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Day 8

Started overcast but turned out sunny.  A 50 minute drive took us to Pickering where we had a round trip booked on the North York Moors Railway, where we had a 3 hour layover at Whitby, which enabled us to have a fish and chips lunch followed by walk around the town.

On the railway

Pickering

Allan comments….

Liked the seagull…. And did she move when the locomotive ran round at Whitby!

Looks like Keith Richards is on holiday!

Day 7

Started cloudy but turned to rain early afternoon.  An easy day; drove to Park and Ride for bus into York, where we met Sean off his train from London. The three of us then went round the National Railway Museum, After this we wandered round the city centre before having a meal. We saw Sean onto his train back to London. Then it was back to the hotel.

Museum photos, from Sean

York Station, with a mix of liveries on the trains, from Allan

York photos, from Ron

Day 6

A cloudy and humid day with some sunshine this afternoon. Lots of driving today. Set out from Kidderminster and after a break en-route Allan visited a model railway shop at Hensall. The station is on the line from Doncaster to Goole. We then headed towards York. As we were running early for check in we took a Park and Ride bus into York for a quick look round prior to our full day visit tomorrow to go round the National Railway Museum.

Hensall station

First look at York.  Spot the ESNG Chairman in full holiday dress!!

Day 5

Another hot sunny day. Took a 5 minute drive to the Severn Valley Railway’s Kidderminster Station. Took train to Bridgnorth had a drink and returned to Highley were we visited their Engine House Visitors Centre and cafe. We had a snack on their first floor veranda looking over the track across the Severn Valley. Then we returned to Bridgnorth for another break before the train returned to Kidderminster. From leaving Kidderminster and returning took 6 1/2 hours

Severn Valley Railway

Highley Engine House

Allan had a moment of fame! (Nice carriages, too.)

Walking back to the van at Kidderminster Station there is a long stretch of 5 inche track. With a memory garden. There was this sign.

Ron had a pint!!!!!

Day 4

Ron says…..

Yet another hot sunny day. We drove today from Ilminster, Somerset to Kidderminster, Worcestershire visiting the Gloucester and Wawickshire Railway where we had a 2 1/2 hour trip Toddington – Cheltemham – Broadway -Toddington. 

And Allan adds…..

A fantastic place to visit. One on my bucket list.

Trains by Allan….

Mainly scenery by Ron…..

And the usual toilet picture from Ron….

Seen in gents toilet at Cheltenham Racecourse Station

As a break from the Dawes tourism, here’s a railway they didn’t get to…..  Brian on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.

Just been to the Terrier weekend on the IOW, brilliant to see the real locos in action

Wonderful little locos!

Day 3

Another hot sunny day. Drove to Paignton for a return trip on Paignton and Devon Steam Railway to Kingswear and then a ferry to Dartmouth. Now sitting on Buckfastleigh station for return trip on South Devon Railway.

View from Paignton railway. You can just make out 2 mothballed cruise ships in Torbay.

Kingswear, harbour, ferry and marina

Train leaving Paignton main line station and the US engine outside Paignton steam Railway station.

And the trains on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway.

Then on to the Dart valley, and the South Devon Railway.  Maxine and I visited a few years ago – I’d last been there when it was the Dart Valley Railway, and was about to open as a preserved line.  Dates me a bit…..