Followers

Sunday 28 February 2010

MWM hates me....................

because I did something he really wanted to do and probably won't get the chance to do ever again!

Let me set the scene.

Last Sunday there was a Steam Event on the East Lancs Railway so of course MWM wanted to go to take photographs of the two special steam engines that were visiting.  - Oliver Cromwell and Sir Lamiel which were both on loan from the National Railway Museum, together with two steam engines that are resident at The East Lancs Railway, Duke of Gloucester and Black Five 44871.

We boarded the train at our local station and were pulled by Oliver Cromwell and Duke of Gloucester to Bury Bolton Street Station.   Oliver Cromwell has been in storage in Bressingham, Norfolk, for the best part of forty years so it's appearance here 'oop north was something quite unique. The Duke of Gloucester is unique in that it was the only one of it's type built by British Railways in 1954.


Oliver Cromwell



Duke of Gloucester



When we arrived I stood about in the snowy, freezing temperatures, holding the camera bag whilst MWM took photographs - not exactly thrilling I know but I love him and would do anything for him.




MWM asked me to take his photo standing next to Oliver Cromwell, of course I obliged.




What he really wanted to do was sit in the cab and I told him "ask the driver" but he and a chap standing next to me agreed that "you can tell without asking whether they will let you in the cab".    "Rubbish" I said handing the camera over.     That was when I made MWM insanely jealous.    I CABBED OLIVER CROMWELL!




MWM and the chap standing with him on the platform stood gaping whilst the engine driver vacated his seat to let me sit in the cab.  Like I told them "If you don't ask, you don't get!" so I did it again and CABBED SIR LAMIEL!




Spurred on by my 'cheek' MWM cabbed Sir Lamiel too.




Sir Lamiel would have spent all it's working life in the south of England and would never have come north of London.   There were 49 of this type of engine built from 1925.    MWM also asked if he could get into the cab of Oliver Cromwell but they were busy stoking the boiler, so it wasn't a good time.  

Here's The Black Five which is owned by Ian Riley and has just been restored.   It has the distinction of being the last steam engine to pull a train on the last day of steam in 1968 before British Railways banned steam on the network. MWM tells me it was known as the 15 Guinea Special because that's how much the tickets were.  842 Black Fives were built from 1934 onwards and all but 18 have been scrapped. Oliver Cromwell was one of the other steam engines to pull the 15 Guinea Special, there were 55 of this type of engine built from 1951.




Two of the original coaches from the 15 Guinea Special reside at Bury Bolton Street, Station and are used regularly on the East Lancs Railway.   Just recently the original Coat of Arms for the East Lancs Railway, which has been missing for many years, was discovered and restored.  Once again it now takes pride of place in the ticket hall of the station.




It was time for the engines to carry on their round trip, we had about an hour before they came back to the station so we went in the station buffet/bar and had some lunch, then when Sir Lamiel returned we rode it back to our local station.

So there you have it.   That's the reason MWM hates me. LOL

For any Steam Train fans here's a little slide show of some of the hundreds many photos he took.


28 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

oh i just love a gutsy broad!!! good for you honey!

smiles, bee
xxoxoxoxooxox

buffalodick said...

You have fun wherever you go!

Shrinky said...

Is there anything more pure than the love of a good wife??

At least you got some awesome pictures, eh? (Grin)

Ron said...

WOO!...WOO!...you GO, girl!

I agree, if you don't ask, you don't get!

LOVE your gustiness!

Of course, I always enjoye ALL of your photos, but that first one just blew me away! It's magical!

Thanks for sharing, m'dear!

X

snowelf said...

LOL! I love how you just plain old told him "rubbish!"! You did we womenfolk proud. ;)

My daughter loves science and music and my son has two passions in life trains and ockey(Until he discovers women of course. ;)). I had to share this post with him.

I also had to smile to myself when you said you were happy to endure the freezing cold to share something he loves. I have always thought it wonderful that when you really love someone sharing their passions somehow feed into your own joy.

--snow

Susan at Stony River said...

What a fantastic day out this looks like! The photos are amazing -- I love old locomotives.

Anonymous said...

Atta girl! You show 'em how it's done. I love the photos and your story. Such good information. It would be so fun to take a train trip like that. ). Have a wonderful
Sunday.

Maude Lynn said...

Way to go, Ake!

G-Man said...

You Cabbed Oliver Cromwell?

hehehehehehehehehe

Valerie said...

Oh I loved this, and so will train-mad hubby. Can't wait to show him and watch him drool... grins.

quilly said...

What fun. I have never been on a train ride but it is certainly on my list of future adventures.

secret agent woman said...

Looks chilly, but I'm glad you guys had a god time.

Unknown said...

If my mother were still alive she would have been cheering you on. She was always sharing words of wisdom, but the words that I heard most from her was.... "The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Always speak up for what you want."

Travis Cody said...

You're right...if you don't ask, the answer is always no.

Good for you! And good for MWM for cabbing at least one of the trains.

Mimi Lenox said...

I can so see you doing that! LOL

tattytiara said...

Those trains are so cool, but cool as they are you are definitely so much cooler for cabbing them. Rock on, babe!

Akelamalu said...

I've always been gutsy Bee :)

Indeed we do Buff!

A man with the love of a good wife just can't go wrong Shrinky (wink)

The first photo is my favourite too Ron :)

I hope your son enjoyed the train photos snowelf, he would so
love living here so close to the railway. :)

It is a great place to visit Susan and so much nicer in summer! LOL

Thom if you ever get to England you must come and visit then we can take you to see the trains. :)

Thanks Mama Zen.

Cheers Dumdad

It's a technical term G-man (wink)

I hope your hubby enjoys the photos Valerie and I'm pleased you did too.

Oh Quilly you're missing a treat. I hope you get to go on a train soon.

Yes we had a good time even in the snow SAW :)

Your mother was right Jo!


Quite Trav, that's what my Dad always said.


I did Mimi! lol


LOL thanks Tattytiara :)

Anonymous said...

Sounds ace - You go girl :0)

maryt/theteach said...

Akalamalu,I love trains and you got photos of a couple of great ones. You could post two of the photos (you know which ones I mean) for Ruby Tuesday at my blog... :) Ruby Tuesday will be going up at 2:00 PM EST today.

happily retired gal said...

What a kewl adventure! You remind me of my sister ... letting nothing stop you when you want something! Marvelous post ... thanks for sharing.
Hugs and blessings,

Akelamalu said...

It was Eternally Distracted :)

Glad you liked the photos Teach.

I think I'd like your sister Happily Retired Gal!

Daryl said...

Oh I loved this post but I am in love with the shot of Oliver in the steam! Hawt!

TBM said...

Go you! Swimming with dolphins, cabbing Oliver Cromwell and Sir Lamiel, what next!?!

Those are gorgeous trains. I think I've seen one or two of those in passing.

sewa mobil said...

Nice information, this really useful for me. There is nothing to argue about.
Keep posting stuff like this i really like it. Thx.

Barbados Apartment Hotel said...

thanks for the very useful infor here... :D

Akelamalu said...

It's fabulous isn't it Daryl - not mine though MWM took it.

There's no stopping me JAPRA! LOL

Glad you enjoyed it sewa mobil

I'm glad this post was useful to you Barbados Apart Hotel, but I can't imagine how!

Julia Phillips Smith said...

'Like I told them "If you don't ask, you don't get!" so I did it again' - LOL!!

Akelamalu said...

That's me Julia! LOL