© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2011 I was staying for the weekend in Corby, with some of my "industrial" friends - and Saturday's entertainment would be a tour around some of the "goings-on" in the general vicinity.  We'd lived through the end of main line steam - it didn't feel as though much more could change. But looking back, more than 30 years later, it's amazing just how much has changed... First call was at the rectory at Cadeby, home of Teddy Boston and his railway. I don't think there was much going on - the only photo I took was of the Orenstein and Koppel (yes, I know it's not a saddle tank) well tank locomotive undergoing restoration, O&K 7529 of 1914. We moved on the short distance to the neighbouring village of Newbold Verdon, where ex-Penrhyn Quarry Hunslet "Pamela" resided. Pamela  (HE 920 of 1906) had been rebuilt with the boiler and cab from "Bronllwyd", a Hudswell Clarke, hence the somewhat non-standard appearance. Our next destination was not far away - The Battlefield line at Shackerstone was in its early stages of development here, with a variety of locomotives sitting around in various stages of restoration. Another lines which had just reopened was the Great Central at Loughborough, where two locomotives were in action - a fine pair of 0-6-0STs, both ex-Littleton Colliery. "Littleton No 5", a rather attractive Manning Wardle (2018 of 1922) was in steam at Quorn station, while "Robert Nelson No. 4" was in action on the passenger service. It made a spirited departure from Loughborough station, but just out of range of our cameras, something went wrong - steam was shut off and the train came to a stand just beyond out vantage point... Time to move on again. Not far from Loughborough were the Mountsorrel granite quarries of Redland Roadstone. Elizabeth, Peckett 1759 of 1928 had clearly not been used for some time - but was worth a photo anyway. The Hon. John Gretton had established a base at Market Overton, at a former depot for the ironstone lines there. We didn't see Pendennis Castle or Flying Scotsman, both of which resided there for a time, but two industrial locomotives were out in the open and available for photography - a Barclay 0-4-0ST, ex British Sugar at Spalding (AB 1931 of 1927) and "Fred", a rather fine-looking Avonside (1908 of 1925). Another standard gauge preservation project had recently been established at Peterborough. Much of the nascent Nene Valley's stock was in store at Peterborough sugar factory, including the ex-Swedish Railways 2-6-4T no 1928. "Derek Crouch", the ex- contractors' Hudswell Clarke (HC 1539 of 1924) was in action a little way away on the former BR line. And that was it - almost. Back to Corby - and one more saddle tank, the 18" Hunslet (2411 of 1941) which was, in effect, a prototype for the well-known "Austerity" 0-6-0ST, "preserved" by the Corby & District Model Railway Club, in West Glebe Park. Where are they now? At time of writing (December '05) • O&K 7529 is undergoing restoration on the Golden Valley Railway, Butterley • Pamela is at the Old Kiln Railway, Tilford, Surrey; • Peckett 2012 is now at the Lavender Line in East Sussex; L 3931 is at the Ribble Steam Railway; NCB 11 is still based at the Battlefield line • Littleton No 5 is awaiting restoration at the Avon Valley Railway • Robert Nelson No 4 is in Ireland - at the Riverstown Old Corn Mill railway • Elizabeth, Market Overton's Barclay and the Corby Hunslet are at the Rutland Railway Museum • "Fred" is at Maldegem, Belgium • 1928 is at Hope Farm, Sellindge, Kent, in private ownership... ...and Derek Crouch is still on the Nene Valley