It doesn’t seem long since the smaller locomotives were emerging from hibernation – now they’re having a bit of late summer fun, before being put away for the winter… Yes, there were two great galas to choose from this weekend – but there was no need to choose – we could do both. The only debate was “which day?”. So we went to Chasewater (heads) yesterday, and Apedale (tails) today, and came home with lots of photos to work through.

There will be “Rail Diaries” pages; in the meantime, a couple of tasters – “Colin McAndrew” and “Linda” make a steamy departure from Brownhills West with the coal (empties) train; “Marchlyn” and “Joffre” pose at the rebuilt Silverdale station, Apedale.