Above you can see one of the side streets off Oxford Street. Many of you have been to London at Christmas. It is magical, but the same is true when you are with any people that you love. Bus 94 is the new buss that we take whenever we head to the hotel.
There is one stop, Minford where the steam train crosses the regular line. So on the return trip we got off the Ffestiniog Train to catch the regular train to Aberyswyth, the end of the line on the coast. This is Greg and I waiting 1-¾ hours for the next train. You see it all. There is nothing there except a phone connected to the National Rail Line, which tells you when the next train is coming. It was reassuring to just pick up the phone and hear a recording. One has to flag the train down as it rounds the bend in the line.
Since Greg and I decided to take this trip, I made a point of getting on a steam-engine train. Arta and I went up to the top of Mt. Snowdon on a cog wheel train. It was an amazing journey. Here you can see Mt. Snowdon from the castle at Caernarfon, Wales. We have gone from the luxurious first class trains with food service to the one car train which one guard told Arta and I, it was just one step above a horse and cart. Below is the Ffestiniog Welsh Train that we took through the country for 50 miles.
Greg is watchhing out the window of the Ffestiniog train while the guard is having a chat with the neighbor. I was afraid at one point that I was imposing my wants on Greg, until he said, “I love trains, any train!” There are many revived steam engine trains trips in Scotland and Wales. However, the trains shut down during the winter months. The only one left open this winter is the Welsh Blaneau Ffestiniog - Porthmadog, roundtrip.
Thank you for the words and the pictures. Though a picture is worth a thousand words, the text really helps. Yes to the train rides being a trip of a life-time. And there are even swags and bows decorating the windows.
ReplyDeleteThe train going around the corner looks like a picture out of a movie -- as does the snap of the two old people waiting to flag down a train. I hope we can keep holidaying together until we are all using walkers -- even past then would be fun. Especially on the train line that serves gourmet breakfasts, lunches and suppers.
Have a ginger cookie on me tonight.
Oh yes, it feels as if I just could run down the street that has arches trimmed in tiny lights, that I could find a theatre door to enter and enjoy the evening watching dance and listening to song.
Arta