A sight for the sorest of eyes?

This was posted to the Britrail mailing list last night by a train driver called "Mike".

Today Sunday 13th October I was due to sit spare at work. However due to the high winds here on the South Coast (Sussex) a tree fell across the railway line and one of my colleagues ran into it breaking the flexible brake hose on the front of his train. therefore I was scrambled to get a new unit out of the shed at Littlehampton and work it to London Victoria and back.

On the return trip from Victoria working the 21:17 to Portsmouth the rain was still falling and being driven by the cold winds. We arrived at East Croydon with time to spare and departed on time as well. As I passed under the station and road bridge the rain was lashing down still, the night sky was softly illuminated by the yellow glow from street lights. My eye spotted something that looked a bit unusual on the up slow line, it was the headlight that first drew my attention. My train gave a sudden jerk as it lost traction on the slippery rails, I shut off power content to coast over the points before trying again.

The headlight on the up slow drew closer and I could also see some dimmer lights to the side of it, and what looked like a very low cloud following it!

Then there she was, the unmistakable lines of a Bullied Pacific, just as she drew level with me she let out a long ghostly whistle to warn people as she headed towards the station. I caught a glimpse of the driver in the cab and the fireman hard at it, then the well maintained coaches passed by with passengers enjoying a far nicer time than the ones on my train.

All too soon this marvelous spectacle was gone, the distinctive smell of smoke lingered for a while but this to soon left as my train picked up speed and headed into the night. I realised that the 4CIG unit (1803) had probably seen sights like this back when it was new in 1963.

It's moments like this that make it all worthwhile and I wanted to share this with you. I think the loco was Clan Line I am afraid I was too shocked to think to make a note. The time was 21:37 and thank heavens for falling trees that's all I can say

Not sure what the "kettle" working was, but it demonstrates that main-line steam excursions are sufficiently commonplace in Britain that it's not a national event every time one happens. I remember queuing for a ticket at Slough three or four years back and hearing a steam engine whistle - then saw "Clan Line" rolling through on the down slow line with the VSOE pullman set; a magnificent sight!