Monday 22 September - Reading, Henley on Thames

Reading station looking west. The flyover is taking shape in the distance

The circulating area above the platforms with escalators and stairs at either side

We took a train from Paddington so that I could see the new station at Reading. It is very impressive with 15 platforms, very large circulating spaces on the platforms and a wide concourse that spans all platforms. The track layout has been considerably modified and the fly over for the lines through Reading West are taking shape. There are escalators in all areas as well as stairs and the whole is well signposted. Quite an improvement over the station I had to contend with.

We walked into town and admired the extensive pedestrian areas, especially Broad Street which has been completely transformed.  The Oracle centre is an impressive new addition but what surprised me was the complete transformation of the area around the River Kennett. It was at one time very seedy and a place to be avoided. Now there are posh restaurants and fast food places. This area contained the municipal bus garage and at one time  a hostel where one could rent a section of clothes line which was strung across a room - one would sleep slung over the line. This was cheaper and took up less space than providing beds.

Sleeping over a washing line would probably be illegal here now

We took a train to Twyford and changed for the branch to Henley on Thames. We had lunch at the Anchor (New Forest Fortyniner bitter)

The weather was beautiful and we had a walk around this attractive town which is the home of the Henley Regatta.  The walk beside the Thames was very pleasant indeed although it was tainted somewhat by the smell of all the money there must be in the place - there were a lot of Private Keep Out signs.

The maltings. The Henley Brewery, across the street, is now a high end hotel.

The branch train had one of the two cars locked up for some reason and the guard moved us to first class because he expected a full load of teenagers. It was a struggle to get them all in but he finally managed to get the doors closed.  It was noisy and they were all texting to each other.

I decided to come back via Reading. At Reading our train couldn't get completely on to the platform because the train ahead had stopped short. They could only open the doors on the front two coaches. They have a beautiful brand new station but still haven't eliminated the crass stupidity factor. We caught a fast train to Paddington which, of course, was put into the drain at Paddington so we had to use the stairs.

After a drink at the Mad Bishop and Bear at Paddington (Fullers London Pride of course) we took the Circle line back to Gloucester Road and were amused to see a girl come in, take a seat, and calmly proceed to eat a take out Chinese meal with chop sticks. The new trains are very smooth and there was no danger of hurting herself with the chop sticks.  It looked pretty good.

I had a pint of this pale ale at the pub across the street from the hotel.

Sunday 21 September -Walking around

There is an amazing mix of people staying at the hotel.  At the table next to us at breakfast were Somali drug lords in London to get medical attention for the ailing father and to spend their ill gotten gains. They did not use knives or forks but scooped up bacon, eggs and baked beans with large pieces of pita bread.
Today we started to walk around the area and didn't really stop except for refreshments:
South Kensington
Natural History museum
Victoria and Albert museum
Harrods
Royal Hospital Chelsea (home of Chelsea Pensioners - we saw a couple in their bright red tunics and tri corn hats)
Chelsea Bridge
Battersea park with a great variety of trees, shrubs and water birds (heron, ducks, dving and dabbling, coots, moorhens and grebes, some very large fish were jumping).

 

Battersea Park with the iconic power station chimneys in the background

 

Battersea Park boating lake

Flypast of two Spitfires to commemorate the Battle of Britain

Battersea Dogs Home

Vauxhall
Lambeth
Albert Embankment - parts were very crowded and it was just like a busy seaside promenade.

Never know what you might find in the Thames

Blackfriars - the new station looks impressive but it was closed today because of engineering work

The original stonework has been restored, coat of arms of the London Chatham and Dover Railway

Southwark
Globe Theatre
Cannon Street

Monument from where we took the District line back to Gloucester Road

Saturday 20 September - Arundel, Amberley and Treacle Mine Loco

We tried using our credit cards instead of the Oyster card. Mary got in past the machine at Gloucester Road but it wouldn't let me through so I had to use.thisis iyster card. At Victoria the machine wouldn't let Mary out.
We caught the train to Arundel and walked into the village and the castle.  Just before we arrived the guard came around to check tickets. He asked the couple opposite why they were sitting in standard class with first class tickets. They hadn't realized they had first class tickets. This was a 90 minute journey and they got off with us.

The Castle from the village

 

The castle is well maintained and we enjoyed the keep as well as the castle rooms which are still lived in. Unfortunately no photography is allowed.
The grounds are well maintained and we particularly enjoyed the gardens, especially the water garden.

This large stand of trees made a great place for the kids to play

Underneath a Horse Chestnut tree were these flowers among the fallen conkers.  A couple of kids were greedily collecting the conkers

Click here to see all pictures taken at Arundel
There was just time for a visit to the White Hart for a Sussex Brewery bitter and it was off to the station for the short ride to Amberley.
The Amberley museum village demonstrates a number of crafts in particular relationship to the lime industry which developed around the chalk pit. Although this is an overgrown abandoned chalk quarry it wad very pleasant walking through the trees looking for the various exhibits.  There are a number of narrow gauge industrial locomotives and rides are given along a short length of track.

A narrow gauge train was giving rides

This is one of the narrow gauge locomotives from the Guinness Brewery in Dublin

My attention was drawn to a locomotive called "Sticky". This worked at a porridge quarry and then was moved to a treacle mine. This is the notice which explains Sticky.

ACME RAILCAR COMPANY
8HP 4 cylinder petrol engine with parented "Autodrive" drive system.
Built in the Company's Lion Works in Coventry in 1941 to the order of the 

Ministry of Fuel and Power, for use in forestry work in North Wales 

to an unusual gauge of 2ft 1ins.
Sold off in 1952 to a local company Cokeham Porridge Quarries Ltd, 

it was later transferred to Sompting  Treacle Mines Ltd, 

where it was used in No. 2 Mine until a slump in world treacle prices 

caused the company to cease trading in 1989.
It was there that it was discovered in a derelict condition and was brought to the Museum and restored for the training of junior engine drivers.

Following this momentous discovery we took the Museum train back to the entrance and tried to find Amberley village.
Click here to see all pictures taken at the Amberley Museum
It appears that the village is some way away from the station of the same name and the busy road has no sidewalks. We consoled ourselves with a drink at The Bridge until it was time to catch the train back to London.

Friday 19 September - York to London

A vintage tile map of the North Eastern Railway (1919?).  These tiles are now being produced again and sold to collectors.

There was plenty of time to get to the station to catch the train to London. It had come from Edinburgh, next stop London. A 40 year old diesel that provided an uncomfortable rough ride. It seems amazing that a diesel should be used when there are wires all the way. This is not environmentally friendly transport.

First class meal on East Coast Railway.  Fine dining it ain't.  Hate to think what economy can be like.

We had plenty of time to have lunch and a drink at the Parcels Yard in Kings Cross before taking the Underground to the Millennium Gloucester hotel close to Gloucester Road. My cell phone is picking up a strong enough signal through the window that we will not need to pay for wi-fi

Kynace Mews, close to the hotel, is an island of calm in a busy London

Thursday 18 September - York, Mansion House and Railway Museum

 

The Mansion House, the Lord Mayor's official residence, was open for guided tours.  The guide was excellent. He really knew a lot and was able to present it in an amusing fashion. Unfortunately no photography was allowed. The ground floor room was for the lower orders and not nearly so well appointed as the upper floor which was decorated for the senior people including royalty. In the past, as today, the powerful politicians were able to line their pockets and give favours to their friends. There were also some illustrations of dumb decisions made by city council.  A beautiful, graceful curved arch bridge was built across the river. Unfortunately the arch was too steep for coach horses to pull a coach over so all stage coaches had to stop, to allow the passengers to get out and push the coach over the hump.

Lunch was at Jamie Olivers.  We started with a vegetarian platter and pork scratchings while the main was Rabbit risotto and pan fried sea bass.

Posh Pork Scratchings

 Afterwards I went to the Railway Museum while Mary went home to pack. Not much has changed since I was at the museum a couple of weeks ago although I was pleased to see that the bell on King George V had been polished.

I had my picture taken in front of 2500 which I fired when at Shoeburyness

The bell looks much better now that it has been polished

Before polishing the copper band around the chimney/stack I always ensured the blower was off - and I hoped that a "friend" didn't reopen it and get soot, steam, smoke and hot water in my face.

The Rocket replica looks good from this side but it has been cut away on the other side.

Tomorrow we leave York for London.  Our stay in the Shambles has been a great success and has, if anything, exceeded our expectations.  We went to our two favourite pubs, the Blue Bell and the Olde Starre Inne.

At the Blue Bell I had a pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord, an all time favourite. While we were in there a short woman came in and nudged up to the bar.  She said she didn't know anything about beer and didn't drink it, pointed to one pump and asked for a taster.  She asked the fellow next to her what he thought and he said it was good.  She ordered a half and asked the barmaid how much she  was allowed to drink.  She then said she had difficulty in making friends, pointed out that she was only 4 foot 10 inches and was 33 but most people thought she was just a student. Two women at the end of the bar, regulars, looked at each other and rolled their eyes as it was obvious she was trying to pick up a man.

Things were quiet at the Olde Starre Inne where I had a Westerham Brewery Pale Ale.  I managed to score the last packet of scratchings.
  

 

Wednesday 17 September -York, Goddards Gardens

Breakfast today was at Bills where a lemon placed upon a table indicates that it is reserved.
Goddard's Gardens is a National Trust property near the racecourse. The house is the former home of the Terry family of chocolate fame.
The house looks severe from the outside but the rooms are very comfortable.

The garden is extensive and well maintained with views out on to the racecourse.

 

The garden was supervised by a guard sheep and a killer rabbit

The only chocolate now sold under the Terrys name is made in Poland.
We took a short cut across the racecourse and passed the old Terrys factory to the river.
Rowntree Gardens are a reminder of another York connection to chocolate. They are quite extensive but are overrun with geese.

Rowntree Park Dovecote

At Rowntree Park the Ice Cream vans have greater priority than invalid parking

On the river quay

Back at the Shambles I went for a glass of succor at the Blue Bell. This particular succor turned out to be Timothy Taylors Landlord.
A couple from Pontefract came in with a dog. The barmaid asked if they would like some water for the dog.
" Well he doesn't drink much water really, coffee, tea and beer but he rarely touches water."
And so the poor doggie had none.

The exterior of the Blue Bell is not pretentious. The can does dual duty.  It is hung out to indicate when the pub is open and it is for cigarette buts.  The window sill acts as a convenient shelf to place drinks.

The one bar has just two tables 

This is the Smoke Room, no smoking now, looking towards the back of the bar.