Saturday 25th October 2003
Thompson B1 61264 brings the railtour into Gainsborough Central
station. The arrival here was some
105 minutes late, attributed to coaching stock problems at Kings
Cross. The train ran from Kings Cross
to Grantham electric hauled. 61264 then took it to Nottingham, Sheffield,
Retford, Gainsborough,
Barnetby, Ulceby, Immingham, Great Coates sidings (Grimsby) and
return to Grantham via Lincoln
and Newark where electric haulage took over again for return to
the capital.
Gainsborough Central has not seen crowds like this for many years,
as passengers disembark,
whilst water is taken from a hydrant.
Opportunity is taken to clean out the char from the locos smokebox.
This is shovelled onto the
ballast rather than into the waiting wheelbarrow, which could have
been unpopular with the crowd on platform!
Support crew shovel coal forward in tender as the scheduled 38 min
stop here comes to an end.
Brigg station. 61264`s safety valves lift as it passes through this
sleepy station.
Again many people have gathered here at Brigg to see the return
of steam.
Heading towards Brigg signalbox and level crossing.