We went from the Scottish Borders to Northumberland to finally ride a light railway we’d been trying to visit for the past three years.
The station felt real and alive. We could smell engine oil and the sharp scent of sulphur from burning coal.
I asked a train operator if I could take his picture. He said yes, and his colleagues were polite and helpful too.
We bought our tickets from an employee who is a big Metallica fan. The ticket office was a large wooden shed filled with toy shelves.
I rarely share panoramic photos with flaws, but this ticket office was simply too captivating to keep to myself.
Their love for the children’s TV series Thomas the Tank Engine shines through in their collection of toys for sale. Like the show, they even give each train its own name.
We had an hour to wait before our train to Etal. Charlie called me from across a nearby bridge and asked me to join him on the other side of the river for some refreshments.
Grade II listed cast iron and steel truss bridge constructed in 1877 and the River Till.
This year, blossoms unfurled and a tree shimmered with beauty beneath the sunlight.
Sent my drone soaring to capture sweeping aerial views of Heatherslaw Corn Mill, visitor centre, and the Heatherslaw Light Railway.
The Heatherslaw station was constructed on the site of the former Ford and Etal sawmill, which was damaged by a fire in the mid-1980s.
The train moves slowly, which lets me enjoy the journey even more.
Most of the carriages were empty. Only two families chose to sit in different ones.
We reached Etal after a half-hour journey.
We spent about an hour exploring the picturesque village before heading back to Heatherslaw.
Binky
Neville Smith first thought of building a railway. As an engineer, he had already built locomotives in 5-inch and 7 1/4-inch gauges, but he dreamed of creating a 15-inch narrow-gauge railway capable of carrying passengers.
Does this commemorate Derek, who was affiliated with the Stainmore Railway Company at Kirkby Stephen East?
Neville Smith was a British engineer known for constructing small-gauge locomotives (5 and 7 1/4 inch). He established the 15-inch narrow gauge Heatherslaw Light Railway in Northumberland. This railway is recognised as the most northerly steam railway in England.
We thoroughly enjoyed our journey on the light railway. Although the cafe by the River Till was somewhat expensive, the food and coffee were enjoyable.