Sadly not the Wednesday crew.

 With the rules as they are, we cannot do our thing ..... there are plenty of things to do but are not classed as essential.

So I thought to keep the railway theme going I would include some photos from a road trip we did in 2018.

We started in the Lake District, stopping in Coniston which a very good centre to work out from. For the technical minded there is a very good  albeit small museum in Coniston, featuring the rebuild of Donald Campbells Bluebird ..... it was on Coniston Water where he died attempting a new world water speed record.

I will start at the Ravenglass and Eskdale, it is one of the oldest and longest narrow gauge railways in England. It is 15'' gauge and is seven miles long, it has open and closed carriages ... we mistakenly went in an open carriage, it was rather cold.

It was built in 1873 and opened in 1875 to transport Iron Ore from the hills down to Ravenglass, It opened to passengers in 1876. Due to diminishing quantities of Ore and passenger traffic it was forced to close in 1913.

Today it is a great visitor attraction.

After a few days we moved across to West Yorkshire, which meant a visit to the 'Keighley and Worth Valley Railway'.

                                                                                    

It was opened in 1867, funded by wealthy mill owners. In a short time it became part of the Midland Railway until in 1923 at the grouping it was absorbed into the LMS. It was nationalised in 1948 and became part of BR, then due to road competition it closed in 1962.

The branch line was  re-opened in 1968 by the preservation society, just weeks before the end of steam on BR tracks.

 

One of its claims to fame, was that the line was used for the filming of 'The Railway Children' in 1970

Again it is well worth a visit.

As promised the Railway theme continues, not too far away is the 'Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway. It was the former Midland Railway route from Skipton to Ilkley and was closed by BR in 1965

On arrival I proffered my Heritage rail pass, we were very enthusiastically welcomed upon finding which railway was on my card (GWSR). I can't remember their names but it was said, that after their own railway the GWSR is their favourite Heritage Railway. 

As usual we picked the right day to ride the train, it rained sideways but no matter it was a lovely visit.

We continued the holiday as far north as Seahouses, where we searched out long lost bits of the defunct Chathill to Seahouses line. Surprisingly there are a number of bridges and railway features, not least the walkway into Seahouses from our B&B. Next time I will see if I can find some photos.

From here we headed south to East Yorkshire, to finish our holiday at Goathland (Aidensfield) but more of that next time.