© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2012 It could have been worse, as the brave souls beside the Thames found out the following day. The grey skies may have been unbroken - but the rain stayed away, apart from a light drizzle at the end of the day. And the cold, moist air meant there was plenty of visible steam. There were twelve locomotives in steam today - one fewer than last time, when thirteen proved unlucky for the big Mallet No 9, on this occasion standing cold in the shed. As ever, though, there’s something new - on this occasion it would be the remarkable Corpet-Louvet 0-6-0 pannier tank. This time last year, the unusual steam locomotive was parked on blocks beside the turntable. Today it looked like a brand new (if somewhat old- fashioned) engine. Its horizontal cylinders are mounted much higher than is usual, connecting to the wheels by a substantial rocking lever - an example, apparently, of “Brown’s indirect motion”. It’s quite a sight to see that motion in action - it looks as though it ought to tie itself in knots at the slightest excuse... Today’s dozen were: “Minas de Aller 2” Corpet 439 of 1884 Trangkil No. 4 - HE 3902 of 1971 "Statfold" - HE 3903 of 2005 "Jack Lane" - HE 3904 of 2006 "Harrogate" Peckett 2050 of 1944 Sragi No.1 - Krauss 4045 of 1899 Sragi No 14 "Max" - O&K 10750 of 1923 Pakis Baru 1 - O&K 614 of 1900 Pakis Baru 5 - O&K 1473 of 1905 "Saccharine" - Fowler 13355 of 1914 Isibutu - Bagnall 4-4-0T 2820 of 1945 Hudswell Clarke 1643 of 1930 Once again, and despite the weather, a great time was had by all. There weren’t going to be any photographic masterpieces, so we made it a lazy day, wandering down to the loop at the far end, riding back, having lunch and a chat with old friends, another ride and a walk back - and taking time just to watch the almost continuous steam action. Out in the fields, there’s nearly always a smudge of smoke and trail of steam somewhere in the landscape. Link: Statfold Barn Railway official website First sight of the Corpet-Louvet Topped and tailed - Pakis Baru 1 and the Hudswell (formerly known as Bronllwyd) Harrogate is steaming well Sragi No 1 on the freight Statfold and Jack Lane "ought to tie itself in knots " Taking a ride - four for the price of... A new candidate for the works? Hudswell Clarke 1056 of 1908 Saccharine makes lots of steam The Pakis Baru Mallet Sragi No 1 (again!) approaches Sragi No 1 heads for the loop Saccharine heads for home Sragi No 1 approaches Oak Tree Halt Isibutu on the bank Harrogate on the day's last passenger working... ...passes the Statfold home signal (which does lean...) Day's end - the line up That's all folks - time to put them all away