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Steam_in_Bulgaria Bov 1. 4-6-2, 05.01 halts for routine maintenance, in the dramatically beautiful Iskra Gorge. 2 October 2016 Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Steam_in_Bulgaria Bov_2. 4-6-2, 05.01, “something pointed” is needed to clear a blocked oil filler. 2 October 2016 Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Steam_in_Bulgaria Bov_3. 4-6-2, 05.01. “You do not have to do this with an electric locomotive!” Much contortion, agility and literally with the boiler above you, a cool head, is needed reach the Pacific’s middle cylinder’s oiling points. (Image displayed, with permission from the driver). 2 October 2016 Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Karlovo_station. Although the train was running two hours late, the “service stop” at Karlovo had still to be maintained because of the crossing of a later, normal service train from Plovdiv to Kazanlak. 4 October 2016 Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Kazanlak_station. Having developing a fault which had first to be cleared, 4-6-2, 05.01 was late arriving from Plovdiv, but when it finally turned up, it made a grand entrance! 4 October 2016 Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Steam_in_Bulgaria Mezdra. Wherever the steam-hauled train halted, many members of the public and railway staff, turned out to take pictures and to have their pictures taken, with the “Iron Horse”. The children especially, were always totally fascinated by the wondrous machines! 2 October 2016 Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Steam_in_Bulgaria Pleven roundhouse_6. Battered and decrepit though Pleven depot may be, at least the turntable still works! In the evening sunshine, 05.01 “does a twirl” for the photographers. 2 October 2016 Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com

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Septemvri_Main_station. Here we say goodbye to our main line steam locomotives, of which 4-6-2, 05.01 had been a stalwart, filling-in at the start of the trip for 2-8-2, 01.23, which unfortunately, through “a clerical error,” could not be made available for our tour group. 6 October 2016 Roger Griffiths. roger.griffiths@hotmail.com