Project 62 - Photo Gallery Page

Valentine's Night 14th February 2005

Knowing that the Group's USA Class 62 tank locomotive 30075 was in action, Project 62 Member, Richard White, went along to Cranmore on 14th February, Valentine's Day, to see how the East Somerset Railway organises its Valentine's Night Dining Specials. Arriving at Cranmore just after 2.30pm, Richard found loco superintendent Steve Masters working in the smoke box of GWR 0-6-2T "Taffy Tank" 5637. Steve was piping up the recently refitted boiler (following extensive restaying) and the ESR are aiming to get this loco back into service early March 2005. 5637 has around 2 years left on its current ticket.

The day turned out to be very cold and Richard was unable to resist the invitation to ride on the footplate of USA tank 30075 to inspect the line where ballast had recently been dropped for the Permanent Way gang to work with. The route had to be checked to ensure that the recently dropped ballast wouldn't foul the evening dining train's passage.

After a glorious sunset, Valentine guests started arriving around 7pm with one couple braving the cold (frost was forming by then) to be photographed beside Yankee Tank before boarding the Mendip Belle. Richard was equally keen not to get off the footplate where it was very warm and cosy! After enjoying two round trips, he also sampled some of the Mendip Belle's fine cuisine before leaving Cranmore just before10pm.

The staff and volunteers on the East Somerset Railway do an excellent job entertaining their guests on their dining events which are well patronised. 30075's newly piped up steam heating system kept the guests cosy too, just as well, as they would later have to scrape ice from their windscreens on departure!

30075 awaiting its romantic guests

Steve Masters and Richard Taylor prepare 30075

Steam available so time to relax before off

30075 catches the late Valentine sunshine

All photos are copyright of Project 62 unless otherwise credited