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Nene Valley Railway
Nene Valley Railway - Travel behind the Flying Scotsman
Sunday 29th September saw Pam, Jacob, Liam and I rise extremely early from our beds to set off, with the car packed for our weeks break, for Suffolk, for a compulsory stop off at the Nene Valley Railway. Here Jacob, Liam and I and later to be joined by Kirsty, Richard and Ben are to travel behind the World-famous Flying Scotsman.
The trip on the Scotsman has secretly been organised by Kirsty for us all, for me as an early and very special birthday present.
As Pam and I and the boys were going to Suffolk on the Monday we decided to make the trip to Nene Valley as part of the holiday and to continue on from there to Suffolk with an overnight stop off at Bury St Edmunds. It seemed pointless to travel to the Nene Valley on the Sunday to then travel back home to travel back past the same spot on the Monday, hence the car being packed with all the luggage.
Jacob and Liam were booked the first to travel behind the Scotsman with Kirsty only being able to secure, at the last minute, the first run of the day. Richard, Ben and I would travel together but later in the morning.
Being early to arrive at Wandsford, the railways main station, we were able to park within the grounds of the railway, where the car stayed, safe and secure, for the duration of the time at the event. Prior to Jacob and Liam travelling behind the Scotsman, Pam & I took the opportunity to travel down the line and back rather than just sit pondering at Wandsford. This train was scheduled to run ahead of the Scotsman to pick up passengers who had parked at the various other locations that the railway were operating, to accommodate the large number of people who had booked to attend, and were travelling like us on a later train. Wandsford was the only location to board the train. Wandsford station car park is limited for space so we were lucky to secure our spot. It’s an uneventful ride of 7.5 miles down to the railway’s terminus, with the only view of the River Nene on the run in to the terminus on the outskirts of Peterborough. You do catch a glimpse as you cross the river as it heads north and begins to snake its way around Ferry Meadows park which, we also skirt for a short distance.
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Above pictures show: The Scotsman completing it's early morning preparation prior to the first run to Peterborough and back. Jacob & Liam about to board the train. One last selfie before doing so. Final picture the Scotsman awaiting the off.
Nevertheless, it’s not the scenery that we are here for it’s for the chance to see and photograph the Scotsman close up, in action and then later in the morning to be pulled the 15 miles by this icon of British Steam.
Above pictures show; Kirsty, Richard and Bens arrival and the allocation of the valuable tickets to ride. Then two pictures of the Scotsman, the first on it's run around of it's train about to re-connect and to run "Tender" first back to Wandsford. The second of Ben taking a picture as Scotsman manoeuvers into position to make it's return journey.
Later that afternoon we said our farewells to Kirsty, Richard and Ben as they made their way back home, and we headed off for our overnight stay in Bury St Edmunds
A wonderful day out, a privilege to see the Scotsman close up and to be able to spend time with almost all of the family, Joanne being unable to attend.