A RAIL37 Churnet Valley Railway picture report

 FROGHALL
 22nd November 2001

 2-8-0T locomotive 5224 was transferred from the LNWR workshops at Crewe to the Churnet Valley Railway earlier today. After unloading the GWR engine, the low loader collected 80136 which was going on loan to the West Somerset Railway.

 The load caused a tail-back as the trailer negotiated the turn in to the car park.

 The telegraph pole was not ideally situated and to make matters worse the trailer grounded on the entrance floor but eventually it was cleared and the traffic jam was eased.

 The police escort signed off and disappeared until 80136 was ready to move.

 Down the approach road and a little bit of tree scraping only to reach the line and find out that the loco was facing the wrong way. Astonishingly the driver reversed all the way back to the car park and then reversed back again to unload.

 By this time 33102 had arrived at the station with 80136 and was waiting for the GWR tank.

 33102 pulled forward.

 The low-loader was by now reversing through the trees to reach the rails.

 The experts discussed the matters in hand but seemed to be in full agreement.

  Positioned over the track.

 Spare diesel engine.

 The rail ramps were positioned, bolted and suitably packed. The engine was attached to a steel rope on the trailer winch before the securing chains were removed.

 The class 33 pulled forward and coupled up to drag the tank off the trailer.

 Meanwhile 80136 was parked at the station platform.

  33102 dragged the tank loco onto the loop but left it short of the platform in case the GWR locomotive fouled the platform edge.

 The diesel then ran round to push 80136 to the waiting low loader.

 After leaving 80136 to be pulled onto the low loader, the class 33 ran round and reversed onto 5224.

 The engine was hauled very slowly through the platform under close surveillance in case of fouling. Safely through on the up side, the engine was then taken through the down platform to confirm clearance and then removed to Cheddleton.

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