A RAIL37 Churnet Valley Railway picture report


BLACK PRINCE
& A BLACK 8
20th June 2004

 Another tip down the valley, this time to see if the latest visitor was around.
92203 "Black Prince" is on holiday in Staffordshire until the end of July 2004.
Service engine today was Stannier 8F number 48305 seen here leaving Froghall.


 The weather was appalling with torrential rain for most of the day. If nothing else it made the valley even greener as we steamed North for Leekbrook and Cheddleton.


 After a couple of circuits and another great meal at Froghall I want up to Leekbrook to watch the runround. 305 is running under the Leek-Cheddleton overbridge.


 End of the line.


 Although it was mid Summer, the cold and wet gave the impression of Winter with plenty of visible vapours!


 Resting while the stock is detached.


 Beginning the run round.


 Moving in on the stock.


 8F in the undergrowth.


 Pulling away for Cheddleton.


 305 going to ground en route for Consall and Froghall.


 Having read so much about the possibity of an extension on the Cauldon branch, I went up the road from Cheddleton to where the branch crosses the road, to see what condition the line was in. This gate is on the Leekbrook side...


 ...and this is the line.


 The gates on the Cauldon side...


 ...and the line heading up bank.

 I had managed to catch a glimpse of Black Prince, minus tender, in the shed yard at Cheddleton but was delighted when, after the tender had been attached, to see that the 9F was being pushed towards the bay platform.


 Many years ago I went down to London with David Cawthorn and Alan Hall to receive an award for work done on Cheddleton Station. The awards were being presented by David Shepherd, owner of 92203, and, in chatting to him and getting him to sign a copy of his book, we little realised that his wonderful locomotive would one day be running down the valley line which, in those days, was no more than an almost abandoned sand siding.


But here it is in all its glory.


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