The DMMU at Cranbrook Road

Another day at Cranbrook Road crossing, this time with a trainee who was on his first turn ever on the railway. The second diagram on off peak services are provided by the DMMU, which although is not a steam loco has attractions of its own - namely great visibilty and the opportunty to sit in the very front or rear seats and have a different view of the line ahead.

Having a trainee frees you up a little to take more photographs, though you need to continually monitor their actions in case anything untoward happens. As it turned out he was very competent and was able to work out answers to the practical questions which will form part of his passing out turn in a few weeks time.

It can be a little challenging occupying a small 6 foot by 6 foot hut all day with someone you've only met for the first time that morning. However, that was not the case today as our introductory discussions revealled that like me he was a walker, fond of the hills, a former rugby man, had an allotment, liked folk music, including all the bands we like and a shared interest in railways. And my age. And he had an apple press and all the kit for making cider - something we've been looking out for for ages as each year we have hundreds of apples which we can't process. Looking forward to September now!