esngblog

Dave recently sent me the Gwili Railway and the Teifi Valley Railway, and sent me some photos.

Near Carmarthen, the Gwili Railway is one of the UK’s most picturesque preserved lines. Set in beautiful countryside with abundant wildlife, the line follows the River Gwili on a steady uphill journey through farmland and wooded hillsides.

A saddle tank was in steam (and the keen enthusiast will also spot Dave.)

Some interesting rolling stock.

And more stock hopefully being restored.

More next time.

Next stop, the sea front at Gorleston. 

Went down to East Anglia Transport Museum with a stop on route on the front at Gorleston. Afterwards we met up with our cousin & husband for an evening meal.

Those benches look so familiar.  I recall my grandmother and great-aunts sitting there swapping their glasses.  “Try these, Ethel”.  “Oh no Eva, mine are far better.”  At least they weren’t swapping teeth….

Meanwhile, at the East Anglia Transport Museum….  Trams (nice teeth)….

Trolleybuses…..

Buses…..

And other things…

Next post, we’ll move onto Dave’s Welsh adventures (plus the gripping ESNG AGM!)

As we leave the Mid Norfolk Railway, a couple of shots looking down the line….

And rural Wymondham….

And my pictures of Dereham station in 1964.  I think that I was more interested in the Eastern Counties buses, rather than the DMU’s in the station.  Dereham was an impressive junction in rural Norfolk, and extensive granaries and malthouses next to the railway.  All gone now, but I remember them well.

Allan and Ron move on to Wells-next-the-Sea, also once home to an interesting station and harbour branch.  The dynamic duo visited the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway.

Next post, southward bound….

Allan & Ron move on to the next railway….

Overcast with periods of sun and heavy rain. Went to Dereham for a ride on Mid Norfolk Railway (MNR) and then on Wells Next The Sea for Wells and Walsingham Light Railway. Now in pub for evening meal.

Careful what you say, lads – my mother hailed from Dereham, so there might be a trace of Boadicea’s blood in my veins!!!!

A little steam and a smart Class 47.

We’re not in Essex anymore, Toto!

Allan comments…

Visited the Mid Norfolk this morning. I’ve never seen so many Mk3 coaches in one place. They were everywhere.

Hope they can restore some of them.  It looks a bit rusty to me.

Pulled by class 47 to Thuxton changing to class 142 (nodding donkey) for Wymondham.

Luxury and something else?  But Pacers are ideal heritage line stock?

A few more Mid Norfolk shots to follow.

The North Norfolk also has its selection of diesels.  Some DMU’s – I really like the original livery with the ‘speed whiskers’ before they got safety conscious with the yellow panel.

The train leaving from Platform 2…..  Is rather small…..

And this monster in a siding – but typical of the region.

Some interesting parcels stock….

Sheringham is, of course, by the seaside…

You can’t keep an old milkman down (for long)…..

Look what I found on Holt Station. Have not seen a 10-gallon Express Dairy milk churn in years.

Here’s my one photo of the NNR line in 1970…

And I’ve a nasty suspicion that the last time I visited the NNR was in 1979 on my honeymoon.  

Next time we move a little south.

The Dawes Brothers hit the road again, this time to my ancestral home of Norfolk.  The next few posts will have their wanderings, then Dave has sent me some pictures from deepest Wales.  Ron writes…..

We drove up via M25, M11 and A11 to our hotel in Thorpe St Andrew, which is just east of Norwich. Photos below are of the river Yare at Thorpe St Andrew.

Not far from Norwich Thorpe station, and the centre of the known universe – Carrow Road football ground.  And in the past, home of Colemans Mustard.  Nice ducks though….

Next day, we have the traditional weather update…

Overcast turning to rain. Drove up to Sheringham for two round trips on the North Norfolk Railway. Then drove around the coast to Great Yarmouth before returning to our hotel.

Or, as Allan puts it…

Between Sheringham and Holt. Lovely little line to visit.

Part of the old Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway, Holt is an attractive station.

Steam on display (not as nice as a real GER or MGNJR loco, though)….

More next time.