TWO HERITAGE locomotives passed through Worcestershire on Saturday (November 12) whilst working a tour around the Midlands, writes Neil Gordon.
A steam locomotive, number 9466, known as a Pannier, in tandem with a diesel class 47 locomotive, number 47773, worked the Pannier Rambler IV tour through Droitwich and Bromsgrove, delighting rail enthusiasts and lovers of steam trains alike.
The tour made a scheduled stop at Bromsgrove shortly after 6pm so that the steam engine could receive more water, spending over an hour in platform 1 of Bromsgrove’s new £24million station.
Whilst at Bromsgrove crowds of visitors, and passengers from the train, took the opportunity to enjoy and photograph the engines, and to speak with the drivers, fireman and support staff. Some youngsters also enjoyed a look around the inside of the cab of the diesel locomotive.
Ben Mason of Vintage Trains said: “We had another great day and really enjoyed talking to so many people that kindly came to see us at Bromsgrove.”
The tour departed at 7.10pm for the highlight of the day – a climb up the Lickey incline.
Mr Mason added “The steam engine performed admirably, and did almost all of the work, the diesel just provided a little back-up.”
A second steam locomotive was taken off the train as a precaution earlier in the day following concerns about the temperature of an axle.
