Peak Rail May 6th 2012

It was the Heritage Shunters Trust (HST) Gala at Peak Rail over the weekend of May 5th & 6th which also saw Peak Rail run their own service in conjunction, but not collaboration, sadly. On the Saturday D8 was T&T with steam loco 68013 on the Sunday 31270 was T&T with steam loco 68013.

I only went on the Sunday, as 31270 was out, and was hoping to get some of the HST fleet in that i needed, the highlight of which was 09001’s first working in preservation. Unfortunately I was sadly disappointed. I only got 09001 & 03113 in on the only brake van ride of the day i managed. Due to an extreme lack of coordination the HST rides were never in the platform waiting for the Peak Rail train to arrive and never (on the Sunday anyway) allowed for a trip to be done in between trains for people coming from Matlock. The trip I “risked” had 12 minutes to do it but still managed to pull into the platform as the 1231 Rowsley – Matlock departed. That scenario resulted in a walk to Darley Dale for the 31 coming back into Rowsley.

Still at least the weather was nice………