The final Wednesday
steam working of the 2003 season (excluding special events) so
I decided to take a ride. I had previously found some shots I
took at Froghall in December 1993, almost 10 years ago - can
it really be that long?
The changes
are dramatic to say the least!
Steam in the
valley with the S160 on duty and starting the runround procedure.
It is becoming
increasingly difficult to find anything different now so I decided
to go for the period look of sepia and black and white. Again
I appeal to the powers that be to allow locomotives to face South
once in a while! 5197 poses while the points are changed.
Ready to go
with an admiring crowd. It is great to see the station busy like
this.
A sneak shot
through the trees.
A fascinating
fact is that as the smoke exits the chimney, it swirls quite
distinctly in an anti clockwise direction when viewing from the
top. Ho Hum!
Complete with
a mug of coffee from the the Buffet Car, it was a charming trip
to Cheddleton where 68030 was on display.
No visit to
the Boat Inn today as I decided to try the food at the newly
opened Cafeteria at Froghall, talk about a room with a view.
The food was, to put simply, great - try it sometime.
I had about
45 minutes to kill while waiting for the return train so I decided
to go for a walk and see the remnants of some local history.
The bridge parapet of the line running from Froghall Junction
to the canal basin can still be seen by the bus shelter at the
entrance to Bolton's car park. This shot is of Froghall Tunnel
at the Southern end of the Cauldon Canal. It has just reopened
after remedial works to the canal bank and does look somewhat
claustrophobic.
5197 returned from
Cheddleton and prepared for the next run, again the passengers
were watching the proceedings with fascinated interest.
Everyone aboard
and all doors closed as the train departs.
A study in motion
and no! I wasn't as close as it would appear!
