... Journal Entry
One bright, sunny Sunday with The Watercress Line running a two steam locomotive service plus one diesel shunter making for a fab steam enthusiasts day out with some decent train snapping opportunities as ever as well.
The locomotive doing the honours this day were 41312 - LMS Ivatt Class 2MT and 506 - LSWR Urie S15 Class in the guise of The Royal Wessex. 506 Urie was doing double duty that day hauling normal passengers and also the silver service "Royal Wessex" fine dining Sunday lunchers in Pullman style carriages. Lucky souls, nice day for it.Additionally 08032 - Class 08 Shunter was on duty representing the diesel fleet shunting the carriage stock.
The weather was glorious for a change and it wasn't super busy so finding places to snag and snap the locos wasn't too bad at all this being an ordinary running day. On Gala and other special event days it can be a bit of a nightmare as you might expect.
The Watercress Line as the former MHR Steam Preservation Society used to have a large number of big powerful steam locomotive fully operational at any one time capable of hauling a full set of carriages "over the alps" from Alresford to Alton. Now they have just these two, the other 12 out of services for some time now. I hear they have borrowed/hired "Spam Can" 257 Squadron from mid-August to provide some extra motive power. Fancy new name for the railway, masking a less serious intent maybe?
A pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon, driving and firing a vintage steam locomotive. Every boy's dream for a certain generation. Living, breathing machines.
The villainous Diesel; powerful, efficient, convenient, reliable, easier to operate, smelly, soulless and boring. Give me the fire breathing dragon locomotive of steam any day.
I always enjoy watching the interlocking safety token being handed off, above,; a bit of old world Victorian technology and effective today as it was back then on these single track steam railways.
The guy above had just been coupling the engine to the carriages and was striding his way purposefully to attend to something at the front end. I just loved the size of his work boots; that's some serious safety footwear.