5542 at Caddaford II

2nd June 2012 saw me back at the South Devon Railway for the first time in two years or so.   The reason for my visit was their Jubilee Gala, featuring four steam and one (token) diesel locomotives.   I had forgotten how quickly I could get there, so the journey time of two and a half hours is, I hope, enough to encourage me to visit again before the year is out.   I also took advantage of the fact that the SDR recognises my WSR PTS certification, which enabled me to get a lineside photography permit for only £10.   Another reason to go back before the end of the year!

Undoubtedly the star of the show was GWR 4575 class 2-6-2T No. 5542 which was making its operational debut following a fast-track overhaul.  I hope that my images of it will show the superb job that the SDR workshops have done on it.   This locomotive spent the day working with a pair of GWR carriages as a typical GWR branchline train.   The other three steam locos in action were outside cylindered 0-6-0PT No. 1369, Collett 0-6-0 No. 3205 and the GCR's BR Standard Class 2MT 2-6-0 No. 78019.  The diesel was EE Type 1 No. D8110, and even I have to admit that it looked splendid in as as-new paint job.

Even though it was a bank holiday weekend, the rain managed to hold off until around 6pm, some two hours later than forecast.   So, all in all, a good day out.