It’s dull, grey and misty. No sunshine, but it’s dry and there’s no wind. I need a leg-stretch: Benthall Edge should be pleasant…

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Friday 4 October: new technology on the railway. The recently-opened station at Headbolt Lane, near Kirkby, Liverpool, forms a short extension of Merseyrail. It’s a 3rd-rail electric network, but the third rail has not been extended beyond Kirkby. Instead, as well as pick-up shoes for the 3rd rail, some of the brand-new class 777 EMUs have been built with traction batteries. (Seems a lot of trouble just to avoid extending the 3rd rail by less than a mile. I’m sure there was a good reason for it…). Anyway, we had a ride on battery power during our day out yesterday: a full account will appear on Geoff’s Rail Diaries in a day or two, meanwhile here’s a taster.

Friday 30 August: Hawthorn Bank – an evening walk at summer’s end. It’s a perfect still evening, though the light’s going, especially under the trees. There won’t be many more such evenings this year…

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Shrewsbury’s Onslow Park, 26 August – yes, bank holiday Monday, and the crowds are horrendous, but the traction engines, steam rollers and other (very) assorted steam-powered machines are in fine fettle – a splendid display!

Shrewsbury Steam Rally

Perhaps not entirely appropriate – the light has gone from the lanes around Willey, but in the hedgerow there are lots of wild hops. Rub one of those flowers between your fingers, and sniff! Wonderful!

We’ve been to Oz (should that be Os?), better known outside the area as Oswestry. The Cambrian Railways Society has, most appropriately, had a base there for many years, but has struggled against the odds to operate trains much further than up and down a siding. A couple of years ago, it began running trains about 2.3km (sounds much further than 1.4 miles) down the old main line, to Weston Wharf. Here there are refreshments, in a static buffet car, and next door at the brewery tap. The train ride has a purpose at last! Today, we took a ride down the line, steam hauled by Austin 1 visiting from Llangollen (and just for the pleasure of it, we walked back). There will be a Rail Diaries entry in the next day or so, meanwhile, here’s a taster.

A fairly laid-back day out in Staffordshire – a walk through the grounds of Shugborough Hall to the Clifford Arms in Great Haywood (lunch), a short wander along the canal towpath to the junction, then back via the servants’ quarters, the Tower of the Winds and Park Farm (ice cream…)

Shugborough Hall NT

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It’s not exactly hot, but it’s much warmer than it’s been so far this year. A walk (mostly) in the cool shade of the Benthall Edge woodlands will be ideal!

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Is there such a thing? Two short and relatively local outings – a couple of breezy miles on the northern end of the Long Mynd, near Jinlye (Thursday 4 July), and a summer’s afternoon at Attingham (Friday 5 July).

Jinlye:

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Attingham:

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We timed it nicely – just a few spots in the wind. It may be mid-June but it feels more like April (14C or thereabouts). Not complaining too loudly – it’s preferable to a heatwave.

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