Mid-Cheshire Steam

On Sunday 2nd May 2004, the Mid-Cheshire Rail Users Association organised two return trips from Chester to Altrincham. These trains were hauled by the BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 76079 and were very well supported.
As the trains called at all stations they seemed ideal for lineside recording and our first was made at Mouldsworth station.
Mouldsworth is on the climb from the Gowy Valley into the Delamere Forest and in this recording 76079 with 8 coaches behind the tender is heard, after a short pause and with a few more passengers on board departing, heading for the next stop at Delamere making a fine sound on the rising gradient. Even some nearby clay pigeon shooters ceased firing to listen!

We had plenty of time to get ahead and get another recording of this first train about three quarters of a mile east of Plumley station.
One problem with recording here is the proximity of Manchester Airport and the sound of aircraft taking off is almost continuous.
Still, we were fairly lucky in this respect and as 76079 was heard departing from Plumley the sound of a westbound jet was fading away.
The gradient here is rising but quite gentle. Never the less 76079 sounds fine accelerating away from the stop and heading for Knutsford just a couple of miles away.

The return from Altrincham saw 76079 working tender first and our next recording was at Lostock Gralam station.
With the 'right away' given 76079 accelerates hard on the rising gradient heading for the next stop at Northwich a little over a mile away.

Once again, we had sufficient time to get ahead of the train and went to Delamere station in the forest of the same name.
76079 makes a fine sound departing and accelerating away from the station on the rising gradient through the trees.

For our first recording of the second round trip from Chester to Altrincham we found a spot on the climb into the Delamere Forest which has gradients as steep as 1 in 90.
BR Standard Class 4 2-6-0 76079 could be heard distantly departing from Mouldsworth station about ¾ mile away before passing making a fine sound on the gradient heading for Delamere.

The Mid-Cheshire Rail Users Association have a web site and are, I believe, going to organise more steam hauled trains on the line in the future - if they do, I'll be there!