How do your wives/girlfriends view your interest in Steam Railways ?

My wife has been very supportive for nearly 40 years. She quite enjoys most of the rides and has slept of some very fine railways. She has her own hobbies at which she is very skilled, the sugar flower she makes are stunning.She also makes lovely and appropiate birthday cakes.

She says the nearest we ever came to divorce was when I painted my 5" gauge loco., so I have never dared to paint another yet.

 

My wife suggested a trip to India for one of her significant birthdays. Rather tongue in cheek I got her a brochure from Ffestiniog Travel that included their 3 week 'Indian Hill Railways' tour. I was somewhat surprised when she said 'Yes that looks good, shall we book'. The tour (in 2017) went well, a nice mix of culture and railways, narrow guage and standard Indian. Even the two full days of steam haulage to get up to Darjeeling was enjoyed with the constantly changing scenery.
Its all about balance - not too much to bore, but just enough to interest - both ways.

 

Awesome Hawker Tempest cake!

 

It's when you take her somewhere obscure on holiday - then accidentally discover a steam railway there !
I accidentally booked a guest house fifty yards from Blue Anchor station last year, and a surprise birthday weekend for her in Caernarfon didn't go down that well.

Bob.

 

odd that, it happens to me all the time. We've just booked for Wales, Machllynlth for two nights and Caernarfon for two. What's more, she's paying.

 

I was going to say, I never thought I'd see a MkV Tempest (complete with invasion stripes) on a birthday cake! For someone interested in the Newchurch Wing, by any chance?
(Note to self... do not bang on about this, do not bang on about this... )

 

Dumkoff! That's Kraftwerk! And German Electronica does nothing for us! Unless in something like a Class 68!

 

How funny! Some years ago we'd booked into a place in Somerset which turned out to be awful. Without announcing ourselves we just drove off, ending up at dusk booking into that cute little Inn at Blue Anchor, in a cosy room overlooking the sunset.
Next morning found us, by pure chance of course, on the platform ready for the first train of the day to Bishops Lydiard.
Serendipity!

 

I think your wife could set up quite a useful little business on the side making and icing birthday cakes for members of this forum! They are really good. If my wife wasn't such an excellent cake-maker, I'd be sending you a PM asking if she could do one in the shape of either a Schools, Gladstone, a T9 or a Bulleid Pacific.

 

This was my eldest son's 21st birthday cake. His history degree dissertation was titled "Royal Air Force Operations against the V1 Flying Bombs" and I helped with the research, so yes we are interested. I also live only about 9 miles from Newchurch.

 

Give and take is all that is required.
My other half even comes on the track with me doing survey work.
Me on the level and her on the staff or holding one end of the wire when stringing for a Hallade survey.

My forfeit for that is manning a plant stall at plant fairs or trekking around various nurseries and plant shows acting as Chauffeur, Banker and Packhorse.

 

Do you mean 'The Smugglers' ? We ate in there most nights & the barman kept trying to buy our dog.

Bob.

 

No, it was the Blue Anchor itself. I thought it was a lovely little place.

 

Any Polygamous/polyamorous members care to comment??

 

In my experience the biggest problem has been that well known LNER 3 cylindered 0-2-0 which has resulted in several outbreaks of mal-de-mer.

Early in our relationship Domestic Facilities Management was watching 'Land Girls' when I looked up & moaned about the presence of MK1's only to be told several scenes later by her that that it was also the wrong mark of Spitfire ..................

Basically we agree we dont have much in common and it gives her a days peace when the middle & oldest disappear with me. She's really not at all keen on my taste in Monty Python films and anything subtitled

 

Nowadays (now that I do not spend 6 days a week at Swanage and then on the 7th take her and our young family down there, whence I talked to everyone, ignored them and couldn't understand their frustration and anger!) as long as she has a book and a bottle of wine, she tolerates me having a swift look around a station or yard and even a trip on a heritage line.
She is more than happy to travel by train for genuine transportation needs.

 

The afternoon tea drinking ladies, of The Last of the Summer Wine, seemed to sum it up quite well I believe. It should was tolerated and what could you expect from men and their toys - or some similar comment!

 

Doubt if many ladies would think Mach was the ideal destination, especially if as usual it is raining. It has always been a bit Bohemian, although I gather the Ynyshir is very agreeable these days. Or you could try the PM's favourite, the Penmaenuchaf at Penmaenpool.

 

Fortunate to have a very understanding fiancée; I introduced the hobby slowly with a quick jaunt to Horsted Keynes before venturing further afield. She's a beauty/lifestyle blogger so makes the most of our time away - not strictly train related posts, but you get the gist...

- Swanage Railway's 'Strictly Bulleid'
http://rachieroo.co.uk/d-is-for-dorset
- Great Central Railway's 'Goods Galore Gala'
http://rachieroo.co.uk/the-unexpected-spa-retreat
- Mid Hants Railway's 50th Anniversary ‘End of Southern Steam’
http://rachieroo.co.uk/july-in-pictures
- Spa Valley Railway's 20th Anniversary
http://rachieroo.co.uk/august-in-pictures

...we've since moved to Horsted Keynes and are weighing-up involving the railway with our wedding - at her suggestion!

 

Give and take is the key. My wife thought it funny that we just happened to be at a level crossing and a steam loco happened to go by. She was most amused (and delighted) I proposed to her in the Devonbelle observation saloon hauled by 7827 - result she loves Paignton/Kingswear line and Lydham Manor. She was also flattered by the 20 other folk in the saloon have a round of applause.

Only time (25th anniversary this year), she got a little vexed was when I was going to buy a Hunslet saddle tank. So dropped that idea. Funny there wasn't a problem buying a narrow gauge loco.

Plus over 30 years together, what's not to like with country walks, chocolate box villages, old churches, meeting her interests, after all they are they are invariably by all branch lines.....result is the WSR is her favourite line, coupled with a good country walk and a village pub with real ale.