It’s about 12 miles from Dunbar to North Berwick, and though both are on the rail network, it’s not easy to do the journey by rail (getting on for 60 miles…). I’ll return to Dunbar on the bus. More to follow; in the meantime, a taster…

A quick look at the splendid viaduct at Montrose (on a very dull morning), and a ride on the reopened (earlier this month) railway to Leven,  with a visit to the very attractive and floral station of Aberdour on the return journey to Edinburgh. The following are tasters of future posts…

Mainland to Skye… Just for a change, we’ve forsaken the bridge (and quite a few road miles) for the ferry. Mallaig is very busy – tourists all over the place. The ‘Jacobite’ (which some seem to know as the Harry Potter train) is in, but to return to Fort William the locomotive – 45407 – will have to run tender first. We’ll record the departure with no great enthusiasm, and we’re glad to get away as we board the MV Loch Bhrusda for the half-hour crossing. The time passes quickly – the sea views are great!

View OS map on Streetmap http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map?X=165388&Y=800400&A=Y&Z=126

Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, lots of photos from yesterday’s visit to the Staffordshire railway. Visit “Statfold Scenes” for the full picture

I’ve been at the Statfold Barn Railway in Staffordshire today, and taken far too many photos (as usual). It’ll take a while to sort through them (and certainly not this evening) but here are one or two “tasters”.  A “Rail Diaries” page will appear in due course.

Statfold Barn Railway

It may have been obvious from the photo on my previous post, though I didn’t mention it. After many years of only being seen in shades of green, 60532 has been turned out in the early BR blue livery. It’s blue Blue Peter for the foreseeable future, and though the paint job needs finishing off, the overall effect was very impressive.
For more from this afternoon’s short trip to Oakengates to see the test train, visit “Blue Blue Peter” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries.

No, not the TV programme. This Blue Peter is LNER-designed A2 60532, back on the main lines after a lengthy absence. Today’s trip was a loaded test run – five (very assorted) coaches and a locomotive at the rear, there only for emergency and shunting. Recent rain would probably have made our favourite spot inaccessible – “Let’s try Oakengates…”. A few more photos from Oakengates will appear on Geoff’s Rail Diaries – soon.

Wednesday 26 March: I’m on the sleeper again tonight, with time to kill before boarding. Giving the camera some exercise will help to pass the time on this dark and rainy night. Visit “A rainy night” on Geoff’s Rail Diaries for the full story and more photos

Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, a set of photos from our short spell in Carlisle on Wednesday. We were due in at 10.01, to catch the 10.58 to Leeds via Settle. Visit “An hour at Carlisle” for the full picture…

Wednesday 28 February: a trip that was planned back in January. Northern Rail’s great ticket sale meant we could get from Carlisle to Crewe, via the Settle and Carlisle to Leeds, and along the Calder Valley line to Manchester, for just £3.50 each! On that basis, we can afford some luxury – first class seats from Crewe to Penrith, also for a bargain price – with breakfast thrown in. We’ll have the scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, please. And coffee – and orange juice… Just the job!
Travelling most of the day meant few opportunities for photos, except at Carlisle where we had a little while to wait before we could board our Leeds train. But what a great day out we’ve had!