Sitting in the Tin Bath 29 March 2009

29th March 2009

The Past Time Rail / Ian Riley / West Coast Railway combo diversified today from the Cotton Mill formula to put on a new itinerary round the industrial Pennines. Starting as usual from Manchester Victoria, it took in Stockport, Sheffield, Barnsley, Penistone, Huddersfield and Brighouse, before heading home along the Calder Valley route. Brilliant sunshine followed our progress throughout the day, and the prowess of the two Black Rileys, Nos 76079 and 45407, was shown not so much in top speeds as in solid, steady climbing up many significant gradients. A full train, plus hundreds of linesiders, showed that well over 1000 people enjoyed the day.

The Black Rileys Nos 76079 and 45407 await departure from Manchester Victoria at the head of the Tin Bath excursion 1024x768 DSCF6635.JPG	The Black Rileys Nos 76079 and 45407 await departure from Manchester Victoria at the head of the Tin Bath excursion 1024x768 DSCF6636.JPG	The Black Rileys Nos 76079 and 45407 await departure from Manchester Victoria at the head of the Tin Bath excursion 1024x768 DSCF6648.JPG	Nos 76079 and 45407 have arrived in Platform 1 at Sheffield Midland 1024x768 DSCF6652.JPG
Nos 76079 and 45407 have arrived in Platform 1 at Sheffield Midland 1024x768 DSCF6655.JPG	No 45407 stands in Platform 1 at Sheffield Midland 1024x768 DSCF6656.JPG	No 76079 stands in Platform 1 at Sheffield Midland 1024x768 DSCF6657.JPG	Nos 76079 and 45407 stand in Platform 1 at Sheffield Midland 1024x768 DSCF6661.JPG
Nos 76079 and 45407 stand in Platform 1 at Sheffield Midland 1024x768 DSCF6664.JPG	No 45407 has collected much of the exhaust from No 76079 when passing through Cowburn and Totley tunnels 1024x768 DSCF6669.JPG	The train attracts many local admirers at Brighouse 1024x768 DSCF6678.JPG	Veteran driver Bill Andrew, the star of the West Coast footplateman, talks with an admirer at Brighouse 1024x768 DSCF6681.JPG