SEDUCED by steam, last week’s column was on the Great Goodbye at Shildon. Those who so expertly design the page chose to highlight the suggestion that folk who persist in calling Mallard and her sister locos “trains” should be condemned, Sisyphus-like, forever to be returned to the back of the queue.

Several million readers have thus with much delight drawn attention to the news report in the same day’s paper on the A4s departure from the National Railway Museum.

“Train enthusiasts gathered...” It began.

The Rev Dr Mel Gray was particularly grateful for the correct use of that wonderful word “egregiously” in the same piece – “but then,” he adds kindly, “you taught me it in the first place.”

PULLING a single carriage – may one carriage be supposed a train? – Sir Nigel Gresley had reached Eaglescliffe, on Teesside, when David Thompson caught up with, er, her. Another question: may the mighty Sir Nigel be properly described in female terms?

David’s occasional appearances in the Echo have hitherto all concerned airports and aircraft. The word “aviation”, goodness knows, is even incorporated into his email address.

His splendid images of Sir Nigel, and of Bittern which passed the following day, suggest that he’s just as happy with his feet on the ground.

“Magnificent,” says David.

Bittern, incidentally, will be working the Wensleydale Railway on Saturday, May 24 – one day only – as part of the Swaledale Festival. Tickets are £20, under 19s, £15. We’ve booked already.

STILL on the Wensleydale, we hear that the splendidly restored village station at Scruton – between Northallerton and Leeming Bar – will reopen on Saturday April 26, 60 years to the day since the lone and lonely porter/signalman saw off the last train to Hawes.

STILL it’s all happening at Locomotion.

The Rev Jeff Spencer reports that a service to join the Shildon and Bishop Auckland Methodist circuits – the former including Newton Aycliffe, the latter places like Cockfield and Etherley – will take place there on Sunday, August 31.

“We hope to have a sermon from a guard’s van and even an engine in steam running past,” says Mr Spencer, a retired minister.

The choice is appropriate. Timothy Hackworth, Shildon’s great railway pioneer, was himself a Methodist local preacher. “He had a lot more influence on people in the area than just railways,” says Mr Spencer.

“It’s the second most exciting thing to happen at the railway museum this year.”

THINGS at Shildon station seemed pretty much to have returned to normal by last Tuesday morning, though the five of us scattered along the platform were somewhat taken aback by the “special announcement” that the 18.21 Grand Central train to Kings Cross had been cancelled. Undeterred, we caught the 11.30 to Darlington, instead.