9th July 2005

Another view of the 16.30 Weymouth to Westbury service, departing Chetnole halt with the pink 31601 "The Mayor of Casterbridge" trailing on behind. With such a dignified name, recognising Thomas hardy's well-known work of fiction, why on earth did they not devise a far more respectful livery?

At the time of writing (2018) 31601 remains with us, safely in preservation at the Ecclesbourne Railway. 31434, meanwhile, lays in bits in the north east, at Weardale, with an uncertain future.