Bold, simple shapes of 30053

30053 is our guest loco from the Swanage Railway. It's here for a month, was part of a 1940's weekend gala earlier this month and will be working hard this coming weekend on the three day Southern Steam Sunset event.

I was on duty again on the KESR at Wittersham Road signalbox and will be again on the last day of the Southern Steam event on Monday. Today went well despite an unannounced visit from one of the assistant signalling inspectors - something they do regularly. Must have been OK as he watched me do a crossing move, filling in a form and left.

It was a beautiful day down at Wittersham, quiet (apart from the inspector), the birds were singing and warm. A pair of blue tits made endless journeys past the box with beaks full of caterpillars. It won't be like this on Monday as there is a busy timetable that includes demonstration freight trains that start from Wittersham.