In Search of Space: steam train

Showing posts with label steam train. Show all posts

Saturday, 18 October 2014

A wander along the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

I've just returned from a weekend in Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. I only manage a tiny bit of research before we went but couldn't help noticing a old railway track to explore, so needless to say that featured high on the agenda. The most impressive part of the former Ross and Monmouth Railway that I saw was the remains of this old bridge, crossing the River Wye to the north of Ross.

Remains of old railway bridge, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

I think this might be some sort of workman's hut, buried in the undergrowth near the former railway line.

Old workman's hut on the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Remains of old railway bridge, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire

Ok, so that's probably enough pictures of the old bridge. The next few are of the track bed heading north out of Ross-on-Wye towards the north.

Track bed of the former Ross and Monmouth Railway

Between here and the town itself, the track bed pretty much disappears as it has been ploughed over.

Track bed of the former Ross and Monmouth Railway

Back in the town however the track bed re-establishes itself and a number of bridges and remains of bridges can still be seen.

Bridge carrying the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

As we neared the town, just the bridge supports remain, but these ones have been fantastically preserved and adorned with historical information about the former railway.

Remains of bridge carrying the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Historical information board for the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Remains of bridge carrying the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

As we reached the end of the walk, the heavens well and truly opened so we cut short the final stretch, but just had enough time to photograph the former engine shed, now in use as a garden centre.

The old engine shed on the former Ross and Monmouth Railway, Ross-on-Wye

Overall a great weekend away, of which this walk was just day one. The town itself is still full of local shops and not blighted with too many brand name shops. There are plenty of small cafés, delicatessens and restaurants, and a fantastic bookshop, Ross Old Books.

Monday, 10 September 2012

An unexpected weekend treat on the River Kennet

What a great weekend we've just had here in the southern UK. More spectacular weather, and fortunately I found the time to enjoy it. My original plan on leaving work in London on Friday afternoon was to pay a visit to Harrow-on-the-Hill, but on leaving the office and heading towards the tube, I could not bear the thought of squeezing myself in, even for the relatively short distance, and then having to get a later, busier train home to West Berkshire. So, my plans changed and I left my search for space to Saturday and Sunday.

On the Saturday I managed a 35 mile mountain bike ride down to Whitchurch, where I was forced to stop and seek comfort in coffee and cake after having managed to fall of my bike earlier in the ride.

After having eaten myself better, although sore and bruised, I continued my ride down towards the staggering beautiful Long Parish (which has a couple of excellent looking pubs that I need to make a note to visit some time), and then headed back up through The Wykes, St. Marybourne and Crux Easton.

So Saturday was my planned space but I had some bonus space on the Sunday when I managed to fit in a walk along the River Kennet, looping back along the Kennet and Avon canal before watching one of the boys playing football. This particular walk west from Newbury is one of my all time favourites. I love the way the transition from road, to rough road, to gravel track, to muddy lane, to footpath happens. It always reminds me of the line in the Neil Young song, Thrasher, "Headed out to where the pavement turns to sand". The only thing that spoilt the image was the sound of the traffic thundering along the A34 bypass. If only the railway line that used to run over this bridge was still running (admittedly it only went as far as Lambourn, but the sentiment is the same).

Disused railway bridge on the Newbury to Lambourn line

River Kennet, just west of Newbury

River Kennet, just west of Newbury

So that's it for this week I suspect. I am going to be finding some space in Kent later in the week so check back on or after the weekend to see what I found there.

Saturday, 30 June 2012

The Watercress Line

Although I am finding it increasingly difficult to devote any time to this particular blog, I am determined not to give up as this is my only real outlet for things which I cannot neatly pigeon hole in any of my other blogs. I suppose on a positive note, it's been great that I have been so busy getting out and about doing the things I enjoy that I've struggled to find time to blog about them.

A couple of weeks ago we visited the Watercress Line, which is a heritage railway in Hampshire, running between New Arlesford and Alton. The weekend we went saw the line, its building and occupants all rolled back 70 years to what it would have looked like in 1942. As well as the steam trains there were vintage cars, people dressed in 1940's fashion, soldiers, spivs, and even a remarkable match for Churchill and Monty. The station cafes were selling cakes made to 1940's recipes, although hopefully not with 1940's ingredients.

Steam train pulls out of Medstead & Four Marks Station

Steam train pulls into Medstead & Four Marks station

Vintage cars at New Arlesford station

I particularly like this next picture which shows a vintage railway poster with the great strap line of Ease the Strain, Go By Train. If all the train journeys I took were as clean and peaceful I'd use the trains a lot more than I do. I can only imagine what the equivalent picture would have to look like today to match today's rail environment ... dirty windows, overcrowding, litter, annoying people shouting into their mobile phones.

Vintage railway poster at New Arlesford station

If I'm honest I have become a bit obsessed with rail travel, both vintage and modern, over the past few months and have started reading several accounts of train journeys that you can still take today which do take you away from the hustle and bustle of the daily commute, and also some books whioch document the rise and sad demise of our once great rail network. A few favourites are featured below.

So, I seem to have some spare time this weekend in amongst the ususal child related taxi services, so I may even get to complete another blog update before next week, when I am travelling to India on business for a few days.

Monday, 25 April 2011

All aboard - steam train at Winchcombe station

Once again it's been far too long since I updated this blog. However, with the splendid weather we've been having for the past few weeks I've been trying to spend as much time outdoors as possible. The vegetable patch is looking good, and I've also managed a few 30 mile+ bike rides now, which apart from the saddle sore, are finally becoming a bit easier. Over the bank holiday weekend I took my bike when we went visiting relatives and came across this fantastic sight at Winchcombe station in Gloucestershire, part of the restored Gloucestershire Warwickshire railway. Unfortunately the family's small blue camera appears to be (hopefully temporarily) missing in action, so all I've been able to use is my mobile phone, where the picture quality is a bit poor.

Further along the ride I came across an inviting cream tea offer at Beckford, but unfortunately it was too early in the day :-(

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