© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2013 The usual dilemma - Saturday or Sunday? The forecast looked slightly  better for Sunday - it was reasonably accurate too. Started bright and sunny, gradually went downhill... We arrived at Brownhills West just in time for the first trip of the coal train, hauled by hefty Nechells No. 4, before taking a ride with Colin MacAndrew in the “Bay Train” to Chasewater Heaths and back. It’s great to be able to ride in the open end of the brake van, immediately behind Colin’s open-backed cap (don’t wear anything white!). No. 4 and Colin represented the home side: visiting were Foxfield’s Bagnall 2842 of 1942 (the day-glo loco) and, following us down from our last visit, Hunslet Austerity 3155 of 1944 “Walkden” from the Ribble Steam Railway. We stayed long enough to see a reasonable cross section of the activity, but the summer gala felt much more like chilly autumn when the sun began to spend longer and longer behind the darkening clouds. The first shower caught us only minutes after we’d left. Link: Chasewater Railway Three steamy departures First train out is the 3- coach passenger, in the more-than capable hands of Nechells No.4 Next is Colin MacAndrew, delightful as ever, with the “Bay Train” Lastly, visiting austerity “Walkden” does what austerities were particularly good at. Shame about the light... A ride with Colin MacAndrew The "Bay Train", recorded from the brake van balcony. Colin chuffs his way around the railway from Brownhills West to Chasewater Heaths, bay platform to bay platform. Pressure is dropping all the way - there's about 75psi on the pressure gauge when we arrive, but we've made it! (We'd all be a bit short of breath if we had to run like Colin when we were 102 years old)