This blog is about a train journey with a difference, so to get you in the mood, I would like to quote from the few first few stanzas of the best railway poem that I know,
This is the night mail crossing the Border,
Bringing the cheque and the postal order,
Letters for the rich, letters for the poor,
The shop at the corner, the girl next door.
Pulling up Beattock, the steady climb:
The gradient's against her, but she's on time.
Past cotton-grass and moorland boulder
Shovelling white steam over her shoulder,
W H Auden's Night Mail, of course. I love the relentless rhythm and the image in the final line I quote. But why, you ask am I going on about trains? Well, on Friday night Helen and I were lucky enough to enjoy a fine dining experience aboard the Great Central Railway which travels between Loughborough and North Leicester, return. The reason that I am writing this blog is to say a big thank you to Catherine, Sally and Leanne, my erstwhile colleagues at Penman Watch and Jewellery. After spending 35 years teaching at Spalding Grammar School, I worked, part time at the jewelers shop for 20 years. When the time came to finally hang up my eyeglass, one of my departure gifts was this experience. At my age, gifts that are experiences, rather than stuff are so much more memorable particularly so, when I can share them with Helen.
So we got dressed up for the occasion;
The beast that was going to shovel white steam over its shoulder. Number 78019 is a standard class 2 2-6-0, built in Doncaster in 1954. The history of this engine is fully documented if you google up the number. My electric Hornby 0 0 gauge engine on my model railway was a copy of the same engine.
Loughborough G C Station is dressed in period for the 1960s, so here are a couple of shots of the platform and waiting/refreshments room.
Helen ensconced, waiting for grace.
A word or two about our meal. It was a most enjoyable experience. The standard of cooking and presentation was truly first class. The serving staff were friendly, efficient and knowledgeable. Helen started with the leek and potato soup with garlicky croutons whilst I enjoyed a Parma ham pesto parcel. We both chose the belly pork, new potatoes and vegetables. The pork was one of the tenderest and tasty I have had. A chocolate torte, cheese and biscuits followed by coffee completed an excellent dining experience. We steamed out at 7.30 and arrived back at 10.00 pm.
Leaving Loughborough Central we are riding on the only double track preserved main line in the UK. Shortly after departure we pass the site of the Shepshed Lacemaking factory, now industrial units but reminding us of that once important industry that finally closed its doors in 1980s. A little later on the left was the Ladybird printing factory where books for children all over the world were produced. It closed in 1991 and is now a wallpaper factory. Oh Maggie what did you do?
The first station down the line is Quorn and Woodhouse. A classic island design and now dressed for the 1940s with its "Dig for Victory" plots and NAAFI tearooms. We don't stop because we are all still eating the starter, but noticed the newly built turntable which allows the steam giants to be turned around.
Above you can see our table light and the Swithland reservoir which has been designated a SSSI. We pause with this view whilst we are served our main course and get stuck in.
The next station we steam into is Rothley which is decked out in the period of 1918. We don't stop here on the way out, but progress on to Leicester North. This station is entirely new and built as part of the restoration. Here the engine is moved to the back of the train to pull us backwards on our return journey. This maneuver allows me to get a few more pictures of the engine.
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