'Sunday Steam Sequel' at Foxfield Light Railway Station.

Sunday 20th June 2010. Following 'The Week That Was' which documented my week from Saturday 12th June to Saturday 19th June 2010, hubby and myself decided the next day we would visit one of the UK's earliest heritage railways at The Foxfield Light Railway Station in Stoke-On-Trent. We arrived early to see the Bellerophon reversing slowly out of the shed. What a beautiful magnificent steam engine stood  before us. I was surprised when the Engine driver beckoned me further forward onto the track to let me view it from all angles.

The Bellerophon was built in 1874 and is one of the oldest steam engines to be seen in action anywhere in the world. It offers an insight into the working development of early purpose built powerful industrial engines. Steam engines require a large amount of labour to load, maintain and run. This enthusiastic Engine driver was polishing and buffing Bellerophon until it shone so shiny that we could see his face mirror imaged on the engine.

Foxfield was a genuine industrial railway in days gone by and where a variety of locomotives, rolling stock and other items have been preserved and restored by volunteers since 1967. There is always hard work to do at the station which is staffed by volunteers. This volunteer was in all his protective gear repairing some metal work. He must have been hot as the heat was sweltering in the mid-day sun.

We stood at the end of the platform to see the signalling system, which controls the railway traffic to prevent trains from colliding. Foxfield Railway was built between 1892-1893 to provide a link to the national railway network for the Foxfield colliery on the Stoke to Derby main line. The steam train runs on a timetable on selected days and special events take place through the year including Summer Steam Galas, events and an opportunity to be an Engine Driver.

The station was the setting of 'Hanbury Halt' in the BBC Costume drama 'Cranford' and Bellerophon was the star engine... The Engine drivers then coupled the engine to the carriage and did their final checks before allowing the passengers on. We had purchased our two adult return tickets from the Booking Office and like a couple of excited kids we eagerly awaited to board the train. 

The smell of steam and engine smells wafted our way and we were absorbed in the buzzing activity. Jets of 'cloudy mist' projected into the blue summer sky as the driver sounded the train whistle which blew with the aid of live steam. I was so enthralled capturing the unfolding events that I had one eye on the engine, one on hubby and another in the viewfinder.(yes, that made three eyes as I was multi-tasking) I did not comprehend the way Bellerophon was positioned until later, when I was downloading my photos. I just presumed the engine went forwards but it appeared it pulled the carriage backwards.

Time to travel so all aboard..We stepped onto the carriage and chose our seats by the window for the five and a half mile round trip from Caverswall Road to Dilhorne Park travelling through picturesque scenic Staffordshire. The train conductor clipped our pink cardboard tickets and our 45 minute round journey began. The last time I was on this carriage it was the Santa Special many years ago......The powerful little engine chugged and chugged through moorland, woodland and climbed hills with a one in nineteen steep gradient from the old mining area. We saw ponies, trees, flowers and rolling hills and for one fleeting moment I could picture 'The Railway Children' waving to me from the bank as the steam train transported me momentarily back in time.

Dilhorne Park and it was the end of the line. The passengers climbed down onto the railway platform where we watched the Engine driver detach the engine from the carriage. The Conductor changed the track points on the line and Bellerophon is seen chugging up the track to join up with the carriage again, at the front of the train this time. The whistle sounds and it's all aboard again for the journey back. Like big kids we changed seats so that we could face the way we were travelling.(bet you've done that on a journey too) Looking through the window the same scene unfolded but in reverse order.

Our view through the carriage glass window ,without having a face full of steam, captures the ponies as the engine gained speed down the track. (the little one did have four legs in reality) 

We arrived back at the station. The carriage was detached and the little mighty engine sounded its whistle then slowly moved forward in readiness for the next train ride,which was an hour in time down the line. Steam 'smoked',whistled and whirled around the engine which has 125lbs steam pressure, 600 gallons water capacity and a wheel diameter of 4'...fascinating facts of Bellerophon.

The buffers can be seen which are a device to cushion the impact of rail vehicles against each other. As the engine chugged away from us we stood marvelling at its magnificent glory. We then had a look in the small museum at the few trains and memorabilia of days gone by. Then had a little peep in the souvenir shop and just had to purchase a 'Certificate of Travel' from the Booking Office to stick our punched ticket on. Travelling was thirsty work on a hot day and there was a licensed bar but hubby and myself enjoyed a cup of coffee and a delicious cheese and bacon oatcake...a Staffordshire delicacy.     This has been my 'Sunday Steam Sequel' following 'The Week That Was'. ... Thanks for travelling with me and I hope you have enjoyed the journey.