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Ex-LMS "Jubilee" no 5690 "Leander" was due to haul a special across the Pennines, via Chinley and the Hope valley. There had been a bit of snow during the previous week, and the forecast was good for the Saturday - we'd better have a little trip out...

I can't remember the precise details of this outing. We drove up Chinley in plenty of time for the special - we were in time to see the diesel-hauled leg heading for Manchester. The former main line was in the throes of rationalisation, though it's gone much further since. The former 4-track route up to Chinley had been reduced to 2, though four tracks were available through the station to the junction. The special was due to stop (for water?) and to allow a Manchester - Sheffield local through, which meant we got two bites at the cherry...

The excitement over, we headed northwards. First stop was Dinting, where several well-known acquaintances were in residence. We then headed north again to Diggle, were we were able to snap three long-departed types - a "Trans-Pennine" DMU, and loco-hauled trains powered by a class 40 and a class 25. And that was it. I have memories of driving back through Buxton and through the snowy landscapes on the road to Leek, but why we drove home that way, I've no idea!

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