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curiouswombatSo now we come to the high spot of our celebratory trip - travelling, steam hauled, the 205 miles from York to Edinburgh (and back, of course!).
This is something we had thought about a few times - and I decided this was the time to do it - and do it in style. So the plan was to travel on the Lothian Tornado - Tornado being a steam express engine built this century and something S2C had wanted to see ever since there were whispers that she was being built. We were saddened, then, to get word a month or two ago to say that she would not have finished her refit, and the train would be hauled by the Duke of Gloucester instead.
S2C was really upset, he remembered the DoG from his childhood and it had been slow and sluggish. And then he read up on her... And discovered that when she was first built they hadn't followed the design but, as they knew steam locomotives were being superceded by diesel, had just bunged all sorts of odds and ends in that they already had, rather than making the pieces as per the design, so that big parts of her were all wrong. This only became public knowledge in the late 1970s, when enthusiasts bought her remains from a scrap yard and set out to restore her - following the original plans. And what a very different engine she is now that she is as her designer intended!
The whole trip was excellent - I will put a cut
Like all steam train enthusiasts we wanted to be at the station as the engine arrived - as did everyone else travelling on the trip, and at least 100 others who envied us greatly but only had time to see the engine leave...
This is what they all want to see -
And here is my own personal enthusiast -
Took me ages to get him without a vast crowd of others! The reflections here in the nice shiny engine, showing the old British Railways logo, give some idea of the crowds.
And here is the train driver talking to the main gentleman from the company who organised the trip - who was really friendly.
Whereas this is our fireman - remember this face until later...
Finally the stewards, guides, and guard managed to herd all the people with tickets onto the train ready for the off.
As it was a special occasion I had chosen for us to travel 'Premier Dining Class' - this turned out to be first class dining in the style of the 1950s - with a gorgeous first class dining carriage of that period - it was a bit like travelling in an armchair with silver service! This is what greeted us when we got into our seats -
Linen tablecloth, silver and proper china, flowers - and a glass of Buck's Fizz.
As we prepared to pull out of York station our guide suggested we look out our side of the train as we passed the sidings at the Railway Museum... and there was Tornado, getting up steam ready for her post-refit test run!
So S2C got to see her, even if only in passing. Steam people are steam people - look at her engineer and coalman leaning out to watch Duke of Gloucester go by! On a subsiduary note, I was pleased at how well the picures I took through the windows turned out.
Just beside Tornado was an A4 Pacific - formerly called Bittern she is now, for some reason, renamed 'Dominion of New Zealand'.
One of her crew seems to actually be waving!
Once we got settled the catering staff began to serve breakfast - I meant to take photos, but forgot! Anyway there was copious quantities of toast, cereal, melon with yoghurt, then bacon, sausage, black pudding, eggs, fried potato scones, mushrooms, fried potatoes... and so on! All served to us as Yorkshire sped past. Wonderful!
THere is a very differnt 'feel' to being pulled by steam to diesel of electric - there really is. S2c explained it was to do with cylinders, the way the power feeds in the size of the wheels... and there is the sound, and the occasional drift of smoke... a real experience. We also noticed, very quickly, that we were passing an awful lot of men in fields with cameras - and an occasional woman, too. We certainly turned heads!
I promised![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
gillo that I'd wave to Durham for her - and thought of clodia_metelli as well.
That was taken out of the window on the other side of the carriage to our seats. There were three elderly people sitting there - a couple and their friend, a retired GP. I was glad they had her with them as the elderly gentleman didn't look to me to be a 100% certainty to survive the whole trip!
Next landmark was The Angel of the North -
Again taken out of the window on the other side of the train. A little further on we had our first stop to take on water - because, of course, all the old system for watering steam trains has been dismantled now. So we pulled into a marshalling yard which had a train wash and so a plentiful supply of water. And a lot of men with cameras!
Then on to Newcastle. This is the view forward out of our window as we began to go over the river -
Look! Look! You can see the engine!
To our side as we crossed the Tyne was the new Redheugh Bridge - a bit boring -
So I also took a picture out of our neighbours' window again -
Again the station was full of people waiting to get a glimpse of the engine - it was a bit like being royalty! This is the view as you leave Newcastle station to head north -
That is Newcastle Cathedral with its 'Scottish Lantern' spire. Despite having spent quite a few years living in 'the toon' I have to admit the cathedral is little more than a parish church when compared with Durham.
North we went, and further north. Steam trains are not meant to travel at more than 75mph on the mainline - we were cetainly doing that. S2C actually described the trip, at this point, as 'awesome!' - and I knew I'd got it right!
This is Lindisfarne castle at 75mph through our neighbours' window -
That brought back many happy memories of retreats on Lindisfarne as a student - which included bounding down sand-dunes in the moonlight, amongst other things!
And so to cross over the Tweed. Looking forward I could just snatch a picture of the railway bridge we were about to cross.
And here is the view first down river showing the road bridge and the even older bridge which is, I think, now a pedestrian one.
And out our window, looking upstream, showing 'both sides the Tweed'.
And here, at the edge of Berwick station, some elderly fortifications and some fairly elderly 'men with cameras'.
As we left Berwick the catering staff obviously thought we might be in need of sustenance - they served us with a 'light lunch' of ham, baked potato and coleslaw!
Right on time, we pulled into Edinburgh's Waverley station - again creating quite a stir. Then there was time for everyone to go and admire the Duke again. I took a few more pictures, and might well share some when I post 'Train Trip Part 2' - but for now, remember that fireman when we were in York? This is what he looked like by Edinburgh -
That one was also to show Duke of Gloucester's registration number to confirm that that was, indeed the train we were on. ote all the people reflected in the engine, too.
However, this close up shows, even better, the effect of shovelling for 205 miles -
The wonderful golden/red glow on the face of the young man visiting the footplate is from the firebox. I like that shot!
I think that is enough - for now! Coming next, more pictures of the wheels and things, and of Edinburgh, then the tale of the return journey - which was quite a tale - complete with pics of S2C and I - and more food...
This is something we had thought about a few times - and I decided this was the time to do it - and do it in style. So the plan was to travel on the Lothian Tornado - Tornado being a steam express engine built this century and something S2C had wanted to see ever since there were whispers that she was being built. We were saddened, then, to get word a month or two ago to say that she would not have finished her refit, and the train would be hauled by the Duke of Gloucester instead.
S2C was really upset, he remembered the DoG from his childhood and it had been slow and sluggish. And then he read up on her... And discovered that when she was first built they hadn't followed the design but, as they knew steam locomotives were being superceded by diesel, had just bunged all sorts of odds and ends in that they already had, rather than making the pieces as per the design, so that big parts of her were all wrong. This only became public knowledge in the late 1970s, when enthusiasts bought her remains from a scrap yard and set out to restore her - following the original plans. And what a very different engine she is now that she is as her designer intended!
The whole trip was excellent - I will put a cut
Like all steam train enthusiasts we wanted to be at the station as the engine arrived - as did everyone else travelling on the trip, and at least 100 others who envied us greatly but only had time to see the engine leave...
This is what they all want to see -
And here is my own personal enthusiast -
Took me ages to get him without a vast crowd of others! The reflections here in the nice shiny engine, showing the old British Railways logo, give some idea of the crowds.
And here is the train driver talking to the main gentleman from the company who organised the trip - who was really friendly.
Whereas this is our fireman - remember this face until later...
Finally the stewards, guides, and guard managed to herd all the people with tickets onto the train ready for the off.
As it was a special occasion I had chosen for us to travel 'Premier Dining Class' - this turned out to be first class dining in the style of the 1950s - with a gorgeous first class dining carriage of that period - it was a bit like travelling in an armchair with silver service! This is what greeted us when we got into our seats -
Linen tablecloth, silver and proper china, flowers - and a glass of Buck's Fizz.
As we prepared to pull out of York station our guide suggested we look out our side of the train as we passed the sidings at the Railway Museum... and there was Tornado, getting up steam ready for her post-refit test run!
So S2C got to see her, even if only in passing. Steam people are steam people - look at her engineer and coalman leaning out to watch Duke of Gloucester go by! On a subsiduary note, I was pleased at how well the picures I took through the windows turned out.
Just beside Tornado was an A4 Pacific - formerly called Bittern she is now, for some reason, renamed 'Dominion of New Zealand'.
One of her crew seems to actually be waving!
Once we got settled the catering staff began to serve breakfast - I meant to take photos, but forgot! Anyway there was copious quantities of toast, cereal, melon with yoghurt, then bacon, sausage, black pudding, eggs, fried potato scones, mushrooms, fried potatoes... and so on! All served to us as Yorkshire sped past. Wonderful!
THere is a very differnt 'feel' to being pulled by steam to diesel of electric - there really is. S2c explained it was to do with cylinders, the way the power feeds in the size of the wheels... and there is the sound, and the occasional drift of smoke... a real experience. We also noticed, very quickly, that we were passing an awful lot of men in fields with cameras - and an occasional woman, too. We certainly turned heads!
I promised
gillo that I'd wave to Durham for her - and thought of clodia_metelli as well.That was taken out of the window on the other side of the carriage to our seats. There were three elderly people sitting there - a couple and their friend, a retired GP. I was glad they had her with them as the elderly gentleman didn't look to me to be a 100% certainty to survive the whole trip!
Next landmark was The Angel of the North -
Again taken out of the window on the other side of the train. A little further on we had our first stop to take on water - because, of course, all the old system for watering steam trains has been dismantled now. So we pulled into a marshalling yard which had a train wash and so a plentiful supply of water. And a lot of men with cameras!
Then on to Newcastle. This is the view forward out of our window as we began to go over the river -
Look! Look! You can see the engine!
To our side as we crossed the Tyne was the new Redheugh Bridge - a bit boring -
So I also took a picture out of our neighbours' window again -
Again the station was full of people waiting to get a glimpse of the engine - it was a bit like being royalty! This is the view as you leave Newcastle station to head north -
That is Newcastle Cathedral with its 'Scottish Lantern' spire. Despite having spent quite a few years living in 'the toon' I have to admit the cathedral is little more than a parish church when compared with Durham.
North we went, and further north. Steam trains are not meant to travel at more than 75mph on the mainline - we were cetainly doing that. S2C actually described the trip, at this point, as 'awesome!' - and I knew I'd got it right!
This is Lindisfarne castle at 75mph through our neighbours' window -
That brought back many happy memories of retreats on Lindisfarne as a student - which included bounding down sand-dunes in the moonlight, amongst other things!
And so to cross over the Tweed. Looking forward I could just snatch a picture of the railway bridge we were about to cross.
And here is the view first down river showing the road bridge and the even older bridge which is, I think, now a pedestrian one.
And out our window, looking upstream, showing 'both sides the Tweed'.
And here, at the edge of Berwick station, some elderly fortifications and some fairly elderly 'men with cameras'.
As we left Berwick the catering staff obviously thought we might be in need of sustenance - they served us with a 'light lunch' of ham, baked potato and coleslaw!
Right on time, we pulled into Edinburgh's Waverley station - again creating quite a stir. Then there was time for everyone to go and admire the Duke again. I took a few more pictures, and might well share some when I post 'Train Trip Part 2' - but for now, remember that fireman when we were in York? This is what he looked like by Edinburgh -
That one was also to show Duke of Gloucester's registration number to confirm that that was, indeed the train we were on. ote all the people reflected in the engine, too.
However, this close up shows, even better, the effect of shovelling for 205 miles -
The wonderful golden/red glow on the face of the young man visiting the footplate is from the firebox. I like that shot!
I think that is enough - for now! Coming next, more pictures of the wheels and things, and of Edinburgh, then the tale of the return journey - which was quite a tale - complete with pics of S2C and I - and more food...
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no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:21 pm (UTC)But steam hauled and silver service was a glorious way to see it all again.
no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:29 pm (UTC)I thought of the train because I thought S2C would like it especially - but I enjoyed every minute too.
no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:25 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:46 pm (UTC)That would be a great train trip. The steam was great fun, though.
no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:36 pm (UTC)Wonderful photos that you'll treasure for years to come.
no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 09:49 pm (UTC)I do adore that view of Durham - the heartstopping moment when you come out of the cutting and see across the valley to the Peninsula gets me every time. And the High Level Bridge (Dave would have been focussed on the ruined keep of the New Castle at the far end) and the Tweed. So many great memories. Thanks for sharing.
no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 10:01 pm (UTC)I somehow didn't manage to get a picture of the remains of the keep. We were talking about the way the railway just goes through the middle of the New Castle itself at that point. And Paul pointed out that the castle was built by 'the enemy' to keep the northerners under control - so they wuld have had no qualms, all those years later, in cheerfully putting a railway line through it.
It was a fantastic way to travel - throughly recommend it as a special occasion thing.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 10:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 10:33 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 10:15 pm (UTC)- Erulisse (one L)
no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 10:43 pm (UTC)As for the food - wait till I get onto dinner on the way home!
no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 10:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 24/05/2011 10:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 12:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 07:28 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 01:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 07:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 06:18 am (UTC)It sounds like a fabulous trip. Super photos!
no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 07:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 07:57 am (UTC)Part of the fun is that feeling of being in a luxurious bubble as the world travels past you (which, for some reason, you don't get when you're commuting to work)! Your photos really capture that.
I love the picture of the fireman at the end. As you say, it really shows the effect of shovelling for 205 miles. He must be so fit! (It's a sobering thought that steam power was totally dependent on human muscle -- the steam just made it go further. Imagine travelling to Australia on a steamship!)
I once went from Settle to Carlisle, over that viaduct, on the Sir Nigel Gresley, which is an A4 Pacific. There were men with cameras all along that route, too. (But we had to take our own sandwiches).
no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 11:56 am (UTC)I've travelled on the Settle to Carlisle just in an ordinary local diesel, and have travelled behind Sir Nigel Gresley (http://curiouswombat.livejournal.com/195812.html#cutid1) on the North York Moors - I can well believe that the two together was awesome.
I became a 'men with cameras' spotter, just as they were there to watch us.
no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 09:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 11:58 am (UTC)I was rather pleased with the cathedral shot, even with the 'first class' window sticker and the lamp.
no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 09:27 am (UTC)I remember when silver and linen napkins were a part of flying. That's all behind us since 9/11.
In that photo of your husband with the DoG, I thought there was a painting of a white fox just left of S2C's bag, but it must have been an odd reflection.
The Angel of the North looks very impressive. Our city has installed 19 sculptures downtown. If it ever stops raining and storming, I want to go see them. Tuesday was quite thunderstormy! Lots of tornadic activity, but it all went around us. We just got rain, which we had needed, but it would be nice if we didn't get more for a while, but that's not the forecast. It looks as if this week is going to be filled with weather. Unfortunately, there were more fatalities to add to the Joplin, Missouri, death count of 122--just two in Kansas and eight in Oklahoma, last I heard.
Steam engines look like a grand time for everyone but the fireman!
no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 12:06 pm (UTC)The linen and silver was definitely a taste of the historical high life - and a good 'silver' celebration.
You will have to take pictures of your city sculptures when the weather improves - I would love to see them. We have had unseasonal storms too - but fortunately just high winds not tornados, although a couple of people were killed on the UK mainland by falling trees. It is hard to imagine winds that can do the sort of dame that occurred in Joplin and other places in your country.
The thing to remember about the fireman is that he will, most certainly, have volunteered for the job - and probably have had to fight off half a dozen othrs for the priveledge!
no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 11:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 12:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 03:03 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 05:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 04:17 pm (UTC)Quite unlike the hellish train ride my husband myself and our then three year old daughter took from Boston to Florida back in the early ninetys. I swore I'd never set foot on a train again!
no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 04:38 pm (UTC)Definitely going to show these to Chris when he gets in from work tonight.
no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 05:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 05:44 pm (UTC)And that looks like a great trip - I am jealous.
no subject
Date: 25/05/2011 06:44 pm (UTC)It was a glorious way to travel.
no subject
Date: 26/05/2011 07:42 am (UTC)On one of our trips back from the (further) North last year, it took us an age to work out why there were so many people lurking in Carlisle station with cameras until we worked out the Settle connection.
It certainly looks like you travelled in style.
no subject
Date: 26/05/2011 07:46 am (UTC)As for the men with cameras - wherever there is the possibility of steam there will be men with cameras...