A walk up the lane from the National Trust car park in Much Wenlock – to see if the orchids were out… They were – and they weren’t on their own. (I’ve no idea what the orange blobs are in the last photo – we thought they were some kind of tiny fungi, hardly bigger than match heads – but looking more closely at the photo, they seem to be growing on the moss itself)
Much too good to stay at home – don’t want to join the bank holiday throngs on the roads. “How about walking to Benthall Hall? We could see if the bluebells are out in the woods”. We could get refreshments too – understood without needing to be mentioned… The bluebells need another week or so perhaps, though there are a few out. It’s hard to remember, on a shirt-sleeves day like today, just how cold it was a few weeks ago – and how muddy underfoot. Already it’s dried and baked hard (I’m not complaining).
Main line steam returned to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway for the May Day bank holiday weeked, in the shape of GWR 0-6-2T 5643 – accompanied by a fine pair of Barclays. For a full (ish) account and more pictures, visit “Ecclesbourne Again” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Wall-to-wall warm sunshine – blue skies, clear air, a pleasant breeze – perfect! It’s been a long time coming. Ideal conditions for a walk from Little Stretton, up beside Small Batch to Pole Bank, back down the Ashes Hollow. A red kite circled, then descended into Callow Hollow; later he appeared again over the ridge, and we saw him one last time as we walked down the quiet valley (maybe three different kites? I doubt it). He didn’t stay – left it for us, the sheep and the buzzards. Other than the aforementioned, and lots of small birds, singing loudly, we had the Ashes Hollow to ourselves. For much of the descent, there’s nothing man-made in view (other than the path) – it can sometimes be hard to believe we’re in the English Midlands.
44871 and 45407 came back through Shropshire today, hauling day 3 of the “Great Britain VI” – and made a fine sight a couple of miles north of Craven Arms, on the climb to Church Stretton summit. For more pictures and video, visit “A Glimpse of the Great Britain VI” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
For more on yesterday’s fun at Chasewater visit “The 1960s Railtour” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
(Right) Colin McAndrew is still smoking well on his return to Brownhills West, at the end of the trip
Thomas was always having trouble with trucks. Today, it was Colin McAndrew’s turn. It’s the IRS* AGM, held at the Chasewater Railway – they’ve organised a “60s style railtour” for our entertainment. Older members (that’s 99% of membership these days) will have fond memories of such events – e.g. “Farewell to Steam at Corby” (that’s 40 years ago, which is a sobering thought). The trouble is, of course, not the trucks themselves but their contents. I don’t remember anyone falling out at Corby, nevertheless, today’s rule (happily, the only one) was “no standing up while the train is in motion”. We all did as we were told.
Colin McAndrew is a diminutive Barclay 0-4-0ST (1223 of 1911), who is a serious contender for my wife’s affections.
*IRS = Industrial Railway Society (our transatlantic friends will possibly be relieved to know that…)
Ironbridge, in the warm evening sunshine. Just a couple of weeks ago, It felt as though it would never happen…
Dodging the rain in western Shropshire – a very brief visit to the Cambrian Railways at Oswestry, and (via Blodwell Junction – no, it’s not on the way) a quick exploration of part of the Limeworks Heritage Area at Llanymynech. Must go again…
A pair of Black 5s going very well on the climb to Church Stretton. For more pictures and video, visit “The Midlander” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
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