Wolverhampton Station
Great Central Railway WInter Gala
I do like steam trains, but I am not a steam nut. This means that I do not spend every weekend with them or on them. Unfortunately most of the clientele attracted to Galas on preserved lines are nutters, some of which are very scary. This is the only down side to what is a good day out. Oh and the cold of course, I never seem to visit this railway when it is warm.
After setting out very early on a Saturday morning to ensure that we made the first train of the day and that we also got a parking space, we arrived in the middle of Leicestershire by a railway that once ran from the midlands to London. Partially closed in the 1960s, a section in the East Midlands was rescued by puffer nutters and restored to working order. It is the only preserved main line railway (ie more than one track and higher line speeds) in the country so is quite special as a result. On this occasion 10 steam locos were working, which is pretty rare. This included one which has just been restored and a famous 'End of Steam' loco, Oliver Cromwell. It worked one the last steam trains in 1968.
Overall, despite the weirdos and the cold, it was an enjoyable day out and with freight trains, postal trains and lots of passenger trains running about it was like stepping back into the past.
Christmas in Wales
So, off to Wales we went to escape the usual surroundings and try something different. We made a visit to the Welsh Highand Railway so the kids could meet Santa and painted pottery at Piggery Pottery, which as always was good fun. We had a nice Christmas lunch at a very nice hotel and I had plenty of walks along the very windswept beach at Criccieth with the dogs. We made a visit to Anglsey to visit Pili Palas, famous for its butterflys, but they were all on holiday or something. We had a drive through Snowdonia and had a quick trip down to Harlech. Overall it was very enjoyable.
Hipstamatic Wales
Criccieth Castle, Criccieth beach and the Cambrian Line. The railway was closed at the time so no chance of getting squashed by a train, but it surprised me that a footpath leads you along the track for a short stretch!
James Ridgway
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