Today was the North Yorkshire Moors Railway day. We drove about 30 minutes to the Town of Pickering, to catch the train. Minor problems with finding a place to park.
The station at Pickering is lovely. We got the Rover tickets, which meant we could take any of the trains.
The steam engine pulled into the station about 1145, and we boarded. At 1200, at the blow of the whistle, we departed. As we chugged along, the landscape began to change, from almost flat, to high hills. The trip to Grosmont was about an hour.
We departed at Grosmont, and walked over to the engine shed. To get there, we walked through a stone Tunnel, possibly the first train tunnel in England, designed by George Stephenson, builder of the “Rocket” steam engine, in 1829.
The tunnel was used for horse-pulled carriages. In the shed were several engines that men were working on.
The tunnel was used for horse-pulled carriages. In the shed were several engines that men were working on.
Back to the refreshment room for Weynsledale cheese and bacon sandwiches, cups of tea, and crisps, one Beefy and one Salt and Vinegar. Most excellent!
We found historical information about the steam engine that pulled our train today. REPTON, a SR V School class 4-4-0 engine (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR_Schools_class#Operational_use), made a speed record for it's class of 95 miles per hour, pulling four coaches.
It is the last running member of it's class, the others all scrapped or in museums. I have seen CHELTENHAM, one of REPTON's brothers, when I went to the National Railway Museum. For video of him look here: REPTON underway
On the train again, back down to Pickering. Back to the hotel, with one roundabout mishap.
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