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way
 Shackerstone is the headquarters terminus of the
"Battlefield Line" which runs via Market Bosworth to Shenton, close by
Bosworth Field. I'd visited Shackerstone once or twice in the early days,
before anything was running, but never travelled on the line. We actually
paid a visit four years ago, intending to travel. But services on that day
were in the hands of a scruffy ex-main line (and still in its main line
livery) class 31 diesel. So instead, we spend our time in the John
Jacques's excellent and amazing little museum in the station buildings -
well worth an hour or so of anyone's time.
Today, I took the precaution of phoning first...
Services were in the capable hands of "Sir Gomer", Peckett 0-6-0ST 1859 of
1932. Sir Gomer worked for the NCB in South Wales - a resident of Mountain
Ash, though I never managed to see him there.
 We joined the 1.20pm service for the pleasant run to
Shenton. Trains are currently passing straight through Market Bosworth's
fine station. I'm not sure why, although it looks like the signal box has
had some attention from the local vandals. A line like this is ideal for
these ex-industrial locos. It's not really long enough for a run at
reasonable speed (25mph...) behind a main line locomotive, but fine for a
slowly chugging industrial. Apart, that is, from the rather insistent
fore-and-aft motion of the train - I think Sir G's valves could do with
some adjustment. Come to think of it, the exhaust was somewhat "one -
TWO - three - four"...
 We detrained at Shenton to watch the loco run round its
train, before the return run to Shackerstone, revisiting the many rabbit
holes and badger setts evident along the lineside. The weather had been
kind to us so far; however a sharp shower at Shackerstone send us
scuttling to the station shop. It cleared for the departure of the 2.40
train - and then it was time for our departure too. An enjoyable little
outing, in the company of a fine locomotive.
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; "John Jacques and his museum")
; "Coaling at Shackerstone")
; "Decoupling at Shenton")
; "A good fire in the box")
; "Running round at Shenton")
; "How many railwaymen does it take...?")
; "Sir Gomer and Shackerstone box")
; "Peckett posing")
; "A smoky start at Shackerstone")
; "Time for a drink")
; "Other things - 03 170 and 33 053")
; "47 640 at Shackerstone")
; "Steam in the fields - a last look at the line")