No, not like that (get your minds out of the gutter please) - the last weekend of March was very strictly all about this type of (very geeky) steam!
(although Andrew did have a couple of hot nights with Cassandra...)
The West Somerset Railway over towards Taunton and Minehead direction holds an annual Spring Steam Gala with lots of events, stalls and special engines. It's usually a good day out and just occassionally, the sun actually makes an appearance as well. This time round, although it was windy, it turned out to be a lovely blue-skies-and-sunlight type weekend, perfect for snapping trains, steam and bits and pieces of the station buildings.
The line is actually the longest preserved railway line in the UK, with over 20 miles of track between Bishops Lydeard at the southern end and Minehead at the northern end. We hopped from one station to another (along with the rest of South West England's trainspotters) and although Andrew was interested in telling me so-and-so was a 2-6-0 and so-and-so else was a 0-6-0 (it relates to the number of wheels an engine has apparently), I was more interested in seeing what pictures I could get.
Star of the show this year was 34007 Wadebridge, a West Country class 4-6-2 engine which originally operated in and around Exmouth in Devon.
Just to clarify as well, we're not your stereotypical trainspotters; Andrew didn't have a little notepad and pen in his hand (although he does seem to know exactly what engine is coming into the station before we can see it). And actually, rather unfortunately, I do have a tendency to remember engine numbers and names,
Ho hum, I think I'll get my anorak.
Any train-spotters (of the cliched variety or the modern variety) in your family?
Gorgeous photos!
ReplyDeleteWe popped into the station at Minehead when visiting my Aunt and Uncle there last year, and had a brilliant time photographing the trains and rummaging through the bargain book stall between the platforms. Steam engines are so much prettier than modern trains. xxx
Thanks Katie! That book stall in Minehad is fab but far too dangerous - you can easily get carried away and end up bringing home more than you ever wanted! :-) xxx
DeleteLove it! I don't know the first thing about the names or number of trains but I do love reading, travelling up and seeing old trains. We have an entire cupboard full of model train stuff for when we get that house brought to set it all up.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely something magical about the 'chuff chuff' and 'clank clank' of old steam trains - much better than their modern day counterparts! :-) x
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