© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2012 It could have been worse, as the brave souls beside the Thames found out the following day. The grey skies may have been unbroken - but the rain stayed away, apart from a light drizzle at the end of the day. And the cold, moist air meant there was plenty of visible steam. There were twelve locomotives in steam today - one fewer than last time, when thirteen proved unlucky for the big Mallet No 9, on this occasion standing cold in the shed. As ever, though, there’s something new - on this occasion it would be the remarkable Corpet-Louvet 0-6-0 pannier tank. This time last year, the unusual steam locomotive was parked on blocks beside the turntable. Today it looked like a brand new (if somewhat old- fashioned) engine. Its horizontal cylinders are mounted much higher than is usual, connecting to the wheels by a substantial rocking lever - an example, apparently, of “Brown’s indirect motion”. It’s quite a sight to see that motion in action - it looks as though it ought to tie itself in knots at the slightest excuse... Today’s dozen were: • “Minas de Aller 2” Corpet 439 of 1884 • 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 • Isibutu - Bagnall 4-4-0T 2820 of 1945 • Hudswell Clarke 1643 of 1930 Once again, and despite the weather, a great time was had by all. There weren’t going to be any photographic masterpieces, so we made it a lazy day, wandering down to the loop at the far end, riding back, having lunch and a chat with old friends, another ride and a walk back - and taking time just to watch the almost continuous steam action. Out in the fields, there’s nearly always a smudge of smoke and trail of steam somewhere in the landscape. Link: Statfold Barn Railway official website