What a day! I will not forget the thrill....
Up at 6 am. - ready and waiting to be picked up by 8.00, with a pack of sandwiches and a flask. I just knew today would be a success from the start! The Cameras and Lenses were tightly packed in my Hard Case, dust-free and gleaming like new.
We arrived at 11, but had to queue for 30 minutes before purchasing railside passes and hiring the required Safety Jackets, in bright orange - yukk!
The Star of the show came into view... Backwards!
The Green Arrow performed superbly, steaming along the Bluebell Railway line. Several hundred spectators thrilled at the sight, cameras clicking at every puff of steam - including mine! The engine was decoupled and run round to the front of the train, which included the superbly restored LNER Directors' Carriage, ready for the next trip down memory lane.
There was a small incident when one spectator (who apparently had hearing and other problems) got in the way of others taking their pictures, but this did not detract from the scene at hand. He was discretely asked to consider others in his actions, and all was well once more.
At last the Engine returned and came to a halt, right in front of the Family - but I was on the wrong platform, having finished a complete film on the first pass! I quickly jogged around to the other side, up / over the bridge, trying to load another film into the camera, arriving to find one of my friends talking to the Crew.
It was then (thanks to him) that my dream came true....
He had told them about my Grandfather, and they invited me up to enter the Cab! I was overcome as I traced his steps, so long ago, climbing up carefully to where the young Fireman was topping-up the now- raging fire! The Driver was enjoying one of those legendary Mugs of Tea as I stepped onto the footplate.
Steam was up to 170 psi - it was almost ready to go... This was heaven on wheels, and I was loving every second of the 15 minutes I spent with the three-man Crew, before they had to depart on the next trip up the line from Platform One. We talked of past times, the role my Grandfather played throughout WW2, and the tragic loss of oh-so-many fine Engines in the 60's.
In the end, I returned with memories to last a lifetime, and (I hope) three rolls of very special photographs for publishing on my Green Arrow Website - which is developing nicely, so far!
As this is likely to be the last full season that the Green Arrow will be allowed to run in-steam, we hope to travel up to York in the Spring, and see it up-close once again.
It is in need of repairs, and unlikely to be issued a new 'ticket' at the next inspection. What a great loss it would be if this fine and unique example of British Engineering was to be withdrawn from active service forever!
I doubt if I will get to sleep tonight, with all the pleasant thoughts and scenes of the day replaying in my head.
I hope to see more Green Arrow Models materialise as-promised, in the near future!
Grandad's Spirit lives on!
David. .