Andy Beale
article by: Ian Crowder
In this 'Five Minutes With' we introduce the 2011 Chairman of
the Steam Locomotive Department, Andy Beale. Here he tells us
that he came to the Honeybourne Line as a member of the support
crew of visiting locomotive Kinlet Hall back in
2005. He - like many others, we suspect - would like to see
the railway extended into Cheltenham High Street while he harbours
a passion for all things Somerset & Dorset - especially the
elegant 2P class 4-4-0s that once ran over this sadly-missed
railway. He also acknowledges the support given to him by his
long-suffering wife, Donna!
My railway business card, if I had one, would
say: …
Two hats - one as chairman of the steam locomotive department
management committee, and secondly as locomotive procurement
officer (which means that I try to find locos for our galas and,
more importantly ensure we have enough engines to run our daily
services). I'm also a qualified fireman on our railway.
I first got interested in railways
because:
My father was a train spotter around Bristol in the 1960's and as I
grew up I started reading all his railway books. Also early
family trips to heritage railways meant that by the age of fourteen
I knew my Castles from my Kings!
A typical run-down of what I do for the railway
is:
Unfortunately, I now seem to spend a lot of time with paper work
and replying to emails (and writing about what I do in five
minutes…)! But the fact that I live 55 miles from the railway means
I don't feel so bad when I'm bashing the keyboard sat at home
working on railway business. But I do enjoy getting my hands dirty
when at Winchcombe, the present centre of steam operations.
I was prompted to get involved with the Honeybourne Line
by what or who - and when:
I'm a new boy! I have only been with the GWSR since March
2005 and the story is that I am involved with ex GWR Hall class
locomotive 4936 Kinlet Hall which runs on Network Rail.
The GWSR hired the locomotive during 2005/6 and I came along as
support crew. I enjoyed the railway so much I haven't looked
back!
The thing I like most about our railway
is:
I love the open views of the glorious Gloucestershire
countryside from the train. I have to say that working on the
footplate for a summer evening's dining train coming up from
Gretton with the sun low in the sky and the views across the valley
are very special. Now I almost get claustrophobic when I go to
other heritage lines set in cuttings or 'tunnels of trees'!
And the thing I like least:
People who forget this is meant to be fun and either moan about
something or won't come up with what they really think
up-front.
I think the greatest achievement of our railway
is:
As everyone else says, building what we have got with volunteers.
Although I have to say, with such a large infrastructure, keeping
everything going on a day to day basis is requiring more and more
work.
My 'real job' is:
I work for a company that undertakes 'information
management' and my job is a technical Illustrator. I get to
draw some great bits of kit, helping to show repair/replacement
part procedures and the like.
I always read (newspapers and/or
magazines):
Apart from when I'm on holiday, I don't generally have
time for newspapers. I keep up to date with all the heritage
railway business with Steam Railway which I've taken since
I was 15.
The headline I would most like to see in the newspapers
about our railway is:
As I have every belief that we will see Broadway connected
and a station rebuilt there, and even go on to Honeybourne, I'm
going to be totally fanciful and say 'GWSR opens new Cheltenham Spa
station in town centre!' Just a dream…?
My favourite railway company / operator
is:
Cat among the pigeons here - the Somerset & Dorset
Joint Railway (S&DJR)
…because:
I only live five miles from Bath Green Park and grew up next to
the Midland main line out of Bristol. Having read several books,
I'm in awe of the footplate men that worked locomotives over this
hilly stretch of railway. With the same surname as Donald Beale,
probably the most famous driver on the S&D, I'm quite proud of
that (although I don't think he is a relation)!
My favourite locomotive class is:
Tricky one this; as I didn't grow up seeing steam in daily
life. I've been very lucky to have driven and fired some fantastic
locos and what's funny is something you like visually in a picture
doesn't always make you so enthusiastic when you actually crew one!
To look at, I like SR King Arthurs/S15's, but I also like the
GWR Saints in their final form too. But in the end, with my S&D
and Midland leanings, I think I would plump for the Midland/LMS 2P
4-4-0s of which sadly, none survived.
…because:
As an artist, I find the engine's lines to be quite
elegant. Also the 2P 4-4-0s gave sterling service for 40 years over
the S&D even though with their large driving wheels they should
have been unsuitable for this hilly line! The fact that the men got
them to perform heroics can't all be down to the engine crew, the
locomotives must have been pretty good tools too.
If I was lucky enough, I would invest a
£1 million windfall on:
With my liking of the S&D I would probably have to kick-start a
plan to scratch-build an LMS 2P 4-4-0. Now that would fill a
big hole in preservation.
If I wasn't involved with the Honeybourne Line I would
probably:
Doing more on the main line with 4936 Kinlet Hall
In other spare time I also enjoy:
Reading and painting, although I now use the computer for
design work, I started out on the drawing board so its quite nice
to get back to this when I can - not that I have much spare
time!
My greatest achievement is:
Coming southbound over Shap on the footplate of Kinlet,
double headed with 4965 Rood Ashton Hall. Not many people
can say they have done that!
My biggest regret is:
That St. James's station in Cheltenham was demolished and
a Waitrose store built in its place.
This is what my family thinks about my involvement with
the Railway:
My mum and dad don't say much but I think they're quite
proud, whilst my wife Donna has never stopped me doing what I love
and encouraging me in my endeavours. For that I am eternally
grateful.
In 10 years time I think the railway:
Shall have gone from strength to strength. We have a good number of
younger members coming through and if we are to continue extending
and improving it is vital that this continues. As a guide, half of
the loco management team are under 40!
No-one on the railway knows this about
me, but:
I paint animal portraits in acrylics and gouache.
Editor's addition: the Midland/LMS 2P
4-4-0s
The LMS 2P class 4-4-0 was an elegant locomotive designed by
Fowler for light passenger work. Introduced in 1928, the
class was a post-grouping development of Deeley's earlier Midland
Railway 483 class (also later classified 2P). In all, 138 of the
Fowler locomotive were built in addition to the 175 members of the
earlier class. Some members of both types were transferred to
the Somerset & Dorset Railway where the earlier examples
carried the elegant Prussian Blue livery of that company.
As Andy Beale suggests, in some ways the use of these engines on
such a steeply graded line was an odd choice given their large 6ft
6½in diameter driving wheels. Nevertheless, they put in a lot
of useful work over this challenging route between Bournemouth West
and Bath Green Park. They lasted well into British Railways
days and the last were withdrawn in the early 1960s. They
could frequently be found paired with Bulleid Pacifics or Standard
classes hauling heavy express passenger services such as the
Pines Express.
Those latterly to be found on the Somerset & Dorset were
(British Railways numbers):
- Deely 483 class, 40322 to 40325
- Fowler 2P class, 40569; 40575/6; 40633/4/5; 40580
Regrettably, none were preserved although some time ago there
was a proposal to build a new one, which came to nothing. But
if Andy gets his £1m windfall…