Bench with a view at the Chasewater Country Park Steam Railway

Bench with a view at the Chasewater Country Park Steam Railway in Walsall.

What a view

Related blog posts:
- Bench
- Railway

Videos:

- Steam Engine at Brownhills West station at Chasewater Country Park

- Steam Engine at Brownhills West station on the Chasewater Railway

- Departure from Brownhills West station on the Chasewater Railway

- Steam Engine at Chasewater Country Park

Link:

- Chasewater Railway

Pacer Face-Off at Manchester Piccadilly

What a sight for fans of Pacer Railbuses!

What a sight!

The Cheshire Line Tavern

A visit to the Cheshire Line Tavern in Cheadle.

As a bit of a train nerd it was marvellous to find out that a nearby disused railway station on our doorstep is now a pub!

The Cheshire Line Tavern in Cheadle

The station opened as Cheadle North in 1866 and at one time was a double track line and saw more than 200 trains pass through a day!

The single track line and former station last November

The station closed to passengers in 1964.

The line itself is still in use for freight, and the occasional luxury charter. Unfortunately we didn't see any pass by while we were in the pub. However, I've seen a handful of trains on the Mid Cheshire Line since we moved to the area last summer.

We didn't see any trains pass by our window seat on our visit last November

Visit the Cheshire Line Tavern's website for more info.

Links:
- Cheshire Line Tavern
- Disused Railway Stations

Related blog posts:
- Train nerdery
- Disused stations
- Cheadle
- Pubs

Eaton Park Miniature Railway in Norwich

Last Friday we visited the wonderful Eaton Park in Norwich. After we'd played the superb Crazy Golf course we went for a look at the Miniature Railway. It looked like a brilliant layout.

Another miniature railway visited on our travels

Eaton Park's Miniature Railway comprises two tracks - an elevated track and a longer ground level track.

The elevated track on the Larch End loop above the line out of Parkside station

Subject to weather conditions the miniature trains operate every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday between 1 and 5pm (April to October).

 

The ground level track cutting through a park pathway

A view of Parkside station, a signal box and a tunnel

The turntable at Parkside station

 

Larch End station on the elevated track line

Hopefully next time we visit Eaton Park we'll be there on a day the miniature railway is open.

Links:
- Norwich & District Society of Model Engineers
- Friends of Eaton Park

Related blog posts:
- Miniature Railways
- Norwich
- Eaton Park Crazy Golf in Norwich

Disused railway stations - Felixstowe Beach in Suffolk

As a bit of a train nerd I recently joined the Disused Stations group on Facebook and last weekend found the perfect station location to take a photo of for the group while revisiting Felixstowe in Suffolk.

As we were driving over the level crossing on our way to the seafront we remembered there was an old platform to the left of us.

The disused Felixstowe Beach railway station on a sunny Sunday in May

Felixstowe Beach railway station taken closed to goods in 1966 and passengers in 1967. The station buildings were demolished in 2004.

Links:
- Disused Stations website
- Disused Stations Facebook Group

Pacer Railbuses at Ashburys and Stockport

Riding a much maligned workhorse of the north's rail network.  

Prior to yesterday I had only ridden on one Pacer Railbus - from Paignton to Torquay on our South West Minigolfing Roadtrip in 2015. They're a 'popular' train up north and we quite often see - and hear - them squealing along the many lines in Greater Manchester.

At Paignton station in the summer of 2015

While in the city I managed to make a trip from Ashburys station in Openshaw one stop along to Manchester Piccadilly riding in Pacer Railbus 142037.

I wasn't the only one catching the train from Ashburys. However, I was probably the only person who'd specifically gone there to get on a Pacer Railbus

Prior to its arrival a four-coach Pacer had sped through the station. I also saw a Class 323 and a Class 150 heading towards Hadfield and New Mills Central respectively.

Ashburys railway station

My final destination was back home to Cheadle Hulme, but as I didn't fancy waiting around for the next train I hopped aboard my second Pacer of the day, 142013 to Chester via Stockport where I alighted for a walk home.

Back in the borough

Quite the day out!

Ashburys railway station is in Openshaw, Manchester. Ashburys doesn't refer to the area, rather it's taken from the name of the company that built the station in 1850

The station is the closest to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium

There was some unexpected greenery under the stairs on an unused bit of the other platform

One of the most interesting things at Ashburys station was this abandoned glove

Network Rail have a signalling centre very close to the station

323230 arriving at Ashburys station

I was looking in the wrong direction and hadn't even heard this Pacer until it was almost too later

Sprinter 150147 heading away from Ashburys station

Pacer Railbuses 142037 & 142054 at Manchester Piccadilly station

Down the other end they were Pacer Railbuses 142030 & 142054

Earlier in the day I'd seen Pacer Railbus 142067 at Manchester Piccadilly

Related blog posts:
- Trains
- Manchester
- Stockport
- Top Trainspotting

Videos:
- Pacer Railbus 142037 at Ashburys railway station in Manchester
- Pacer Railbus 142013 at Stockport railway station

Steam train at Davenport railway station in Stockport

Catching a glimpse of BR Standard 4 76084 Buxton Spa Express at Davenport railway station in Stockport.

Steam Engine 76084 aka the 'Lancashire Lazarus' (and 45690 Leander) passes through Davenport railway station in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport at 9.35am on Saturday 25th February 2017.



The BR Standard 4 2-6-0 locomotive and carriages formed 'The Buxton Spa Express' special charter mainline service.

76084 at Davenport railway station

The back of the last carriage forming the Buxton Spa Express

Just as 76084 passed through a two-coach Northern rail Class 150 Sprinter (150116) called at the station heading north to Manchester and Bolton.

If this Class 150 Sprinter had been 30 seconds faster it would've ruined the view for the trainspotters on the other platform!

For further information visit the 76084 Standard 4 website.

76084 was preceded by a Class 185 TransPennine Express and followed by a Northern Class 142 Pacer Railbus.





Related blog posts:
- Stockport
- Train Nerd
- Trains

A visit to East Didsbury railway station

Maximum Train Nerdery at East Didsbury railway station.

Since moving to the north of England we've been travelling to a lot of new places. This has given me the chance to see some new railway stations and a lot of different trains too.

Train nerd Richard Gottfried at East Didsbury railway station

My new favourite railway station is East Didsbury in Manchester. It's actually one of the closest to ours and we stopped by on Friday prior to going tenpin bowling over the road at Parrs Wood. In just ten minutes six trains passed through the station, although only one stopped. And that was en route to Llandudno!



Check out my YouTube Channel and the links below to see some of my other recent train nerdery captured on camera.

Related blog posts:
- Train Nerd
- Train
- Trains
- A trip to Ashton-under-Lyne railway station
- Tube trains on the Isle of Wight

Videos:

- Crazy Golf and a train at Vickersway Park in Northwich

- GBRf 66737 with Drax freight trucks at Cheadle Heath

- Northern Sprinter train on a railway bridge in Cheadle Heath

- Northern Sprinter and Pacer Railbus trains at Ashton-under-Lyne station

- Pacer Railbus train in Cheadle Heath

- Class 150 Sprinter Northern service from Altrincham to Stockport

- Trainspotting at East Didsbury railway station

- First TransPennine Express Class 185's passing East Didsbury station

- Arriva Trains Wales Class 175 stopping at East Didsbury station

- Northern Class 150 Sprinter passing East Didsbury station

- Northern Class 156 passing East Didsbury station

- Northern Electrics Class 319 passing East Didsbury station

A trip to Ashton-under-Lyne railway station

Visiting Ashton-under-Lyne railway station.

While visiting Ashton-under-Lyne and the great Portland Basin Museum for the first time we swung by the railway station for a quick look for some classic Northern trains.

Train nerd

We were in luck as we saw BOTH 16:34 services arriving at and departing from the station! One was a two-coach Class 150 Sprinter heading to Huddersfield, the other was a four-coach Pacer Railbus en route to Wigan Wallgate.

Bound for Wigan Wallgate

Off to Huddersfield

One of the non-stopping trains passing through Ashton-under-Lyne station

Videos:
- Northern Sprinter and Pacer Railbus trains at Ashton-under-Lyne station
- Northern Sprinter train on a railway bridge at Normanton Road, Cheadle
- GBRf 66737 with Drax freight trucks at Cheadle Heath

Related blog posts:
- Train nerd
- Trains

A trip to Reddish South railway station

Visiting Reddish South railway station.

Last year we watched the TV programme Paul Merton's Secret Stations and were interested to hear about the once a week 'parliamentary' rail service from Reddish South railway station in Greater Manchester.

Reddish South railway station. A very quiet spot

When we moved to Cheadle Hulme last summer we noticed on a local map that Reddish South was one of our closest stations here in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport!

The station's timetable makes for grim viewing

Yesterday we went to explore the station. Unfortunately we didn't see any trains pass through Reddish South and we didn't fancy waiting for the next and only service - the 09:27 to Stalybridge. On Friday!

Five days early, or two days late, for the next train from Reddish South

The station is one of the quietest in the UK, and the least used in Greater Manchester, with only 38 passengers using the station in 2015/16.

A view of Reddish Station from down the line

Ticking off another railway station visit on our travels

The station has a Friends group that are campaigning for a regular service from Reddish South

Practicing my hailing motion for when we actually catch a train from the request stop

An old unused tunnel to the right

A view of one of the old and unused platforms

The station has no facilities for passengers at all. At least Denton, another station on the Stockport-Stalybridge Line, has a bench.

Distinctly lacking in facilities

You can find out more about the station and service from the Friends of Reddish South Station group.

Watch episode 3 of Paul Merton's Secret Stations to see Reddish South station.

Further information about the station can be found on the Northern Railway website.

LilliPutt indoor Mini Golf in Singapore

A visit to the LilliPutt indoor Miniature Golf course in Singapore.

LilliPutt Mini Golf course - Funtastic Singapore in 18-holes

Emily was recently on business in South East Asia and during her trip to Singapore managed to fit in a game of Miniature Golf at the indoor LilliPutt Mini Golf course on East Coast Parkway.

Emily playing at the 677th course on our tour

The LilliPutt Mini Golf course became the 677th course visited and 393rd played on the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour since September 2006. Singapore is now the twelfth country we've played the game in!

LilliPutt is on the third floor of the former Splash Park building in Singapore

The course looks absolutely amazing and it's a must-visit attraction if you're a fan of the game. Check out the video below for one of the many holes that uses moving parts - hole 5 and the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT)!



Emily was amazed at how detailed and well built the LilliPutt layout was. On all our travels we've never seen a minigolf course quite like it!

Upon arrival at LilliPutt you depart from Changi Airport on your minigolf adventures around Singapore in miniature

The LilliPutt Mini Golf course has been designed to show Singapore in 18 'Funtastic' holes. They've certainly delivered on that promise.

Hole 2 - the Discovery Centre features a loop-di-loop with a plane on top. And a tank you putt through!

Once again Emily faced-off against her long-time minigolf rival and fellow international traveller Janie Peace. In the contest Emily secured the victory 76 to 84.

Janie playing hole 7, the Bird Park

The course has a par of 65 - and you can see why when you look at how tricky some of the intricately detailed holes are.

Hole 3 - the Turf Club racecourse - and hole 2 beyond shows the Discovery Centre

Hole 6 is the Fountain of Wealth

Hole 5 is an amazing layout of the Singapore Mass Rapid Transit system!

Instructions on how to play the hole

Another view of the MRT hole

 

Hole 8 depicts Singapore Port 

Hole 9 is a Science Centre - that features a Ski Slope!

A trip to the Zoo on hole 10

An Alligator, or Crocodile, lurking on the 10th

 

Hole 11 is a Food Centre!

Hole 15 - Boat Quay

A look at hole 16 - the Botanic Gardens - and beyond

 

You can also follow a brown tourist sign to find the course

For more info, opening times and prices check out the LilliPutt indoor Mini Golf course website.

They've got very nice scorecards and tickets at the LilliPutt Mini Golf course

Link:
- LilliPutt indoor Mini Golf course website

Related blog posts:
- Crazy World of Minigolf Tour
- Emily Gottfried
- Janie Peace
- Indoor Mini, Crazy and Adventure Golf courses

Videos:
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 1 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 2 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 3 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 4 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 5 of 6
- LilliPutt Mini Golf course in Singapore 6 of 6

Give the Crazy World of Minigolf Tour a Like on Facebook, watch our YouTube channel and follow us on Twitter @putting_gott and @Ems_Lems.

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