76017 departs light engine from Rolvenden

A good day on the railway at Rolvenden signalbox. My first turn here since last October half term and as I’ve only recently passed out at this box I was hoping I could remember what to do and that nothing went wrong.

The former was fine, nothing slipped by me. The latter did happen as there was a problem trying to change the mechanical points. The lever wouldn’t go back in the frame.

Fortunately, the Permanent Way manager was on site with another mechanically experienced signalman who identified the problem and it seems to be working now.

Today’s train engine is creating much steam and smoke as it wheezes its way up to Tenterden. I’ve noted that this engine loves to generate great clouds of steam when starting off and has lots of steam oozing out of many orifices.

Yesterday sun disappeared making it a gloomy old day, cold and dry.

When the light engine returns and I’ve signalled it into the yard it’ll be time to knock off, get home and get the Saturday night underway.