RAILWAY LINE CELEBRATIONS

I think that this is the rear of the train as it returns from Seaford, when it was being operated from the diesel locomotive at the other (leading) end. 

The white discs are not significant and I think that the central lamp is the single (red) rear lamp required to mark the rear end of every train,  to indicate to rail staff that it is complete. If it was the front end I would expect two (white) lamps, one above each buffer.

There is no exhaust steam ; if the locomotive was pulling the train I would expect a considerable amount of exhaust steam from the chimney as it toiled up the 1 in 100 gradient with a very heavy train.

So I think that the locomotive is in neutral gear and is being towed by  the train.

Nevertheless , it is a very nice photo of a very special occasion .

What exhaust steam there is seems to be behind the funnel. If the train were reversing I'd have expected this to be ahead of it.

Carol has the original photos and can confirm from the image numbers what one was taken first.

John is wrong, the locomotive was pulling the train which was on it's way to Seaford.  I know because I took the photo and also am familiar with steam trains as I worked on them for several years as a fireman. 

In the first picture there can be seen a crew member, fireman or driver leaning out and he appears to be facing the front of the engine. If this train was in fact "being pulled" by another engine, then would there be need for a crew on board this locomotive. If so, one would have thought he would be facing the direction of travel. Anyway , nice pictures Terry.