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The first view is from the road bridge, probably
the second most dangerous spot on earth after Death Valley. Have
you seen the heavies going up and down the hill - wow!!! The
train announces its presence with a warning hoot as it passes
through the Thomas Bolton copper mill and emerges from the lineside
arboreal display. |
Looks like there
is some good old nutty slack on board here.... |
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After detaching
from the train the loco picked up some water from the fully operational
crane and ran through the loop. Here it pauses while the fireman
changes the points in favour of the running line. |
Running back
to join the train as the 11.34 for Cheddleton via Leekbrook. |
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The journey
North was pleasant and uneventful until, that is, we stopped
at Cheddleton. I was just getting off the train when I heard
a noise near the mess hut (sorry weighbridge office). I looked
up to see a runaway horse hit the back of a people carrier and
lift it off the ground into the fence. The horse, in mad panic,
then ran back up the hill with hooves skidding and legs everywhere,
to just miss another car and divert into the car park field.
Onlookers quickly shut the gate where the badly bleeding animal
was contained. Terry Essery was a hero in talking to the mare
and calming her down while a vet was summoned. We were advised
later that the horse was stitched up and left to recover in its
stable. |
I caught the
first train of the day which was well loaded and there were many
more passengers waiting to board at Cheddleton. Here I stayed
to have a nose around. 33102 had been positioned in the bay platform
and looked quite resplendent in the bright morning sun. |
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80136 left with
the 12.20 for Consall and Froghall while I went to find the food
tent! |
Whilst on the
opposite platform I took another shot of the Class 33 diesel,
pity about the lamp posts. |
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When the loco
shed/museum was eventually opened up there were the usual "Keep
Out" signs with much barrier work. There is scant regard
given to photography on the CVR. Nothing was happening, nothing
was moving, where is the danger? Here one of the Class 08 shunters
is under repair. |
I spent a good
40 minutes sat in the warm sunshine at one of the Cafeteria tables
which had been thoughtfully placed on the platform and then photographed
the standard tank as it returned with the 12.54 from Froghall.
Normally the train does not stop but, today, it did to allow
the unfortunate motorist victims of the horse incident to alight. |
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Pausing briefly
to set down the worried car owner the train continued on its
way to Leekbrook. |
When the train
came back to Cheddleton I boarded it for the return journey to
Froghall and once again took advantage of the Buffet Car goodies.
Uneventful again but no less pleasant as we trundled down the
valley and past the crowded Black Lion to arrive at journey's
end. I wanted to shoot the runround from a different angle so
went to the bottom of the car park to see the loco reverse away
from its train. |
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One could imagine
this as a turntable shot - if only it were true, no more bunker
first operations. |
Onto the loop........ |
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.......and up to the water crane for replenishment. |
A quick dash
across THAT road again to see 80136 wait for the points change
with safety valves lifted. |
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Back onto the
train and a short wait for the crowd (honest) to re-board the
train. |
Nearly there........ |
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.........a final look at the cab........ |
........and away we go. |
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I indulged in a pleasant cup of tea with the acting
Station Master and thoroughly enjoyed the sheer peace of the
occasion. It's an oasis in this increasingly mad, mad world of
control freaks around every corner! Sadly this was the last mid-week
operation but there are always weekends - I haven't finished
yet, watch this space. |
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