…and tea – and toasted teacake. The YHA cafe is open again for the year, just weekends for now – it’s a good reason for a walk down to Coalport. It’s an enjoyable leg-stretch too, and there may be some signs of spring.
Author: geoffspages
After lunch in Ludlow…
…we’re stretching our legs, trying to make the most of the sunshine – though as ever, the clouds are being uncooperative. A kingfisher is busy in the Teme – for a few moments, he’s tantalisingly close (but not close enough…) – then he’s away downstream and out of sight.
Quiet days at Blists Hill
After 45231 (see previous post) – a visit to Blists Hill, making the most of a pleasant, bright afternoon. It’s very quiet here at this time of year – apart from the school parties, and they’re well-behaved. Must be the Victorian discipline…
On test
Steam on the main line – Black 5 45231 is on test, prior to working passenger-carrying specials. There aren’t too many other people around, and the winter sunlight is doing its best…
For more photos, visit “Testing Times” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
The scenic route to New Brighton
Scenic? I exaggerate… Monday 4 February: a day out, using a “Cheshire Day Ranger”. There were one or two stretches of track we wanted to travel along, and somewhere for lunch would be good. We began our travels just inside Cheshire on a Carmarthen to Manchester (aka “Manceinion” – it’s a Transport for Wales service) Piccadilly train. A northbound train from Piccadilly took us to Victoria, using the (almost) brand new “rusty bridge” Ordsall chord. At Victoria, we switched to a Liverpool-bound train, and from the low-level station at Lime Street we caught a New Brighton service …
… for a brief stroll beside the sea, and lunch (at the Floral Pavilion – wow!) …
…and now we’re heading for Chester, where our train of choice is the loco-hauled (propelled…) service to Piccadilly. Things are getting busy now – our train back to Crewe is packed (the two-coach – crazy! – 16.31 to Milford Haven). Lastly, the short hop home is on the “stopper”. I’ve lost count of all the different – very different – trains we’ve been on, but it’s been a great day out!
Down by the riverside
A stroll beside the Severn in Shrewsbury. The photos needed some sunshine, but the clouds were being awkward, so I’ve converted to monochrome (apart from the crocuses – it would have been a shame to take their colour away.
A walk from Wenlock
We’ll catch the bus and walk back… It should have been wall-to-wall sunshine, but clouds are blowing across from the north-east – we’ll have to be selective with the photos. We’re certainly not going to stand and wait until the sun shines – it’s much too cold, barely above freezing. Nevertheless, it’s pleasant when the sun’s out, and there are one or two reminders that spring isn’t too far away.
View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=364840&Y=301361&A=Y&Z=120
