The first passenger train from Hercules departs...

[Kevin Wilson-Smith]

Shot into the sun as it was midday - there is nice potential for the earlier trains though!

[John Ashworth]

Kevin, shot number 5 sums up for me one of the joys of operating our trains on the "real" railway. We are not a preserved heritage museum line, running toy trains up and down a few kilometres of our own pristine track. Here a steam engine waits at a real red signal controlled by a real CTC as real Metro trains go past on the main line, while a pair of diesel shunt cars idle away in the background in a real marshalling yard full of real loaded freight wagons!

[Steve Appleton]

Well said, John. You might have added that our trains are also operated by real volunteer people who have studied to get real railway qualifications to do so.

[ch.janssen-schmidt]

Indeed Gentlemen!

You at Friends of the Rail have much to be proud of, these words and photographs are the example of dedication and achievement. Long may you grow and prosper, and reap the rewards of satisfaction seeing your train depart your station carrying your passengers onto a real railway.

Charles