Bridging the Gap - The Real Reason for Bridging the Gap

The young boy and his father stood together towards the end of the platform. They gazed over the long platforms, substantial station buildings, loops and sidings. In either direction there seemed to be a forest of old sephamore signals of various sizes, shapes, colours and heights. Looking down the line, into the distance, they could see the spur into the engine shed, and beyond that the signals that guarded the approach to the station.

On the far side of the station, a little shunter was fussing with some trucks from a recently arrived goods train, sorting them into the sidings beyond the bridge over the station. Next to it, in the northbound platform, a small tender engine was simmering gently at the head of a stopping train, waiting for its turn to depart. A small knot of people stood by it some in admiration, others with curiosity.

On their side of the station, in the southbound loop, sat a goods train with a heavy freight loco at the front, its exhaust blowing across the tracks. It was waiting for something, but what?

They heard a whistle in the distance, and heard the rattle of a signal wire being pulled. Was this what they had come for? Peering into the distance, they saw the front of a loco appear from the engine shed spur and move slowly towards them along the up relief road. No, that wasn't it but it was something else to keep an eye on.

Down the platform a bell rang, sudden and shrill. The curious onlookers ignored it, but those in the know scanned the distance, slightly on edge.

Then, another rattling wire. This time it was the far distant signal coming off. Something was coming from the north. Could this be it? They were glad that Mum was tucked up cosily in the warm and comfortable refreshment room. They would be allowed to stay for a little longer.

More rattling wires resulted in a path being cleared through the station. All the signals came off; it looked like a non-stopper was due. Onlookers gravitated towards the platform end, expectantly. Like them, the admirers were by now staring into the distance with pensive anticipation. Those who had been merely curious continued to stand around with a blissful lack of awareness.

They heard the whistle first: a wailing blast, quite unlike the one from the light engine. Then they saw the smoke. The long straight double track main line formation meant that they could see the approaching train from a long way off. It was clearly travelling at speed. They thought that it must have made a fine sight as it roared over the four tracks of the Midland Main Line. Now it was much closer, passing the engine shed. It shut off steam as it entered the yard, slowing slightly as it passed the signal box. It was difficult to tell how fast it was travelling; speed can be deceptive. What was clear, however, was that it was going much faster than they had ever seen on other heritage railways.

The spacious approach to the platform meant that the train swept smoothly into the platform. As it reached the end of the ramp the driver opened up the large express passenger loco. It responded immediately and seemingly effortlessly. Its powerful exhaust beat seemed to fill the entire station, making the buildings and the very platform itself reverberate in time. The engine roared past them, followed by its towering tender and then the rumbling coaches.

Those who had previously been merely curious stood open mouthed, stunned by the impact of the moment. Others, more experienced, grinned at each other and let it wash over them.

In no time at all the engine and its train had shot under the bridge at the other end of the platform and was hurrying on southwards, the noise and vibration fading as it went. It s trail of steam and smoke hung through the station before being blown away by the breeze. The boy turned to his father, his eyes shining,

"Wow Dad! That was fantastic! It must have been going 100 miles an hour!"

His father grinned back, "I don't know if it was going that fast, but it certainly was impressive. It really makes a change to see powerful engines like that being able to do what they were built for."

"When can we see one of those again Dad? How long will we have to wait?"

"Only about 30 minutes. Time enough for your mother to have another cup of tea. But in the meantime, there's that local train to see depart, as well as the goods train on this side. There's no shortage of things to see here."

And so there wasn't. Not at the only substantial steam main line through station in the country.