I was bimbling along in our de Havilland Chipmunk aeroplane this afrenoon having just departed the Liverpool Zone near Oulton Park when I espied a rapidly-moving white plume of steam to the south east. A high speed decending dash over to the Crewe - Chester railway line revealed a Great Western locomotive at the head of a rake of chocolate & cream coaches, coupling rods flashing in the weak winter sun as she headed for Chester at considerable speed. I circled the train a few times as we passed Beeston Castle on its lonely crag at the northern tip of the Peckforton hills. And how I cursed that I didn't have my camera with me - even my phone (which has a camera) was in the rear luggage locker out of reach.
But that lovely green engine at the head of a Great Western rake of coaches was a magnificent sight from 700 feet as she sped through the Cheshire countryside, snaking round the gentle curves, crossing and re-crossing the Shropshire Union Canal, past Calvely disused airfield and Beeston Castle.
But that lovely green engine at the head of a Great Western rake of coaches was a magnificent sight from 700 feet as she sped through the Cheshire countryside, snaking round the gentle curves, crossing and re-crossing the Shropshire Union Canal, past Calvely disused airfield and Beeston Castle.
