Now for the jewel in the island's railway crown - the Groudle Glen Railway. Easily the best in the world, and home to the greatest steam loco, "Sea Lion".
Two visits this year. The first was in the morning of a rare all-day session on the Wednesday. This was very busy thanks to a weather forecast promising heavy rain at lunchtime. Trains ran as often as possible, and full. And fast. "Otter" was in charge, and the driver was rattling along, faster than I recall travelling on the line!
We headed out to the cafe for tea and cake, with the return behind electric loco "Polar Bear" which had been pressed into service to ease the strain. We managed to leave just as the first spots of rail arrived. I suspect the afternoon was quieter, but reports after the event said it had been the busiest day anyone could remember - good news for the line's income!
If you follow the GGR Facebook page, there have been many impromptue videos published as they get ready for the day's operation. For both my Dad and I, these were a bit of a lifeline over lockdown. A chance to see our favourite railway, even if we couldn't visit.
Chance was taken to thank the chairman for these, and later Alex Brindly who films them, which resulted in a quick tour of the sheds along with a few funny celebrity stories. Guy Martin visitied on the quiet, and was due to have a steam ride along the line - then he saw the two Hudswell diesels, and shot underneath them, completely in his element!
Sunday's return trip was for the extravaganza, when all the locos would be running. We enjoyed a trip behind diesel "Dolphin" at first. A proper trash, as the hill might not be steep, but it is long. Challenging for a small loco on a well-loaded train.
Three decades ago, I stood on this bank and watched "Sea Lion" run around the train and take it back to the main station. Once it left, the scene was desolate. Rails, a station sign, and nothing else. In the years after, the site as been rebuilt, complete with the excellent cafe. All the rolling stock has been rebuilt, replaced or heavily refurbished. It's here, more than anywhere else, that you notice the changes over the years.
We managed a couple more rides, finishing with a special - double-headed "Sea Lion" and "Brown Bear". It's alway tough to tear ourselves away from the Groudle, but this provided a perfect finish, and definite high-point for our week. One day, we hope to be back.
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