Friday 28 December: it’s a “get away from the turkey” day out, to the Northern Mill Engine Society’s museum in Bolton, Lancs (I should say “Greater Manchester”). It’s open to visitors on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year – and has five two-day steaming events such as this one. It’s a magnificent collection of machines which, in motion, are quite mesmeric – it’s a real pleasure just to watch and listen. So instead of photos, here’s a video compilation of preserved steam-powered northern mill engines in action.
Bewdley for Boxing Day
A short stroll around the streets of the Georgian Severnside town, on a grey Boxing Day afternoon
Christmas Eve at Attingham
A gentle stroll on a cool afternoon, and a breath of fresh air before the fun begins…
Midwinter on Brown Clee
Carpe diem: this kind of midwinter weather is great – dry, bright, mild (with a cool breeze, it has to be said) – a day that must be seized. It’s quiet on the eastern side, as we ascend slowly towards Boyne Water; the breeze is stiffer to the west, but the views are much better and we’re well warmed-up. From time to time the sun shines strongly through gaps in the cloud – these are truly “photoflood days”. It’s too good to come down again, but the cloud’s building and the day is fading – we’d better head back.
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The depth of December
The days are short now – this one is grey too, and it will probably rain later, but we need a leg-stretch. Yesterday’s rain will have made the footpaths very sticky – we’ll stay on surfaced but very quiet lanes around the Smithies and Willey.
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Benthall and the bridge
It’s back! The bridge (at Ironbridge – yes, that one) has been wrapped up all year. The major refurbishment is almost complete, and apart from one small area just above the water-line, the wraps are off.
I’m taking a round-about route past Benthall Hall, walking down to the bridge from where, if I time it nicely, I’ll be getting a lift back…
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Early evening in Edinburgh
I’m keeping out of the way for half-an-hour, a little before 5pm when (for a few minutes) there’s just a little colour in the sky. There isn’t really enough light for hand-held photography, but if I stand very still and hold my breath…
Britannia – main line steam
We saw no 70000 “Britannia” on test in October. Today (a gloomy and intermittently wet one) she was in revenue-earning service – on the “Welsh Borders Explorer”, the circular route from Crewe, via Chester, Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton. We’re at Preston Boats, not far out of Shrewsbury, and she’s going well – we could hear the exhaust when the train was leaving Shrewsbury, more than a mile away and out of sight.
Wyke Walk
Last day of autumn (meteorologically, but not astronomically)… And speaking of matters meteorological, it’s a fine and intermittently sunny afternoon (we’ll dodge the showers) – a walk from Barrow to Wyke will be just the thing!
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Fishpools and toadstools
A very short walk for some fresh air, after a spell of rain and strong winds. The sky was blue when we ate our lunch, but more clouds gathered as we walked – the few spots of light rain made straight for the camera lens. The splendid crop of toadstools on a fallen tree was a bonus (I’ve no idea what they were).
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