...the 11.47 ex Wigan Springs Top Yard pick-up freight was also in trouble. The normally reliable 'Black 5' was starting to slip on the steep gradient up to Middleton Top. The driver was leant out the side peering through the snow in to the freezing night to see if the distant was on or off. The fireman had problems of his own. Water was in the bottom nut, she wasn't making steam due to a heavily clinkered grate and the needle was falling back. If she went over the top now she'd expose her crownsheet and likely drop a plug...
The consequences were unthinkable. Bert had a family to feed and needed fireman's rates, he couldn't afford to fill out another 'please explain' and find himself back in the shunting links with the cleaners and cripples. He put the injector on, mortgaging the boiler, rolled a fag and tried to avoid the driver's glaring gaze.......
Meanwhile.....