Today was the day I would finally get to go in the fully restored GWR Steam Rail Motor 93. I should have made the trip two weeks before but it was cancelled as the WCRC locomotive that was to be used to haul it from the Bodmin and Wenford Railway to Liskeard failed. In many ways the cancellation was good because today the weather was fantastic! Clear blue skies with the cold crisp wintery morning feeling.
I was booked onto the first run of the day, which was 0830 off of Liskeard. I arrived with plenty of time to spare (45 minutes) but even that made me one of the last people to get there!!! I managed to see it move off the yard and into the station. What a sight! The restoration is fantastic!
At 0830 on the dot we started our descent into the valley. We headed right I into Coombe Junction Halt for water. For the duration of the journey nobody was allowed off the train, not even at Looe. Part of the stipulations Network Rail laid down for its mainline certification.
The trip down the branch was made all the better thanks to the weather. It was stunning. It had been a few years since I last went on the branch. The return journey obviously involved the climb into Liskeard. I expected this to be a challenge but we climbed it with ease.
After the journey had finished I decided to drive to Terras Crossing and get photos of it. I was very pleased I did this as I got some really good photos.
Overall a great, if expensive day (£30 with fees etc) It was also my last outing on a train for November (only other trip was when I went on my great escape!). My trips have definitely dried up. December isn't going to be much better. I have a little trip to Dorchester planned with my wife and then I'm off to Darlington courtesy of a return trip free with East Coast.
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