The time is currently 10:07pm, and I'm sitting at home having returned from my debut mainline steam tour. The tour of the year in the Manchester area, The Railway Touring Company's "Tin Bath Extra" tour, running from Manchester Victoria to Sheffield, then to Penistone and Huddersfield, and off to Copy Pit and Blackburn before returning to Manchester.

The day was epic from start to finish. As expected, ~matt-durkan-railways was in attendance (only just however, he only got confirmation on Thursday, and trust me that support coach was heaving), as was ~irwingcommand, who decided after I booked tickets for the tour that he'd book tickets as well. Me, my dad and my uncle were also on board, and me, my dad and colin met on the bus to Manchester this morning before getting to Vic, and meeting with Matt once the locos had arrived.

And what a set of locos! Two Black Fives, yes that's right, two. Can anything beat it? Personally, I think only Tornado could beat that, but according to Colin, and a statement I very much agree with: "It's a Black Five or nothing". The two Black Fives were of course numbers 45231 "Sherwood Forester", which recently became the final steam loco to make a journey across the Oldham Loop Line on the final day of operation, and my beloved perennial at the very front, 45407 "Lancashire Fusilier", and trust me I would have it no other way. So with Welsh Mountaineer and Witch Way/Oldham Looper pedigree and CME and BSE pedigree at the sharp end, we knew we were in for a treat.

Every step of the way, the Fives performed faultlessly. Even the steep climb outside Barnsley was no match or the tower of power provided by the twins. In all, including 2 support coaches (one for each loco, they could have brought one, but due to numbers brought both) there were 13 coaches in tow, and Ian Riley for one was worried about slipping on the grades outside Barnsley, and he was watching intently as the locos passed up the hill without a moments drama. Of course, I was watching as well, with Colin at the opposite end of coach A to me also with his head out of the window, and Matt out of the rearmost window of the support coach for 45407, eating flapjacks and doorsteps with the odd comment of "Yes" and a message of congratulations as I "lost my mainline virginity!"

Every hill was literally flattened, 45407 and 45231 made mincemeat of anything they faced. Miles Platting - easy. Hope Valley Line - easier. Barnsley and Penistone - please, can you not do better? Copy Pit - been here before, done that before as well... All the while me and Colin seeked out the best spots at windows possible, getting a hair, eye and facefull of soot and crap from the engines, but believe me, it was certainly worth it. All rounded off with a trip from Blackburn through Bolton back to Manchester at night, epically magic. Head out of the window, 60mph, wind in your hair, soot in your face, only the carriage lights to guide you. Totally awesome.

What's more, all this only cost me £60! Bargain of the century! The benefits of finally getting mainline with two of the most awesome engines you will ever see far far far outweigh any cost involved. A truly epic experience, one that's definetly to be reccomended. As Matt left Victoria tonight with 45407 heading back to Bury, I called out "We need to do this again!"

We do...