As operational staff on the Churnet Valley Railway, albeit volunteer, I underwent my medical today at Cheddleton as I do every year. All checked out OK, and there's even a bit less of me this year than there was last!
Afterwards, I went for a trip on the line, down to the Froghall terminus then up to Ipstones on the Cauldon branch hauled by one of Greg Wilson's two big S160 2-8-0 locomotives, 5197. On the rear was class 33 diesel 33102 'Sophie', and I travelled in the back cab so had a superb view of the line going along the Churnet Valley then up onto the Staffordshire Moorlands to Ipstones and back.
It's a bit noisy in the 33's cab, with the big Sulzer diesel engine roaring away in the engine room just the other side of the cab back wall, but the views as the first signs of autumn made themselves known were superb. The occasional golden blizzard of leaves from the trees catching the bright but lower than of late sun, the rowans fat with brilliant orangey-red juicy berries, and a slight mistiness softening the outlines of Bosley Cloud and The Roaches.
Frank's picture of 5197 storming up to Ipstones today. These beefy American locos with their two big cylinders have quite a bark on them. And the evocative chime whistle echoes up and down the valley like no shrill British one can.
A picture of 33102 'Sophie' I took a while ago.
A view from the back cab.
The big Sulzer diesel stands like a ship's engine in the middle of 33102's engine room. The engine instruments are mounted on the engine itself.
33102's generator in the engine room.
Another view out the back cab.
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