North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Nene Valley Railway, Home and the New Forest

Hello everyone

So my holiday is now over. I've had a lovely week away and thought I would fill you in on the last part of the week. 

I couldn't before as there was no wifi and poor phone signal in Yorkshire.

On Wednesday morning we drove from Glossop (after looking around the town which was lovely) to North Yorkshire. My mum's parents moved in to a new house on Tuesday so we went to help then unpack. 

We had a lovely tea at a local pub on Wednesday night and had a lovely long sleep after all the travelling and unpacking. 

On Thursday we went on a steam train from Grosmont to Whitby and back on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. We walked around Whitby for a couple of hours before returning to Grosmont. I love the seaside so I had a smashing day and dad bought mum a beautiful Whitby jet necklace so she was very happy too.

On Friday it was the North Yorkshire Moors Railway's autumn steam gala (it was on Saturday and Sunday too). We went from Grosmont to Whitby, then straight on to Battersby, back to Grosmont then a round trip to Pickering. I spent the whole day on trains it was amazing, and we had a little walk around Pickering which is a lovely market town.

What made the day even better was seeing a locomotive called Nunney Castle and riding from Grosmont to Pickering and back behind Sir Nigel Gresley which is a large and impressive locomotive known as an A4, it's also blue which is my favourite colour!! It went at 112 miles an hour many years ago which is really fast, it went a lot slower and safer when we were behind it though. 

On Saturday morning we left Yorkshire and headed back home to Surrey. On the  way back we stopped off at the Nene Valley Railway near Peterborough. They were having a diesel gala which I wasn't so impressed with but the station was very nice and we had a walk up to the engine sheds to see Thomas the Tank engine, though he is currently in bits so there wasn't much of him to see. 

We also looked through the Royal Mail Post Office carriage they have there. It's like the one that was robbed during the great train robbery. 

They've restore the carriage at Wansford so you can see how it works. You can even sort the letters into the post trays. I did that for about 10 minutes then told mum I'd never been to Ipswich (which there was a label for inthe carriage) so she put me in that tray to take a picture, she's very silly like that. 

We got home late on Saturday had a very long sleep and today we have gone to see dad's auntie and uncle who are staying in the New Forest on holiday this week. We went with pops too and had a very nice day there. There was a bit of traffic on the way back but it didn't matter, also dad bought me some sweets which helped.

Now we are safely home again and I'm looking forward to a bath and an early night.

I have had an amazing holiday and think I might start planning my next one soon.

Any suggestions where you all think I should go?

Night night everyone

Lots of love

Ben

Waiting to leave Grosmont station on Thursday 

Our train at Whitby 

Sir Nigel Gresley at Grosmont station

Nunney Castle at Grosmont

Sir Nigel Gresley at Pickering 

Nene Valley railway

Wansford

Post office carriage

Me sorting the post

Going to Ipswich!! 

With my giant crocodile sweet on the way back from the New Forest :)

Last day at Ironbridge

Good evening everyone

Today we finished off the Ironbridge museums. I had a lovely time in one of the museums that was a experience centre called Enginuity where we spent ages (well I did) playing with a display about water dams and creating electricity I also turned a big wheel and moved a steam engine. I had lots of fun.

We then travelled through Derbyshire and  are now in Glossop and just had a lovely evening meal and catch up with two of mummy and daddy's friends. 

We also visited the Emma Bridgewater factory shop today near Stoke on Trent, mummy loved it but I wasn't so impressed with all the designs and flowers and spots. She seemed to spend a fortune!! But we have bought a present for my mum's parents' new house which is something.

 

While driving across from Ironbridge we also came across some railway signs and had a little stop off at the Churnet Valley railway near Leek. It wasn't open but there was a lovely locomotive chuffing up and down so we sat and watched that for a while to break up our journey. I love trains so I really enjoyed that.

Tomorrow we are travelling to Yorkshire and stopping off to look at things on the way through. 

Will let you know what I get up to. 

Ben

Sitting on a wheelbarrow of coal at the Coalbrooke museum 

Map of Coalbrooke

Inside the Enginuity exhibition/museum

Me at the station

Ironbridge Museums

Hello everyone 

Wow, what a busy day I've had today.

We went to the Blists Hill Victorian town, there we walked around and looked at all the fascinating areas and workshops. We may have bought a lot of little bits and bobs too. Then we had fish and chips out of a bag looking at the ducks and an old steam locomotive. 

After that we went to the Coalport China museum and Jackfield Tile museum. My little feet were a little sore after that so we went to Bridgnorth and watched a train leave at the Severn Valley Railway. 

Then we went to Ironbridge and looked at the old bridge there (made from iron).

All in all it's been a brilliant day.

Tomorrow we are going to go to the rest of the Ironbrodge museums then out to tea near Manchester with some of mummy and daddy's friends.

Keep you posted. 

Lots of love 

Ben

Arriving at Blists Hill this morning 

Yummy

Vale of Rheidol Railway

Hello everyone

I hope you are all having a lovely weekend. 

I'm having a smashing time on holiday.

I could barely sleep last night I was so excited.

Today we went on the Vale of Rheidol railway from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge (and back again). 

We left early to get to Aberystwyth so dad could take some photos of the first train leaving. 

Then we went back to the station and went behind an engine called Palmerston- it's owned by the Ffestiniog railway but has come for it's holiday to the Vale of Rheidol. It worked here for a few years from 1914 onwards when the Rheidol's engines needed maintaining. So it is significant that it returns this year, 100 years after it first came to stay at the Rheidol.

The view from the train was amazing, I loved every minute of it, it was well worth the trip and the money (though mummy and daddy paid for me). 

Tonight we are staying in Telford then tomorrow and Tuesday we are going to look around the iron bridge museums. 

Photos of me today below.

Night night

Love Ben 

Waiting to take photos of the first train leaving Aberystwyth.

Siting on the train, all ready to go.

Ready to leave Aberystwyth

Crossing trains at Aberffwrd

Mum says she took this as it was the only time today I was quiet, secretly I was asleep while we waited at Devil's Bridge to leave for Aberystwyth, hehe ;)

Palmerston at Devil's Bridge 

Brecon mountain railway and Big pit

Hello everyone

We started our holiday today.

I feel like I've been everywhere in Wales today but surely I haven't.

We started the day really early and left home at 6.30am!! We then travelled to the Brecon Mountain Railway in Wales and got the first train of the day. It got a bit cold so I put my hat on. 

I took lots of photos for you all to see. We started our journey at Pant which is 1134 feet above sea level, that seems really high to me but there were lots of hills and mountains around us much higher than that.

On the way back down the mountain we went in the railway museum, I sat on ALL of the locomotives there. One is a vertical boiler engine called a De Winton.

After the railway we went to an iron works and mine museum near Ponty Pool.

Now I'm getting very tired so a quick trip to Frankie and Benny's for tea then off to bed.

I'll let you know what I get up to tomorrow. 

Lots of love

Ben

Waiting for the train

Leaving the station

Selfie!!

The lovely locomotive we went behind at Brecon Moutain Railway

The lovely view, but a bit foggy today.

Sitting on the DeWinton

At the iron works (mum says I need to pose more)

'Big Pit'

In the winding room

Marigold

Hello everyone

I hope you are all having a good week.

We are all off on holiday on Saturday which we are really looking forward to. I haven't packed my things yet though so I should really start soon!

I'll put lots of photos on my blog for you all to see when we are away.

In the meantime I thought it would be good if I introduced you to one of my friends each week.

Marigold 

One of my very best friends is Marigold. She is a cow and her full name is Marigold Ophelia Oberland (MOO).

She is originally from Switzerland- from the Bernese Oberland area, hence her name.

She came to live with us earlier this year (July) when mummy's parents went on holiday to Switzerland and brought Marigold back with them. 

She has settled in really well, she speaks German and English which is really good as I thought she might not understand us all when she came to live with us. She is also trying to teach me some German but I'm not very good at it. 

She is really funny and smart and we get on really well- so that's why she is one of my best friends. We like hanging out together and like the same films so everything is good.

Anyway I will leave you in peace for the evening. 

Speak soon

Auf Wiedersehen

Ben 

Bedfordshire steam and country fayre

Hello everyone

I hope you are all well and having a relaxing evening.

So today we all went to the Bedforrdshire steam and country fayre near Biggleswade in Bedfordshire.

It was really lovely weather and we kept mum company while she hobbled along after her walk yesterday, which has made her legs rather stiff.

I really liked all the traction engines and vintage vehicles. We also got to look around a truly fascinating and varied collection of old planes. 

Out of all of the traction engines though I liked the most one called 'The Horse's Friend'. It is a small traction engine which was bought back in the 1920s by two ladies who saw lots of horses struggle up a steep hill in Croydon with heavy loads. They bought the engine and paid the wages of the person to drive it and maintain it so the horses had help moving their loads and wouldn't have to struggle anymore.

The engine is now owned by the RSPCA. 

It's really fascinating finding out what these engines have done in their life time. Though I know not everyone will agree 

Speak soon

Ben 

Thames Path Challenge

Hello everyone 

I hope you are having a good weekend.

Yesterday my mum did a charity walk. It was 50km (31 miles) long and took her 10 hours. That seems like a very long way to me. 

We all went and cheered her on at the half way point and bought her a ice lolly a bit further along.

She was very tired by the end of the day so she went straight to bed after we all took her out for a well deserved curry. 

This morning she let me wear her medal, it's quite heavy.

We are all very proud of her.

Today we are off to a traction engine rally in Bedfordshire. I'll see if I can get any photos for you all to see. 

Speak soon

Ben

P.S for some reason a post I wrote on Friday has only just published so don't be confused that I seem to have done a lot today, because I haven't really. 

Tracks to the trenches

Hello everyone 

I hope you are having a good week.

Today mummy, daddy and I have come to Apedale in Staffordshire for a World War One commemorative event.

I've already been able to sit on an engine because daddy is helping to run it!!

I got a bit camera shy though so I was sitting in the tool box when mum took the picture. 

If I get anymore photos I will put them on here. But why not come down and see us if you can. 

Speak soon

Lots of love

Ben