I can’t let the weekend slip past without extolling the virtues of the wonderful South Tynedale Railway, which we visited yesterday morning. This narrow gauge line, with follows the course of the South Tyne from Alston, perfectly preserves the charm of the rural branch lines that were axed by Beeching. A well surfaced footpath follows the tracks out through inspiring countryside. If you take the train out from Alston to Kirkhaugh you can walk back the two miles to the station, taking in the wildlife along the way, with the promise of tea and home-made cakes in the station cafe. Highly recommended. For a few photos of some of the wildlife that we saw, take a look at the post that preceeds this one. You can find out more about the railway at http://www.strps.org.uk/index.htm
and more about Alston at http://www.visitcumbria.com/pen/alston.htm
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That first shot is a stunner. Captures all the excitement of steam. A great day out.
ReplyDeleteI agree about the first shot. You can smell that mixture of steam, smoke and hot oil which made travelling on real trains an experience never to be forgotten. By real I refer to steam, not the gauge.
ReplyDeleteLooks as though it passes through beautiful scenery there.
Thanks Keith and John, shame I can't post the sounds and smell that went with it - the distant clickety-click travelling along the rails before it came round the bend, sounding the whistle, they the clank of coupling rods and hiss of steam as it passed, leaving a whiff of soot in the air.
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is a wonderful railway - hopefully one day they'll make it all the way to Haltwhistle - if the bridges allow.
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