TWO FRIENDS who worked together on the railway in Bromsgrove have enjoyed a reunion with a locomotive they both drove more than 60 years ago, writes Neil Gordon.
Darryl Lucas and Alan Spencer went on Vintage Train’s Whistling Ghost from Barnt Green to Somerset last Saturday, and were delighted to discover the diesel engine assisting their train, number 37240, was a locomotive they had operated in the 1960s.
Mr Lucas told how he joined the railway as a junior porter at Bromsgrove station in January 1962, before transferring to the steam shed where later he became an engine cleaner with Mr Spencer, who joined in February 1963.
Darryl said: “As Alan and I progressed, we began undertaking shunting duties and banking of trains up the Lickey Incline. “Initially on steam engines, before we began driving an allocation of six new diesel locomotives which arrived in August 1964.
“These new locomotives were numbered D6938 to D6944, including D6940 now 37240.
He added: “It was a pleasure to see 37240 on our train and to know it is the only survivor from that batch of six engines. “Credit goes to whoever saved and now maintains this locomotive.”
The Whistling Ghost excursion was hauled by steam engine 7029 Clun Castle through Barnt Green and Bromsgrove last Saturday morning with 37240 on the rear, as it headed to the West Somerset Railway at Bishops Lydeard.
And once at Bishops Lydeard the train was hauled by steam engines 7812 Erlestoke Manor and 2999 Lady of Legend to Minehead, before Clun Castle returned the train back to Birmingham.
Meanwhile, Alan said: “It was fantastic to discover the locomotive on our train was going to be 37240, it looked really good.
“I have fond memories of my time working on the railway at Bromsgrove. My first footplate job was fireman on a steam engine aged 15. “This was the 15 August 1963, just after the great train robbery.”
Alan added: “We had a great day out together and enjoyed passing over the summit of the Incline at 37mph on our return, with 37240 once again providing banking assistance.”
