Roseberry Topping 7 November 2025

 Friday was the going home day. Rather than the road chaos seen on the way north around York, I decided to go west out of Whitby which would allow a side trip to the famous Roseberry Topping. I found a circular route starting at Great Ayton It took 40 mintes to drive from Whitby, arriving to park opposite the Royal Oak pub at 0935

The route was interesting but a bit muddy on the lower slopes.

The sidetrack to the summit


It was a bit hazey on top of Roseberry Topping but the coast and Middlesborough were visible

The view East to the Coast 

Panoramic View

On the return leg, after passing the remnants of the mine and tramway I discovered Fletchers coffee shop on the outskirts of town which provided the nourishment to sustain me on the 4 hour journey back to Coventry

The view back to the Captain Cook Monument from the Coffee shop

The route was 5.31 miles and took 2 hours

A day of trains 5 November 2025

After I booked my 4 night walking holiday with HF holidays at Larpool Hall in Whitby. I looked at the NYMR web site hoping there would be some activity despite it being beyond the end of season.

I got a surprise!

Firstly Flying Scotsman was doing round trips from Grosmont (and had tickets!)

Secondly the replica of  Locomotion Number 1 was running up and down the siding at Pickering and you could ride in a carraige (and tickets were available)!

So I booked the Flying Scotsman 0845 Trip from Grosmont and  Locomotion at 1415

Breakfast at Larpool Hall was at 0745 which wouldnt allow me to get to Grosmont in time, so I skipped breakfast but managed to pick up their picnic at 0715. I got to Grosmont at 0745 in the driving rain. The banker loco was at the platform juggling carriages and went past in a cloud of Steam

Flying Scotsman Then appeared

Flying Scotsman after a lot of manouvering in and out of the tunnel left late at 1010 with the banker in tow.. There was a bit of drizzle as we crossed the moors but there was still lots to see on the way down to Levisham where the Banker was removed We arrived at Pickering 20 minutes late

The return journey was greeted with sunshine!

We arrived 20 minutes late into the chaos of the queue waiting for the delayed next Scotsman trip and those waiting to dine on the Moorlander.. So I escaped and drove across the moors down to pickering and parked and went to the station.

Flying Scotsman arrived while i was inspecting Locomotion which was waiting for clear track to do its run, It was further delayed by the arrival of the Moorlander

It eventually got to do its round trip:-

At 1415 I joined the queue, only to be told that due to the delays thei was the 1345, so i went to the gift shop and returned at 1445 for my round trip

The journey back to Whitby up the A169, past Fylingdales was delayed by a large container lorry breaking down on saltergate bank, causing the police to block the road either side so it could be rescued (not an uncommon occurence I am told!) I still got back to Larpool in plenty of time for dinner at 1900

Farewell to steam (again) 1 November 2025

 Vintagetrains organised a special excursion, the final one of their Rail200 celebration.  60 years ago (27 Nov 1965) BR Western Region organised a Farewell to Steam special train from Paddington to Bristol to Cheltenham. In 2025 the same locomotive, Clun Castle gets to do it again!

The excursion would go from Birmingham new street (0757) to London Paddington (1419), diesel hauled with Clun Castle on board. Clun castle would then take the lead (after doing a 3 point turn in West Ealing) and go from Paddington (1440)to Bristol Temple meads (1812) then after a break Return at 1947 to Birmingham New Street (2222). A long day!

Due to bus replacement service between Birmingham international and Rugby and Worcester to roitwich I travelled to Birmingham International by car and caught a train to New Street, passing the coaches diesel hauled with Clun Castle on the back waiting outside the station. The train came in (3Z35) and the diesel was detached and disappeared. Clun castle led the train (1Z35) out of New Street and took the train as far as Small heath (near where it had started the day at Tysely) where the same diesel was waiting and was attached to the front to lead the journey to Paddington. The journey had some long pauses while other trains were allowed to pass us. When we got to ealing a reversal manouvre was done so Clun castle would be facing the correct way coming out of Paddington.

About turn!

The diesel leads into the Platform

It was very busy at the Clun Castle end of the platform so I went to the next Platform 

Clun Castle then set off West (1Z36) through the mist and rain getting to bristol on time

Safely at Temple Meads

Clun Castle, diesel and coaches went off to the Bristol East depot for servicing. I went to weatherspoons for a desert!

Returning to Temple Meads at the posted time 1930 showed no sign of our Train. We waited and waited (5Z37) until we discovered that the signals to get out of the depot had a fault and it couldnt leave the depot. It eventually arrived at the platform at 2015 and left at 2031(1Z37). With Clun still leading it stormed past Gloucester and arrived in Birmingham only 22 minutes late

The departure from New Street

 

342 miles total

The 2025 Steam Excursion: The Mayflower

This years family train excursion was to be the longest yet. Vintage trains had organised the Mayflower trip from Birmingham New Street to Plymouth. The Birmingham to Bristol leg was to be diesel hauled and the Bristol to Plymouth leg was to be doubleheaded by Clun Castle and Bahamas both of which were nearing the end of their boiler certificates

Fortunately the trip was to make a stop at Worcestershire Parkway so the four of us arrived for the 0650 departure. The surprise was that it would be double headed diesel!

Two diesels for the price of one!

The two steam trains had travelled from Tyseley to Bristol Friday afternoon via Oxford (5Z41) so we had to make a detour to Bristol East depot to change locomotives before going to Bristol Temple meads to collect the final passengers

Now with Steam

The scenery along the coast was stunning especially as it was low tide The added excitement was that we followed immediately behind 5029 Nunney Castle hauling the Saphos trains English Riveria express from High Wycombe to Kingswear and we were followed by our diesels (0Z45) just in case our locos had trouble. It must have been a long time since there were consecutive steam trains through Dawlish warren!

Our train arrived in Plymouth at 1310 some 31 minutes early (Saphos arrived 59 minutes late!) ! 

After discharging the passengers at Plymouth, the steam trains had to go for a rest:-

 We went for a walk to  Plymouth Hoo and around the city 

The Harbour

returning for the 1638 return departure (1Z58) which actuually started at  1645, 

The steam trains waiting to attach at Plymouth

The diesels wait to follow us to Bristol

Dawlish warren got exciting as it was high tide and the wind was sending waves across the sea wall. Nunney Castle in front of us got wet!

Passing waves at Dawlish

We arrived back in Bristol at 2016, some 26 minutes late, mainly due to having to accede to Nunney castle returning on the same route.

We changed to our two diesels,  the drivers of which obviously wanted to make up lost time, peaking 85mph passing the Gloucester Junction bypass, between Cheltenham to Ashchurch and Ashchurch to the Parkway, We arrived only 11 minutes late at 2157. The diesels took off in a hurry and arrived back in New Street on time!

The diesels got home at 2310. The two steam locos returned via the same route as us and got home at 0115

The whole Monmouth and Brecon Canal walk

Brecon to Newport 45.4 miles

 

Monmouth and Brecon Canal: Pontypool to Newport 27 June 2025

The final leg had to be done to complete the canal from Brecon to Newport!

I caught the train to Pontypool via Hereford and set off southwards, this time without encountering the dual carriageway on the parkway side. This was to be the least scenic section of the route passing by the bottom of a lot of townhouse gardens, then it got worse!

The waterway itself was scenic and well kept UNTIL five locks at Pontnewydd, At this point the canal dissapears into a culvert inder the road and from this point south is derelict with what little water is choked with weeds and dried out locks

The one good point was that the canal goes by the Cywmbran retail park which has a Costa Coffee shop!

After reaching Newport and examining the river the train was caught back to Malvern via Hereford. As usual the TFW train only had 2 (crammed) coaches. This one was going to Manchester. Luckily the Hereford to Malvern train was the GWR 7 coach Paddington train

Culvert at five locks, the end of navigation!

Typical lock status

Crossing under the M4

The end!

Total 9.17miles

Ledbury to Malvern 14 Jun 25

I discovered that there is a bus from Malvern to Ledbury, early in the morning (route 675 departs 0805 from opposite WH Smiths) that goes direct (ie doesnt go via North Malvern and Colwall) so I decided to try it. The route goes via Wyche cutting and Wellington, which may be useful in the future.

Starting at the market in the centre of Ledbury, I walked the normal route to the woodshed at Eastnor Castle (who were having a crisis as their POS wasnt working and they had little change!) After coffee I decided I had done the route past the Obolisk many times before so wanted to do something different and decided to investigate the southern end of the Malverns. I got as far South as Chase end hill then started North. When i got to Hollybush I realised I had never been to the top of Midsummer hill so went up there

The journey continued for ice cream at British camp, but after I passed Wyche cutting I decided i had had enough excercise so at the Gold mine stone marker deviated left and came down the slope to home

In total 15.62 miles 

IOS Day 5 St Martin 3 Jun 25

 

IOS day 4 St Agnes 2 June 25

 

3.7 miles

IOS Day 2 Tresco 31 May 25

 

IOS Day 1 St Marys 30 May 25

 

Monmouth and Brecon Canal: Pontypool to Abergavenny 28 March 2025

 The 0802 train from Malvern to Hereford to Pontypool was taken as usual

The biggest challenge of the day ws to find the PEDESTRIAN exit from Pontypool Station. Arriving on the Western platform i followed the exit sign and ended up in the park and ride car park! This is for cars only, the only exit is onto the dual carriageway! I returned to the station and crossed over the bridge to the easterly platform where i eventually found the tunnel entrance to Pedestrian exit on the other side.

Although it was sunny when I left Malvern it was raining at the start of the route

Approaching llanfoist the sun finally appeared for the walk down the old tramway into Abergavenny. After coffee in town the train was taken back to Malvern

The canal walk was just 12 miles, but i totalled 22 miles during the day!

 

Wyre Valley Rail trail Part 1 Worcester Foregate St to Droitwich 22/2/25

 There was only one section left to complete the Wyre valley Rail trail  so today was to be the final day. Caught the train to Foregate St then set off northbound. Initially the trail follows the Worcester and Birmingham canal. When the railway line is encountered at Blackpole the  canal is left and the route takes you through the ravenmeadow golf course and Tappenhall until one reaches the other canal, The Droitwich canal at Porters Mill. The canal is then followed past Salwarpe to Droitwich

The route took 3 hours and covered 9.57 miles

The whole route-

Total 30.1 miles