Back on the train
Life regained a little more normality this weekend. Last week my youngest son asked when we could go on steam train again so, with various railway now opening up, I suggested that we book a couple of seats on our local Mid-Hants Railway for the Sunday afternoon. What an absolute pleasure it was to be rolling through the English countryside behind a steam locomotive again after so many months in lockdown.
Eastleigh's finest. The NRM's 30925 Cheltenham runs round at Ropley.
The two-train service offers trains starting from both ends
of the line. We started our journey at Alresford and ran non-stop to Alton
(that in itself was a first for me). After running round, the train returns to
Ropley where a forty-minute lay over gives visitors time to have a look round the
loco yard and buy refreshments etc. During this time the locomotive again runs
round and the onward journey sees another run uphill to Medstead & Four Marks
before the returning to Alresford. All in all a really enjoyable three hours
and excellent value at £16.00 for an adult ticket.
The simple pleasure of train travel is one that I have never tired of but, given the months of lockdown, yesterday’s little trip was, perhaps, even more enjoyable than normal. Given the length of time without a steam ’fix’ I would have been more than happy with any locomotive hauling our train but the fact that we had Schools class 30925 Cheltenham making easy work of our five coach train really added to the occasion.
Thank you Mid-Hants Railway, I hope a full normal service
can be resumed soon.