© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2011 I wonder if there will be any surprises - something newly restored, perhaps, or a visitor or two? There was a surprise when I arrived, a little later than usually. The big Mallet “Djatibarang No 9” had managed to derail itself (in a fairly minor way) more-or-less in the station throat, and re- railing operations were in hand. In the meantime, a shuttle operated, topped and tailed - it arrived as I took stock of the situation. “That looks familiar”... Yes. it was, and quite unexpected - Linda, the well-known ex-Penrhyn Hunslet from the Ffestiniog Railway. Wow! By the time I’d made my way down to the fields, things were sorted, and the usual pattern of trains resumed - for a little while. Then it all went ominously quiet... It transpired that “Linda” had had trouble with the trackwork around the station too - maybe even had caused some damage to the track earlier, leading to No. 9’s problem. Whatever the reality, Linda was retired and took no further part in the day’s fun (what a shame!). Another Ffestiniog-based visitor was in operation throughout the day - the little blue Hunslet “Britomart”, in charge of the garden railway. I’ve met Britomart just once before - almost exactly 40 years ago, at an exhibition of locomotives held at what was left of Leeds Central station. Another very pleasant surprise. The dozen: in no particular order, • “Linda” - HE 590 of 1893 • “Britomart” - HE 707 of 1899 • Trangkil No. 4 - HE 3902 of 1971 • "Statfold" - HE 3903 of 2005 • "Jack Lane" - HE 3904 of 2006  • "Harrogate" Peckett 2050 of 1944 • Sragi No.1 - Krauss 4045 of 1899 • Sragi No 14 "Max" - O&K 10750 of 1923 • Pakis Baru 1 - O&K 614 of 1900 • Pakis Baru 5 - O&K 1473 of 1905 • "Saccharine" - Fowler 13355 of 1914 • SF Djatibarang No 9 Jung Mallet 4878 of 1930 I think each appears at least once in the photos below... I stayed to the end of the day’s entertainment - a little after 4pm, the locomotives are lined up (tricky! Not all participants made it to the line) for a final pose for photographers - followed by a mass whistle- blowing session - great fun! (There may have been some sort of tune to it - perhaps not). My ears were still ringing on the way home... Links: • Statfold Barn Railway • Industrial Railway Society