Today, I went to Alresford station on the Mid Hants Railway, otherwise known as "The Watercress Line"... the big attraction was the visit of the A1 Steam Trust Locomotive, "Tornado". This locomotive was built between 1994 and 2008 at a cost of Three Million Pounds, to fill the gap after all the previous class of A1 locos had been scrapped.... ( For More Information have a look at.... < http://www.a1steam.com/ >
It turned out to be a very special occasion for me, as I have been train spotting ever since I could count, read numbers and write ! ! .. which is over half a century and counting ! ! !... I have seen the Tornado before, and was suitably impressed !... however, I was allowed to "cab" it this time..... (for those who don`t know.... "cabbing" an engine is every trainspotters dream, it means getting on the loco footplate, to see how it works )... after so long, my dream came true, with many thanks to Driver Nigel Stinchcombe, for allowing me the privelige.... "Thank You Nigel".
Here are some pics of the day... Including a "panorama" of the controls of Tornado.....
(Click on the pics to enlarge them )
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| Tornado Controls |
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| The Mouth of the Firebox |
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| Tornado Driving Wheels |
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| A motley crew ! |
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| Driver Nigel Stinchcombe attacking his butty ! |
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| Right Hand Name Plate |
