Algebraic Autumn

It certainly has not been the most memorable of summers with the weather in July more similar to September and that of August more akin to October but it has certainly delivered more that a few sunny intervals on the small engine front.

Lack of Class 5 locomotives this year (that is, capable of hauling a train of or equivalent to five Mark1 coaches) has meant that the Vintage train has remained unstrengthened as the busiest weeks around the late August Bank Holiday approached.

32670 has seemingly borne the lions share of the work on the popular 11.45am departure from Tenterden Town and the often-crowded 3.25pm service back from Bodiam in the afternoon.

This poses an interesting dilemma.  Should the railway concentrate additional resources providing two 4/5 coach trains during such weeks, otherwise only used on special occasions such as Santas, Thomas and the Gala and as spares – both with refreshment facilities – or make better use of Northiam (signalman required) – and augment the service with a couple of runs with the DMU as well.

And whilst off on a tangent with the DMMU it should be noted that whilst not the most popular mode of transportation, it does at least facilitate a proper train service on many off-peak dates rather than the one engine in steam offered on some other heritage railways.  And the views of the countryside and associated wildlife are terrific.

The quieter weeks of the school holiday at the end of July and into August were entrusted to “Charwelton”; so often the preserve of Terrier or P-class work in recent years.  32678 did her turn prior to washout and put in some sterling performances, most notably during Pilotman’s training on 6th August when the fire working up the Bank with the afternoon train seemed almost incandescent as we round the curves to the east of Cranbrook Road.

How could anyone on or off the plate ever be not thrilled by such an experience?

It has often been eluded that steam locomotives sometime seem alive, sometimes displaying human-like characteristics, and often feminine in particular.  Which begs the question – do our Terriers really need the full attention of their crews?  I wonder sometimes whether “Bodiam” almost knows the route after 110 years?  It might seem a romantic viewpoint in the style of Shelia Kaye-Smith but sometimes No.3 seems puffed out with pride as she departs Northiam with another train of loaded coaches, almost as if she owns the place.

Whereas 32678, in comparison, has always given the impression of being quiet, reliable and workmanlike, though not reticent to put on a show when required.

The week leading up to the Folk Festival in Tenterden at the beginning of October has in recent years have often been a opportunity to stage Railway Experience Days at Rolvenden and sometimes the more extravagant ARXD (Advanced) over the length of the line

Coupled to a couple of unmatched coaches in the style of the Hayling Island, what could be more perfect than an A1X on such a duty on an unseasonably hot day, although not uncommon, at the end of September?  Is this be shown to be true?.

Suppose that this is represented by ARXD=A1X.

Deleting the A and X from both sides of the equation,
we are left with RD=1.

Mathematically R is the reciprocal of D and vice versa.

And since neither the railway (R)
nor the day (D) can never exceed perfection (unity)
then the only solution to the equation is that R=D=1