Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries, the full and illustrated account of the outing to Glasgow and our ferry trip at the “tail o’ the bank”. Visit “Both sides of the Clyde” – now!

Just back (figuratively speaking) from a “grand day out” – a day trip to Glasgow on “The Lakeland Scotsman”, an excursion organised by Compass Tours. Starting from Codsall (!), it ran via Telford and Shrewsbury, then Crewe and the west coast main line, and would give us, all being well, around 4¾ hours in the city…

…or alternatively…

Clutching a day rover ticket, we caught the next train to Gourock, where we could hop onto the ferry for a trip across the mouth of the Clyde to isolated Kilcreggan. Staying on the boat, we would then cross the mouth of Gare Loch to Helensburgh – for haggis and chips and the return trip to Glasgow along the northern bank – with time to browse the bookshops for something to read on the long journey home (mostly in the dark).

Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“, the full and illustrated account of the trip to the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway. Visit “A day out with The Earl“…

   

…a trip to the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway. The weather could have been better, though most of the rain fell while we were on the train. Yes, we had a ride – might have thought twice about it, had we known a “Great Little Trains of Wales” coach party was on board. They filled three reserved coaches, leaving just one ex-Hungarian bogie coach for the rest of us.

Quite a load for the Earl, bless him – 2 bogies and 2 4-wheeled ex-Zillertal, and a damp rail. But he did well – just a brief slip by the first level crossing out of Welshpool, and arrival at Llanfair more-or-less on time.

I’ll put up a “Rail Diaries” entry in a day or two – meanwhile, here’s a preview.

Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“, the illustrated account of our visit to the Moseley Railway Trust‘s new home at Apedale, Staffs. Visit “Apedale” – and when you’ve done that, visit Apedale…

   

Saturday 13th September – the date’s been in the diary for some time – the first public open day at the Moseley Railway Trust‘s new home at the Apedale Heritage Centre near Newcastle-under-Lyme.

And what a great day it was – their collection of 2’ gauge equipment is immense – I don’t think I’ve seen as many Motor-Rails, Rustons and similar at a single gathering – and they’re not all there yet.

A Rail Diaries entry will follow in a day or two, but in the meantime, a couple of snaps as a taster…

Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“, the illustrated account of our visit to the somewhat soggy Rhiw Valley and its super little railway. Visit “Rhiw Valley Rainway” now!

Just back from a foray into the rain-sodden foothills of mid-Wales – a fine lunch at the Lion, Berriew – then a short drive up the valley of the Rhiw to an elusive little 15″ gauge railway. No, I know a railway can’t be elusive – but it’s a private line, very rarely open to the public, perhaps twice a year. A super little setup – a complete loop of 1¼ miles through the fields beside the river, with a triangular junction leading to the terminus station. “Powys”, an 0-6-2T built by Severn Lamb in 1973 (similar to Dougal on the Evesham Vale), and the much younger “Jack”, an attractive 0-4-0 tender locomotive, took turns in hauling trains around the line (sometimes clockwise, sometimes anti-).

A “Rail Diaries” page will of course follow in due course

Just published to Geoff’s Rail Diaries – an account of a (fairly) impromptu visit to two lesser railways west of the Solent – the Exbury Steam Railway, a recent 12.25″ gauge line in the gardens near Beaulieu, and a ride on the Hythe Pier Railway (apparently the oldest pier railway in the world).

Visit “Exbury and Hythe” for the illustrated account…

Just published to “Geoff’s Rail Diaries“, an account of a visit to the 2′ gauge South Tynedale Railway at Alston, and a ride behind a 90-year-old Henschel tank locomotive, named after the inventor of the old-fashioned railway ticket we used to be familiar with. Can’t remember his name? Visit “South Tynedale” and find out…