Top five railway attractions you'd like to visit

Yey, another one for bowes.

 

To me, the Bowes is one of the best in terms of what it is and what it could do. However, although I've been several times, I've generally been unlucky as things have always transpired to curtail the visit, from drivers having to go home early, to derailments and to no locos. My second visit was, however, my most successful and rewarding. Springwell yard is living history. We rode up to Blackhams Hill by steam and were able to witness the haulage engine in action and demonstrations of wagons being hauled up and being uncoupled from the rope and running into the kip. Fantastic.

 

Not to mention the stop board at the craft barn (if I remember correctly) meaning a dead start on the gradient!

 

Put me down for Bowes as well, some day. I did Weardale, Shildon, Beamish and Tanfield in weekend a few years ago, missed out on Bowes.

Given that the North East is the cradle of the railways I probably should come back for another weekend Pilgrimage.

 

Threshing Barn crossing. Small breather as you say, with the requirement of restarting on a 1in59 gradient!

 

Well we are hopeful of running a service of sorts next year, trying at the moment to get the railway on a stable footing. We are no longer reliant on the council and generating our own funds. For 2015 the plan is to open the first weekend of each month, these will become the steaming days in due course but not until alot of work is done.

 

Plus yes steve the railway does seem to have a habit of throwing strange things like that in our path.

 

Abroad I would love to go to the Harz, and return to the Cumbres and Toltec and Silverton and Durango.

 

In this country my Famous Five would have to be, in no particular order:
1. Blubell
2. Mid Hants
3. RHDR
4. Strathspey
All lines I've yet to visit, yet they look fantastic! As someone who fancies himself as a conniseur of pre nationlisation stock, the Bluebell is a must. The Mid Hants has a rather enviable collection of motive power and steep gradients, say no more! I love the idea behind the mainline in minature at New Romney with replica pacifics whizzing along at scale speeds, then Strathspey has lovely scenery, THE pioneer Black 5 and a certain lovely little blue engine, then theres the chance of a drop of the good stuff, whats not to like? My number 5 is the other side of the world, the Beyer-Garret just restored in Australia that is HUGE! And I wouldnt mind a go behind it!

 

They've got the pioneer Black 5 ?. I thought that 45020 was scrapped in the 60's

Bob.

 

As I understand I thought 5025 was first, happy to be correcte. At least we agree it wasnt 5000!

 

Isn't 5025 the oldest surviving five?

 

I believe so, I was under the impression it was the 1st into traffic but it looks like I might be wrong.

 

But evidently not of English (sorry, couldn't resist... )

The IOWSR should be on your list too, then!

 

I know, my spellings awful! I wouldn't mind a trip across the Solent. I have been to IOWSR but that must have been when I was 10 in 1994. So rather a long time ago plus theres an Ivatt tank to underline there now... May have to suggest a camping trip in the summer to the boss....

 

Be sure to let me know if you are heading to Havenstreet so that you can have the full behind the scenes tour!

The invite goes out to everyone, you will be very welcome.

 

What a fantastic gesture, top man! Thankyou, will deffo bear that in mind.

 

I'd like to take you up on this next year, Gary. I currently live about 150 miles from Ryde, but am hoping to move to Sussex, from which the IOWSR is a lot closer and do-able in a day. Paid a visit in 2010 and thoroughly enjoyed it. A return trip is definitely on my "to-do" list once we're settled in.