Ryton: Battery Boxes And Sunshine...

Evening all. This afternoon saw me taking part in the first of my three rostered Sunday turns as crew on the Ryton Pools Miniature Railway for 2023. As a CMES member, we all have to take it in turns to run the railway for the public on Sunday afternoons during the season. It's a fairly laid back affair, with three hours of running taking place between 13:00 and 16:00. The roster has changed in the last five years or so to include extra staff which allows two trains to be comfortably operated throughout the session. Back when the railway was fairly new, one train was sufficient but loadings are greater these days. Traction for the day was provided by the powerful battery electric trio, consisting of three Compass House motored chassis' with bodies. I'm loathe to call them by the names of the full size locomotives that they're meant to represent because they just aren't in the same ball park. A few car batteries on a rolling chassis has never done it for me...I'll be a steam man until there's no more steam. However, I understand that the electrics are easy and they do their job admirably and reliably. Here, the Class 31 bodied electric waits at Ryton Halt for service to begin...

We started the afternoon with the 31 and 37 lookalikes in action but the latter later developed a fault (a little win for steam there) so the 47 lookalike was called upon to replace it. Passenger numbers were strong all afternoon, with little let up between the queues. I did a bit of everything: driving, guarding, loading and of course selling tickets. These days I think I find the latter the most interesting duty when battery stuff is pulling the trains. It was a pleasant and worthwhile afternoon however, with over 300 passengers (and that doesn't include the Under 3s who travel free) taking a ride. It's certainly worthwhile income for the club. Thanks to everyone on the roster today for a leisurely afternoon trundling around Ryton Pools. Cheers, Sam...