We had a one-hour 'Driving Experience' course prior to the public service, so we came 'off shed' at Rowsley at 09:15 and made our way light engine to Darley Dale to be ready for our trainee, Mr. Stone, at 09:45. We spent the next hour trundling between Darley Dale (south of the Down Home signal) and Matlock Riverside (north of the River Derwent bridge). At 10:45, we left our trainee at Darley Dale and scuttled 'light engine' to Rowsley to pick up our train.
The Guard called us onto the coaches, Mike coupled-up and together we replenished the saddle tank. Taking water at the south end of Rowsley station is a bit tedious at present. A 4-wheel tank wagon is parked on an adjacent siding and filled from a water main via a ball valve fitted in the top of the tank. The water tank is connected to a portable water pump driven by a petrol engine. The water pump discharges through a long canvas fire hose which has to be dragged across to the steam locomotive and lifted up to the top of the saddle tank and secured inside the tank filler. We normally repeat this process two more times during the day.
The nicely-restored 'Shell Electrical Oils' tank wagon used as a water tank at the south end of Rowsley station.
We operated the usual five round trip service, hauling each train to Matlock (Town) and then suffering the indignity of being dragged backward to Rowsley by the Class 31. The picture below shows us passing Church Lane signal box on the way to Rowsley whilst being pulled by the Class 31.
Passing Church Lane, with a good view of the Midland Railway lower-quadrant signal in the 'Off' position.
The 'Palatine' Dining Train boarded diners on the 12:31 departure from Rowsley and we met up with our trainee again as he was dining on the train with his family to complete 'The Peak Rail Experience'.
The Derbyshire Dales Narrow Gauge Railway was running as a further attraction. I've written briefly about this railway here, with a link to my pictures.
The Limestone Run is a once-a-year run of about 100 miles around the Peak District for Vintage Commercial Vehicles. In 2013, it was held on 29th September, starting at Belper and terminating in the afternoon at Peak Rail, Rowsley. There are a couple of pictures below taken from my Set Vintage Commercial Vehicles at Peak Rail. You can find more pictures on Facebook here. We were very lucky with the weather and it was another good day.
Drivers relax having completed the Limestone Run.
Later in the afternoon, the yard had filled up with preserved vehicles.
My pictures
'Lord Phil'.
Vintage Commercial Vehicles at Peak Rail
