Easter at Peak Rail

Click for larger view.
The 6-coach top-and-tailed train (Drawn by Charlie Baulkham.)

I was driver at Peak Rail on Easter Sunday, 31st March 2013. We ran the normal Sunday Service of five round trips between Rowsley and Matlock Town, top-and-tailed by a steam locomotive at the south end and a diesel electric locomotive at the north end.

Following the swan-song of 'Royal Pioneer' at the recent Blazing Saddles event, this locomotive has retired from traffic pending heavy repairs. 'Lord Phil' is now the regular steam locomotive. On Easter Sunday, Phil was Fireman and Dave was Cleaner. We had a good day, although it was rather cold.

I didn't take any photographs on the day but my young friend Charlie Baulkham produced a splendid panorama of our train, shown above.

'Lord Phil' photographed two weeks after Easter, facing the other way.