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