Wednesday 19 April: They call it the ‘Heart of Wales line’ these days. We’re on a day out – a ’round robin’ ticket for a scenic circular tour. The line down to Newport (and thence Cardiff) runs through attractive Marches countryside, but the Swansea to Craven Arms (and Shrewsbury) line is truly scenic on this fine spring day. Between the two lines, Cardiff and Swanses provide some railway interest. Visit Central Wales circular on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for an illustrated full account.

A few days ago, I mentioned my trip to the Chasewater Railway, and promised a “Rail Diaries” page. Here it is! Visit “Scenty smells…” for an account and photos of the day’s fun and games (and lunch)

Just uploaded to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, an illustrated account of our interesting if not entirely planned travels on Friday. Visit “Liverpool and Manchester” – now!

…with Austin 1.  Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, an illustrated account of our visit and short train ride yesterday afternoon. Visit ‘Austin 1 at Oswestry‘ – now!

That’s GWR no. 822 The Earl – one of the two 2’6″ gauge 0-6-0T locomotives built in 1902 for the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway. He’s hauling us from Llanfair Caereinion down to Welshpool Raven Square and back – a very pleasant outing in the good company of a friend and his 4-year-old grandson, both of whom seemed to enjoy the journey. Who wouldn’t, on this fine and (eventually) sunny afternoon?

Welshpool and Llanfair Railway

It was certainly wet yesterday, 10 July, anyway. Just damp at first, but after our ride up to Dalegarth, it was so rainy that we had to take refuge in the Ratty Arms… It was a great day out despite the weather – read all about it, and view a selection of photos: Rainy Ravenglass on Geoff’s Rail Diaries

Wednesday 10 July: a trip to the 15″-gauge Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway. It’s the wettest part of England – need I explain? A most enjoyable (though very long) day out regardless of the weather. More to follow on Geoff’s Rail Diaries; in the meantime, here are the three locomotives which were in use yesterday, seen at a rather damp Dalegarth terminus

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

… if you want to get there by train from Dunbar!
Friday 28 June: From Dunbar to Drem (the junction for North Berwick), by rail, is about 10 miles. North Berwick is then just under 5 miles away. All trains between Edinburgh and North Berwick call at Drem, but those between Edinburgh and Dunbar don’t. What’s the alternative?
I though about leaving the 11.01 Scotrail service from Dunbar at Wallyford – or Musselburgh – and waiting for the next North Berwick train. Then I realised that the latter was in fact my train from Dunbar – it would stand at Waverley for seven minutes, then depart back the way it had come, taking the line to North Berwick at Drem.
So – 55 miles and 1 hr 15 minutes later, I’m in North Berwick. I’ll enjoy a brief wander along the beach and the harbour, before looking at the sky and realising there was a hefty-looking shower blowing down the Firth. The next bus (answering the question posed above) was imminent (and waterproof) – half-an-hour later I’m at West Barns. It’s stopped raining – I’ll walk the rest of the way, across Belhaven beach, over the bridge to nowhere and along the clifftop path to get back to the start of this very enjoyable outing.

Q: Why?
A: I’d never travelled along the North Berwick branch. I have now!

The mural at the harbour: see https://juliebarnes.co.uk/uks-largest-marine-plastic-mural-to-be-unveiled-in-north-berwick/

The map below may make things clearer… (it also shows my route for the previous day’s trip to Leven)

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=342885&Y=686288&A=Y&Z=130