I spent the morning train spotting at Gooey station on the WGLR. This terminus station is in a very confined space, which means that there is no room for run-round facilities. So all locos have to be released by the duty station pilot, leading to some interesting shunting moves.
An up passenger train pulls in to platform 1 behind No.4 PARRY THOMAS, a French built 0-6-0T dating from the early 1920's.
Today's station pilot was the former tramway Diesel NELLIE. She is seen ticking over in platform 2 while the passengers de-train.
Nellie is attached to the coaches and pulls them clear of the platform. As this is a shunting move, the starter signal can be ignored.
The train is propelled into platform 2, allowing No.4 to be released ..............
........ and cross the station throat towards the interchange yard and loco siding ...............
............ where she is positioned alongside the coaling stage for a quick top up.
With the station clear, the pilot can draw the coaches forward and re-position them in platform 1, ready for the next down service ..............
........... before uncoupling and returning to platform 2 to await her next job.
She seemed to travel quite a way down the platform, but the reason for this soon became evident as No.4 left the coaling stage and also reversed into platform 2. The little shunter had left room for the steamer to access the water crane.
An up passenger train pulls in to platform 1 behind No.4 PARRY THOMAS, a French built 0-6-0T dating from the early 1920's.
Today's station pilot was the former tramway Diesel NELLIE. She is seen ticking over in platform 2 while the passengers de-train.
Nellie is attached to the coaches and pulls them clear of the platform. As this is a shunting move, the starter signal can be ignored.
The train is propelled into platform 2, allowing No.4 to be released ..............
........ and cross the station throat towards the interchange yard and loco siding ...............
............ where she is positioned alongside the coaling stage for a quick top up.
With the station clear, the pilot can draw the coaches forward and re-position them in platform 1, ready for the next down service ..............
........... before uncoupling and returning to platform 2 to await her next job.
She seemed to travel quite a way down the platform, but the reason for this soon became evident as No.4 left the coaling stage and also reversed into platform 2. The little shunter had left room for the steamer to access the water crane.
