1638 arrives at Tenterden Town Station

This engine was last seen at Northiam on Sunday at the head of the Wealden Pullman Sunday Lunch train but today it's back on more mundane duties in charge of the 11.43am service from Bodiam and forming the 1.15pm service from Tenterden to Bodiam.

I was here, not in any railway capacity but with Ian and Margaret to ride the line with them as they had not travelled on the railway before. A very enjoyable ride as I was able to give them too much background on the journey and the railway. Ian was invited up onto the footplate of this engine to talk to the fireman and experience the heat and smell of a steam locomotive in service. He said it took him back many decades to when he was a boy being invited onto the footplate.

We enjoyed a bit of inflight catering - coffee, tea, buns, biscuits and a pork pie as the countryside rolled by. We travelled in luxury - first class - so sat back in a comfortably upholstered compartment.

After the journey we had a wander around Tenterden, finished off with a sort of an afternoon tea at Pegotty's. The scone were very good, I scored it at 40/44, the only thing that let it down was its size. Far too small, but in all other respects, very good indeed.