The Train

This happened over 12 years ago now, when greenlaning as we know it now was getting popular, a group of about vehicles were on a lane which crosses an un manned level crossing in Wales.

The crossing was blocked by a small freight train, but not and ordinary one, it was the infamous “Nuke” train which carries the nuclear waste from the Nuclear power stations. It was having problems getting up a slight incline due to the leaves and general slime on the line. The group got out and watched the staff try all kinds of methods to gain grip, they were scraping the track with shovels and rods of metal, placing stones on the line etc. A conversation soon started between the group and the railwaymen and it was suggested they use sand, they explained they had some, but the supply was depleted from previous problems further down the line.

No problem explained the group leader he has seen a heap of the stuff outside a farm perhaps the farmer could let them have some. After a quick trip to the farm the leader returned with the farmer, who was concerned about access to his farm been blocked, and with about ½ ton of the stuff in the back of the landy.

With a total disregard to H&S the group adults mucked in, carrying sand on spades and shovels on to the permanent way and placed it onto the tracks, Whist this went on no one noticed the children who started playing on the flask wagons. The railwaymen by now were quite relieved for the help. They had been stuck there for sometime without communication to the signalman, this due to something called single train running.

Then the parents noticed the kids playing on the train and the usual jokes started such as get down from there you’ll be fried, look its the "Readybrek" kids and you will turn into an Aliean. However the guard stepped in and gave them a tour of the brake van and engine. The track finally covered in red sand everyone moved out of the way, and the train proceeded effortless, with the usual waves and goodbyes from the driver and guard.

The whole event exploded some myths about the train, no 20 armed SAS guards in the brake van, nor a "hot line" to RAF strike command, the flasks are not hot, the driver does not have 2 inch lead plate behind the seat, guiyer counters are not carried, nor is there 2 dead mans handles. However not a single photo came out due to the radiation from the train destroying the film......

Years later we still laugh about it, it just would not happen now, lots have changed in the last decade. People find this story hard to believe so we keep it to ourselves, but quietly laugh when we here rescue stories, now we recovered a train weighing about 300 tons, or was it 299.99 due to half life loss (LOL). It’s a joke about the photos, did get some, but its on film, and yet to get them transferred digital.