Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, lots of pictures and an account of “a grand day out” by rail to Glasgow and back. Visit “Glasgow: a day out” for the full story.
Category: Railways…
…and trams, traction engines, buses, ships, boats, canals and other transport subjects
A full day: Glasgow
Wednesday 26 Sept: Up at 6am! We’re catching the 9.09 Pendolino from Crewe; at Carlisle, we’ll join the 11.12 for Glasgow Central – via Dumfries and Kilmarnock (our choice – slow but scenic). We then have a whisker over 3 hours, into which we’ll squeeze
– St Enoch Square – for a look at the old Subway station
– the riverside walk to the Riverside Museum
– a subway ride to Buchanan Street, for a look at Queen Street station
– a walk back to Central station, and
– an expensive (£4.75!) pint…
before heading for home on the 16.40 to Euston. It’s not going to call at Crewe, so we’ll have to change at Lancaster – onto a train that decides to stop at Preston for almost an hour. We’ve no driver – signals problems away down south mean he’s late. So we’re on a later-than-planned train from Crewe back to the car, and at about 10.45pm, I’m home again. Did all of that happen in just one day?
That’s enough for now – a few photos below; more to follow.
A grey day at the gala
Grey, damp, and cold. At least the wind has dropped… The Severn Valley Railway’s gala is on this weekend, and there’s a visiting locomotive I’d really like to see. In recognition of the miserable conditions, I’ve processed the photos as monochrome – it seemed appropriate. Visit “A Grey Gala” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries
Not flying…
Flying Scotsman certainly could fly, metaphorically, in his youth. Today we’re visiting a couple of Scotsmen whose top speed is barely into double figures – definitely not flyers – at the Telford Steam Railway. One of them, built by Grant, Richie of Kilmarnock in 1894, is just visiting for his summer holidays, which are almost over – we’d better go and see him. Take a look at “Scotsmen, not flying” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries – now!
Where’s Willy?
He’s on the Chasewater Railway, for their “late summer” gala. The weather wasn’t exactly summery, but it was an enjoyable day out. Visit “Chasewater – late summer” for more on Willy and his friends…
It’s cold up north!
Saturday 28 July – a visit to Threlkeld Quarry for their steam gala. The previous day had been very warm and sunny – today was cool, wet and windy, but at least we could see the steam. Visit “Threlkeld Gala” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for the full story and more pictures.
Best of three…
Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries – more photos and an account of Saturday’s visit to the Apedale Valley Railway, for their third (and last?) “Tracks to the Trenches” event. Visit “Apedale: best of three” – now!
TTTT – 303
No 303 is a very fine newly-restored WW1 Hunslet 4-6-0, making an appearance at the Moseley Railway Trust’s Apedale Valley Railway, on the occasion of their 2018 “Tracks to the Trenches” event. It wasn’t the only participant in the weekend’s fun and games, but it will have to do for now. A “Geoff’s Rail Diaries” page will appear in due course…
Morecambe to Seaton?
My fingers got the better of me! We walked from Moreton, on the north Wirral shore, to Seacombe, to a bus stop just beyond the ferry terminal. We were making for Hamilton Square station, and to continue walking could have meant a missed connection…
Yesterday’s outing by rail had been planned a week or so in advance. In the event, it would be too warm for any longer journeys, and there could be (there were!) pleasant sea breezes away from the train. Before the walk, a ride to the end of the line at West Kirby (it was emphatically Wet Kirby, last time I was there) meant we could take refreshments (a pleasant little cafe in the railway station building), before riding back as far as Moreton. From the shore, there are hazy views to Wales and to Liverpool, and wind turbines out at sea. Around the corner at New Brighton (it’s busy here!), we’re following the west bank of the Mersey, with interesting views of the docks. Below, on the sands, are oystercatchers and four curlews.
We might have made it to Hamilton Square on time, but the bus proved a wise choice. The bridge across the docks was closed for maintenance/road works – if we’d had to follow the alternative route on foot, we’d have been home much later. We’d walked a little under 8 miles anyway – quite enough for this warm afternoon.
View OS Map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=329465&Y=394095&A=Y&Z=120
Wellington Scot
46100 “Royal Scot”, that is, hauling a crew familiarisation train around the route of the “Welsh Borders Explorer”. No passengers today – and only a handful of others out to record the train’s passing. It was moving along very nicely at Wellington, seven minutes early having left Shrewsbury on time. (Note the young lady on the smartphone, oblivious to the scene unfolding before her – then, a moment later, looking up and realising it was something special…)
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