The article on the Brighton Belle's sentimental journey (The Argus, January 9) took me back to a Sunday morning in the early summer of 1953.

I was a fireman for British Rail in the Brighton Top Link. With my driver, W "Billy" Bourne, we prepared an Atlantic Class loco No 2425 at Brighton. We went light engine to Victoria, turned on the turntable, at the south of platform 17 under the then BEA office, and then went on to our train, which was an eight-car Pullman packed with enthusiasts for this commemoration rerun of the Belle.

We left at 11am and arrived on time at Brighton at 11.56am. Also on board with us was the chief loco inspector, Jack Macarthy, for this was the way it was done in those days, although there was nothing he could have told Billy Bourne about driving an engine.

Incidentally, he had his uniform on, black mac and bowler.

On arrival, the passengers then spent the afternoon touring the engine sheds and the return trip to Victoria left at 4pm. If my memory serves me right, it was driven by C "Silus" Wood and the fireman was Ron Hubbard.

I wonder if this trip is remembered by any of the young enthusiasts that made the journey?

My colleagues and I later drove the Electric Belle many times as the trips were part of our roster.

It had four up trips daily, 09.25, 13.25, 17.25 and 21.25, and returned at 11.00, 15.00, 19.00 and 23.00. On the last trip down, we often carried the theatre stars of the day.

-Phil Plaine, Twyford Road, Brighton