An early autumn morning at Rolvenden

This wonderful autumn weather goes on on and on. Today began with misty skies and I began to wonder if we might have to instigate fog working at the signalbox. But, the mist slowly cleared giving way to mild day with warm sunshine. I took this shot and the other black and white shot when collecting the Rolvenden to Wittersham token from Rolvenden signalbox.

I had a trainee with me today so there was little for me to do other than supervise. Dennis is in that difficult period of not having passed out on the first occasion and having to work more practice turns while waiting for his next passing out turn - which won't be until next year. I fully understand his position having had the same experience myself. The other extra is of him exchanging tokens with the crew of an up train from Bodiam entering the section between Wittersham and Rolvenden. In the platform the down train to Bodiam waits for the section to clear and the token to be processed ready for him to depart.

Had visitors in the shape of friends Dennis and Irene into the box as well as a little Jack Russell terrier. Dennis and Irene were fascinated by the box and were well behaved. The same could not be said about the dog. He'd escaped and someone had come looking for him. Meantime we were searching all over the box for my coffee tub. I knew I had it as I'd made a coffee earlier on. It wasn't in the box but outside, all chewed up. We think the dog had taken it...

Lamped up all the oil lit signals before we left. There's a "Fright Train" tomorrow night as well as the Pulman on Saturday night so we thought it would be a good idea to get out the lamps, fill them with oil, light them and take them for a walk in the countryside putting them in the various signals that are oil lit. The smell of paraffin brought back some childhood memories.