It was a Saturday afternoon in the summer. We had an express to Crewe with a 2000. I said to Pete on the way up "What have we got booked back Pete?" He said another 2000", as we had an express back also. I said "Nah! We want a nice Big Green Brittania, on the way back, to give me something to do."

We got relieved at Crewe and went across to Crewe North shed. There on the board was "10.53 from Workington - 70014". Pete said "You Bugger, you got your wish" He said "You go and mash up, I will go and find it, to see if it has been prepared."

I mashed up and made my way to the engine. What a sight to behold was there before my eyes. Fresh out of Crewe Works, freshly painted, the sun gleaming off the brass work, was Brittania No 70014 "Iron Duke". Many of the shed staff were milling round admiring the engine for it's beauty, and I climbed on board, feeling very proud of myself. I can remember now, trimming the coal and going under the coal shute to top up, and then trimming it again, before we went off the shed.

We went over to the station and all the station went wild as the train spotters saw us arrive. Cameras and cine cameras were put into use immediately. We sat on the up line waiting for the “10:53 from Workington” to arrive. We were due to leave at 14:15, but by 14:30 it had not arrived. It arrived at about 14:35, 15 coaches long.

The 2000 unhooked and we backed up and hooked on. Train spotters were going mad to try to “Cab” us before we left. I can remember a train spotter with a cine camera came to me and asked me to give a good long blast on the whistle as we left the station. We left at 14:45, exactly 30 minutes late and we were first stop Rugby. I asked Pete if I could carry out the train spotters wish and give the whistle a nice, long blast, “Yeah! Keep him happy” he said.

As we approached Whitmore troughs, I thought I had better top up the tank. I looked out of the cab window to the rear, and saw this train spotter with the camera, leaning out of the window. I beckoned to him to get in and shut the window, because of the spray, he waved back. What a nice guy, I thought. I did the same again. He waved back, again. What a Pillock, I thought, and duly lowered the shute into the trough.

Now all firemen know, that lowering the shute is easy. Getting it back up is blooming hard work, because of the pressure of the water on it. The tank, needless to say overflowed, and washed the first coach, a treat. I looked out of the cab for the intrepid cameraman. He was not to be seen, strange I thought, where’s he gone. We continued our trip, never saw a peg all the way, and when Pete tries to recover lost time, he goes at it like a bullet out of a gun.

We approached Nuneaton station at full speed. I can remember blowing the whistle for many seconds and watching the passengers scatter off the platform as we went through. We must have been going like stink, because even the Bobby’s leaned out of the box window and waved their hats at us when we went past. In the field opposite the box, many train spotters waved us on.

We arrived at Rugby Station at 15:50, 10 minutes early, not only had we made up lost time, we had gained some. I looked at the first coach, and there was water, still running out of the crack under the door, I wonder what caused that, I thought. I said “Which way are you going back to the shed mate, down the platform?” As all the passengers were looking out of the windows, I wanted my moment of glory. But we went across the walkway near the front of the engine, Pete was a very modest man.

I have seen Pete recently in Rugby, he still remarks about that trip. He was shocked at all the information I could recall about that trip, it was a very memorable day for me. One thing I didn’t know though was the speed we were doing as we went through Nuneaton Station. He told me, we were doing just over 90mph.

He was a Mad Bugger, was Pete. But a fabulous mate to work with.

Arfur Pratt