Locomotive crews have an early start at Toddington as they prepare for the day's Santa Specials.  When crews arrived soon after 5am to prepare GWR no.s 2807 and 5542, the locomotives rostered for the day, the temperature was hovering at minus 5 degrees C and there was just a light sprinking of snow on the ground.  But within a couple of hours it was snowing heavily and as the first of the two engines, no. 2807, was preparing to move on to its train to warm the coaches up, it became clear that the day was going to be difficult.  The points moving over on their sliders, were prevented from closing properly because the snow compacted between the point blade and the rail, necessitating laborious brushing out to enable them to move properly - but fresh snow quickly played the same trick again. 

Then the valve for the water column, which delivers water into the locomotive tenders and tanks, was frozen despite a brazier left burning all night beneath it.  Clearly, the conditions were getting worse and with many volunteer staff unable to make it to the railway and visitors calling to say they weren't going to risk driving, the decision was taken to cancel the day.

So the engines were quietly taken back to the engine shed and the fires banked up to await another day.

So that was that - all over by 11.00.  While the engines returned to their quiet slumber, the fooplate crews enjoyed a hearty breakfast in the Flag & Whistle thanks to Val Hoskin, the proprietor, who fortunately lives only a hundred yards from the station!