Anyway, getting back to the 250 trips test for passed cleaners. At one time during the latter days of the war, manpower was short. Also, I suspect the 250 turns rule was being circumvented. We were working on the 2.28pm stopping train to Sheffield one day, when Inspector Charlie Timms climbed onto the engine. Charlie was a former driver, a very pleasant chap and a realist. The first thing he said was to take the flame scoop (baffle plate) out of the firedoor of the GNR ‘Atlantic’ we were working and put it in the corner.
Then he told me to go in the first brake van and make sure a fireman in there knew his rules before we reached Cottam, where the lad would change over with the one on the engine. Then I was to go through the rules with the one who had fired first. The second one would get off at Retford. He gave the definite impression that he had been expected to pass them at all costs. Some people are lucky and memory tells me both lads passed.
After passing the 250 turns test you were available for passenger work as required on the Supplementary Daily List. This added new dimensions to the job. You were working with some of the most experienced men and they were usually very helpful.
