and extra coach would be added. (The party was the Pakistan cricket team who were touring that year). So, as we were 1 coach overloaded a pilot engine would be provided. We picked up the coaches from Monument Lane carriage sidings and rolled down into New Street where our pilot engine (a 4-4-0 Compound) was waiting. My mate complained why did we need that as we could manage quite well.

We departed on time and all was well, our engine was steaming well, I had got a good fire on, and I was sitting watching the world go by. The compound in front was bouncing about and clouds of black smoke were going everywhere. After about 12 miles we felt the brakes beginning to drag. My mate looked at me and at the steam gauge, (which was on the mark), and the vacuum gauge which, to our dismay, was dropping. My mate made some rude remark that the engine in front was short of steam, so my driver decided he would create the vacuum, which was wrong of course, but it kept the brakes off.

We arrived in Coventry on time, and we were met by a driver who was road learning asking for a lift. My mate asked if he would mind going on the leading engine to see what was wrong. Anyway, we set off for Rugby where we got relieved and the driver who was road learning also got off. We walked up the platform with him to hear a tale of woe. The fireman was only a passed cleaner and had not been on the main line before let alone a Compound, and had got no idea how to fire the engine, and the fire was in a terrible state. We did hear the next day when they got to Euston that the driver was asked to work his engine back, but he just walked off in disgust!