E V Cooper, Engineer

Ruaridh and his mummy and daddy left today. It's just MOH and I for the next week.

We went for a walk into the town and ended up at the railway station, a natural progression for me as the daughter and 'only child' of a time served railway engineer. Steam engines played quite a big part in my life and the passion held by my dad for these wonderful machines had to rub off a bit.

E V Cooper, Engineer No 46512 is an LMS built Ivatt Class 2 2-6-0 engine. It returned to steam in March 2011 after a 6 year overhaul on a £50,000-00 lottery grant. The 1952 Swindon built loco was renamed after the Strathspey Railway's founder director Eric Cooper who discovered the engine at Barry.

The Strathspey Railway operates a 10 miles preserved railway from Aviemore via Boat of Garten to Broomhill (Glenbogle of 'Monarch of the Glen' fame).

MOH booked a 1st class lunch trip for us on Wednesday. I can't wait.

Sorry the pic is a bit top heavy but I had to include the steam - it's what it's all about after all. I suspect you can expect more train blips to follow.

On another note please take time to look at Master Scamp