Charles Caito Feature Photography
UGLY
This photographshows an old Shunting engine from the Bodman Railway in St. Michaels, England. Several years ago, as a birthday present my wife bought me lessons for a three day course on how to run a steam engine. The only instruction I received beforehand was to bring old clothes and some sort of hat. I was so excited that I outfitted myself in a blue Dickey boiler suit and a leather cap, the kind an old steam engineer or fireman would have worn.
The course included one day of being an engineer, one day as fireman, and finally one day of learning how to oil the under carriage, empty the fire pit and wash/wipe down the outside of the engine and bring on water. I did not drive the ULGY but instead drove one of the regular engines. I believe it was the LSWR(SR) Beattie Well Tank 2-4-0 WT No. 30587. That seems to be the only engine of its sort that was in service in the late 90s when I took the course.