THE TRAINS OF ‘GRANTHAM’
So, having built a grand ‘stage’, it would seem a little churlish not to put on a production to match? Let’s take our lineside seats and watch the action unfold on the platforms of Grantham station circa 1938, with our notebooks in hand. It’s a few minutes before midday and a ‘down’ van train has recessed in the goods avoiding line to the west of the station. In the northbound locomotive spur, a vision in apple green by the name of Tracery sizzles patiently.
A ringing of bells between the signal boxes is followed by a clattering of somersault arms denoting route clear through the station. A few more impatient minutes pass until the sound of the iconic chime whistle away to the south raises the excitement levels. Heading directly towards us on the long straight approach, that garter blue front end takes its time to arrive before we feel obliged to take a cautious step back as the non-stop ‘Flying Scotsman’ service elegantly glides past, the uniform teak stock varnished to perfection. In the dining cars, we catch a momentary glimpse of the first sitting for lunch.
The iconic train sails gracefully over the rooftops of the town, as it takes the gentle curve north of the station. As it does, we notice a southbound coal train, held at the signals on the Nottingham line. As soon as the route is clear, its O4 2-8-0 locomotive hustles its wagons back into motion and snakes across the junction steadily but purposely – it only has a small window of opportunity to access the up relief line south of the station.
As soon as it is clear, the signals go again for the following express, but this brings the 10.05 relief (invariably referred to as the ‘Junior Scotsman’) to a smart stand in platform 3. Within moments, the buckeye coupling is released, the brake pipe disconnected and the locomotive shuffles away onto the Nottingham line, before reversing towards the locomotive depot. As it does so, from out of a loud cloud of draincock steam emerges the replacement Grantham-based Gresley A1 pacific, positioning itself alongside the signal box, before backing onto its waiting carriages. The crew has just a few minutes to prepare themselves for the task ahead as the station staff complete their duties. A sharp blast from the whistle and takes the strain, gradually urging its long train into motion, older teak stock this time, cascaded from an earlier version of the ‘Flying Scotsman’ but still looking smart, headed by the through composite locker Perth coach.
