York

A zero series Shinkansen - Wow!

Tuesday was our day off for good behaviour.  Also it is half-term in North Yorks this week so Tom wasn't at school, I thought a trip to the National Railway Museum in York would be a great half-term cum birthday treat.  Grandpa also thought it a good idea and stayed the extra night so he could come too.

We got the train from Ribblehead (not our nearest station but the most convenient one for number of services and more importantly free parking) to Leeds (1.5 hours) and then from Leeds to York (20 minutes) and walked to the museum.  I had no idea how big the museum is and was completely stunned by it.  First stop though was lunch - the restaurant is run by Milburns so I was expecting the worse (which is what we got at MOSI) but it was excellent.  Great food, quick service and the Manager was on show in the restaurant crowd managing, making sure everyone got a seat - I couldn't fault it - so contract catering can be done well - my first experience!  Tom tucked into a plate of cheesy pasta, wedges and veg (a huge plate which all went) whilst the older boys had sausage and mash and I had a goats' cheese parcel.  We then had a play.  We went into the main engine show room and made a beeline for the Shinkansen (of course) and then looked around the various other engines (a number of which Tom knew by name - he is such a train nerd now!).  He then spent quite a while watching a model tramway and then a model railway.  Once we tore him away from that we had a drink and then Tom queued up to have a go at pedalling a steam train toy - he did really well as I thought they looked quite heavy - see video below:

Pedal train

MALLARD

We then went outside where he had a trip on a miniature railway, then back to the main museum to watch the model railway again.  This was definitely his favourite bit.  By now it was late afternoon so the crowds had dispersed, meaning that he could run up and down with the model railway watching go in and come out of tunnels.  He spent ages there, with a couple of other boys doing exactly the same. He then had a ride on another miniature railway with Grandpa, watched the model tramway again and before enticing him out.  It really was a fantastic museum, there were loads of things we didn't see or do - including whole buildings, I have a feeling this is going to be a regular day out.  It is quite cheap for us to go at the moment as we have a special 'Dales Rail Pass', being residents we can travel any distance on the Leeds to Morecambe line and Leeds to Carlisle line for just £7 between November and February, a huge reduction on the full rate.

View from Ribblehead Station

Tom spent his birthday money (£5 from Shelm and Bob and £5 from John and Shirley) on a Mallard to go on his train set - money well spent I think - it is certainly very smart.  We then headed back to Leeds where we bought a picnic dinner to have on the train back to Ribblehead.  Tom had a bit of a moment in Leeds - he banged his head in the toilet and then told me his knees were hurting and then couldn't stop crying.  He was a sorry sight for about 15 minutes, but luckily Matt got him happy again showing him lots of photos on his iphone.  He had a happy dinner on the train - ate the best part of an adult's egg sandwich with some crisps and then came over and cuddled me and fell asleep.  He woke up when we transferred him to the car but was asleep again in minutes.  When we got home he was again a sorry sight, crying 'I don't want a bath, I don't want a story' - so we got him in his pyjamas, had an abortive attempt at trying to get him to go to the loo and then he hopped straight into bed.  I think he was asleep again in seconds.  A happy sleep I'm sure as he was a very good boy today and very well stimulated.  We all enjoyed ourselves too.