Barrie, thanks for taking the time to write to write this. I have never had the chance to go on a great adventure like that, so I enjoyed your story.
(my comment about the "travelogue" was that there is far more to rail travel experience than simply noting the locomotive number and maker's name - and that no-one in this relaxed forum would critise if you couldn't supply details of the actual loco number or the depot where it was based
)