Whitby on the Steam Train

So today it dawned bright blue and sunny - yay!

We had planned to go on the North York Moors Railway to Whitby, what better day to go to the seaside than a sunny day!  The train actually left quite early (9.25) so we had to get up early - the boys were up early anyway!  We had breakfast at the station with quite a few others and then got settled in in our carriage (it was freezing cold - poo!)

The train took 1hr 45mins to get us to Whitby (it was slow and there was a lot of long stops at stations).  We kept ourselves amused with books, colouring in, watching the scenery go past.  I was expecting lots of bleak looking moors, but it was more rolling hills with plenty of trees, sheep etc.  We even saw some herdys.

Whitby Abbey

When we got off the train in Whitby, we were pleasantly surprised as it was warm, when I say warm, it is relative: warmer than it was on the train anyway.  The first sight we saw was the Abbey.  We felt as if we should go, so we found our way up the steps (199 of them) and paid to enter (Tom was free with his Blue Peter Badge).  It was an impressive sight, huge and domineering the headland on which it is built.  It is hard to imagine in 1200 when they built it, what the 'average' person would have thought when they saw it for the first time - completely unlike anything else they would have ever seen in their lifetime.  We did a quick Halloween quiz around the Abbey, came across a 'character actor' who was there as a time travelling grave robber and was very much a darhling actor - missing a Yorkshire accent, and enunciating his words very precisely! Was good fun though and I learnt a thing or two as did Tom.  We did a good walk around, as I said, the Abbey was handsome, but the rooves of Whitby were also, it is certainly a very good looking town.

Looking up the coast from the abbey

We finished off and then headed down the steps in search of lunch which we found in a narrow alley, nothing remarkable, but a nice cosy tea room.  Tom and Matt then headed back to the station to wait for steam trains, whilst I went in search of chocolate shops - these sorts of towns all have chocolate shops, and I was curious to see what was in fashion and pricing.  Unfortunately, I couldn't find the chocolate shops, instead finding the generic shopping street where everywhere was a chain store.  I did eventually manage to walk up a hill and find some independent shops, but as soon as I found them, it was time to head back to the station to get the train which was a shame.  We definitely need to come back to Whitby to do it some justice and get to know it a bit better.

I got to the station and was immediately part of a huge crowd.  There was a massive school group and a tour group waiting to get on as well as all the usual passengers.  I was thinking I wouldn't be able to find Matt and Tom at all, phoned them and immediately found them at the top of the queue.  Phew.  We waited for the 2 large groups to board and then headed to the train, there were a lot of people to fit on to it.  We walked right to the top of the platform and got on.  Compartment coach - yay!  First Class - nooooooo!  Tom immediately stopped, so Matt walked into him which led to some words, but the conductor sorted us out - the first compartments were first class, but the ones right at the top were second class - phew!  We got into one and got ourselves settled.

Cozy compartment

We didn't stay on the train for too long as we wanted to go for a wander around the engine sheds at Grosmont, just down the line.  This we did.  The line is certainly a hive of activity, there are loads of people working on the line, surprisingly a lot of them (mechanics / fitters etc) are young.  We are assuming they are paid.  Channel 5 were there filming for a documentary, so we need to find out when it is on and watch it to get a better idea of who are volunteers and who are paid and how it all works.

There was certainly plenty going on in the engine sheds, none of which we understood, plenty of dirt and grease.  There was an engine without a boiler on it, a new boiler on the ground - still silver, gently steaming away and a huge pair of wheels being cleaned.  We assumed they all belonged to each other and would become one again at some point.

After a good look around the sheds, we headed to an old school for tea and a bun, which was lovely and then back to Grosmont station to get the train back to Pickering.  The train we got had a lovely set of teak carriages on it, with beautifully restored carriages - all very lovely, we very much enjoyed our ride home.

We got home in the dark, went back to the cottage, dropped off our stuff and then went next door for curry.  Very good it was too.

Back at Pickering

Matt isn't feeling very well this week.  He's been complaining of tiredness for the last week, he's been saying he's been feeling washed out for the last couple of days and today on the train he had a dizzy spell and had to sit down.  Then he couldn't focus properly when taking photos of the Abbey.  Not himself at all.  I don't really know what to do other than show compassion and make sure he's not doing too much.  He thinks he has got a virus.  He's going to try to whisky therapy tonight...