The second day of the recent East Lancs Railway steam gala saw near white-out conditions, with the stars of the show, Oliver Cromwell, 71000 & Sir Lamiel performing brilliantly in the snow.
On crew change-over a footplate man on 'Sir Lamiel' greeted the new crew with the words: 'Welcome to Iceland'. It wasn't much fun for the crews, especially when working tender first in the arctic conditions. Yet in steam days this would be quite normal on many of the earlier locos. The men were tough as old boots. The conditions did provide many spectacular smoke & steam effects for the few hardy souls who made it to the railway that day. For those that didn't, you dont know what you missed. But here is a taster.