Following the July 'Day Out with Thomas' events (see earlier post), the Battlefield Line ran four more 'Day Out with Thomas' events in October 2008.
I was rostered on three of these days. On the first Saturday, 11th October, I was on the footplate of 1306 'Mayflower' which took the 11.15 a.m., 12.30 p.m., 2.0 p.m. and 3.15 p.m. departures from Shackerstone. On the next day, the 12th October, and the following Saturday, the 18th October, I was on 'Thomas' with Adrian. 'Thomas' was busy all day. In addition to hauling two service trains to Shenton (the 10.00 a.m. and the 4.30 p.m. 'Tea with Thomas'), Thomas engaged in races and playlets in Shackerstone station and went on a number of 'Thomas and Daisy Shuttles' with the 2-car DMU to Headley's Crossing (at 12.05, 1.20 p.m., 1.40 p.m., 2.50 p.m. and 4.05 p.m.). The video below shows one of the 'Thomas and Daisy Shuttles'.
The event was very well attended and 'Thomas' behaved impeccably, attracting a lot of interest with his new 'chime' whistle. This Hunslet locomotive should be a saddletank, but has recently received a 'make-over' as 'Thomas'
There are a few pictures of the event - Click here.
There are a few pictures of 'Thomas' during preparation - Click here.
