Actually, the problem appeared to be more the lack of an engine, but it meant the Globalise Resistance charter train of socialists, anarchists, ecologists and other activists was delayed by more than 40 minutes heading out of Euston this morning, on its way to the G8 summit at Gleneagles.
Considering this specially booked train was already scheduled to take nearly nine hours to complete the 400-mile trip (going up the west coast main line before heading across to Edinburgh), this was a considerable setback – probably meaning every connection will be missed and 300 very tired and grumpy demonstrators will finally reach the Scottish capital some point late tonight.
Beforehand, the protestors – including some dressed in the all-white protective Wombles garb - were gathered outside Euston station patiently waiting for a platform to be announced, all the while being filmed and photographed by around 60 police officers.
But one officer I spoke to said there were unlikely to be any problems on the way up – "they just want to get there", he said.
This specially chartered train is supposed to be part of the festivities, rather than just a mode of transportation to the summit. A platform of speakers including Trevor Ngwame, chair of the South African Anti-Privatisation Forum, Marxist professor Alex Callinicos, anti-war activist Sami Ramadani, and author (and Guardian columnist) George Monbiot will be geeing up activists en route. Two sound systems are also promised.
Despite the epic journey the protestors have already proved their moral mettle – there is no catering on the train, apparently after organisers rejected any Nestle or Coca-Cola products. I've packed my Marmite sandwiches, just in case.
As with all big demos in Britain, there's no getting away from the paper sellers, even on the train. I've already been given copies of the Socialist Worker, the Socialist Standard and the BookMarks catalogue – and we've only got as far as Watford.
