I never did get round to telling you about my latest attempt at having fun. I mentioned in a recent blog that I was going on a steam railway trip last Friday but so worn out was I by having all that fun I was too knackered to write about it, until now.
So one week late (a bit like the train) let me tell you a little bit about my trip. And it was my trip rather than our trip because, as I’ve mentioned, Archie does not like trains. We did try him when the train pulled in to the station. He quite happily got into the compartment and immediately climbed on the seat just like he would at home but that wasn’t going to work here. And this before we even start and the train noise starts him barking. Just his way of saying he’s enjoying himself I suppose but not guaranteed to add to the enjoyment of the other passengers. I needn’t have worried on this count as I was alone in my (First Class) compartment. But we didn’t know that then.
You could see our other dog, Millie, thinking not for the first time, bloody brother of mine spoils it for everybody but mostly me. As we’d driven to the start station in the car Mrs SH had no choice but to drive back we couldn’t just leave the car could we and obviously I’m not going to drive because this was my project for fun.
Anyway we all had a coffee and a KitKat and a Twix on the station while waiting for the train to arrive. And of course I’d bought a second-hand railway book. Just how much fun could one person have? Mrs SH bought £5 worth of raffle tickets. So if she wins I get to ride on the footplate. Lucky girl.
So the train arrived a beautiful BR Standard Class 4 / 2-6-4 (I think) as in picture above. It looked great, all clean and sparkling and not as it would have looked when it was in service as a working engine. Mrs SH and the dogs departed to drive to the end station (Duffield), I sat in my compartment and did not depart. Never mind I thought more time to admire my environment which was, as I say, First Class.
Ten minutes late it departed Wirksworth station heading for Duffield, and then one minute later it stopped. I stuck my head out of the window no danger of getting it knocked off as we were stationary. A man got off the train walked to the level crossing gates opened them. The train moved forward and stopped. The man closed the gate, caught up, climbed on the train and we moved off. Then a couple of minutes later we stopped again and repeated same procedure. Boy this is fun, I thought.
We set off quite slowly I wasn’t sure what speed we were doing but it was fun. We passed a sign at the side of the track that said 15 mph, so I guess that’s how ‘fast’ we were going. No matter. The ticket collector came into my compartment. I’ve seen your ticket already haven’t I? Actually no you haven’t, I said. But I had seen him, he was the man opening and closing the crossing gates. He punched my ticket. He was having even more fun than me, if such a thing were possible.
So on we went. Looking out the window which would have been the usual form of entertainment, but not on this trip. The volunteers who run the railway and who had cleared the original track of all the trees and shrubs that had grown up since 1964, weren’t prepared to go beyond the dimensions of the track itself and clear further trees to improve the view and the travel experience for people like me. No matter, again, this is still fun and the shrubbery was nice.
So a mere 15 minutes late we pulled into Dufffield station. At least we nearly did. In actual fact my carriage stopped some distance short of the platform and I had to walk the whole length of the train before I could get off. No matter. Mrs SH was there with the dogs to greet me. Millie’s greeting was a little subdued as she was still sulking about not being able to take the train with me.
Never mind I said we’ll go and have a late lunch and you know that means treats, don’t you. She perked up at this. So the fun continued at The Spotted Cow. The only blemish on my fun-packed day? Not enough custard for my crumble. But such is life I guess.