The Flying Scotsman

Our desire to blip a steam train got us soaked again today

We went to Kitchen Hill, just outside Penrith, in the pouring rain to get a shot of the Flying Scotsman out in the countryside. The farmer feeding his sheep said we could go into his field and down to the line, which would have given us brilliant close-up blips but wouldn't have been fair to those on a nearby bridge as we would have been on their shots.

When the train passed, we went up to Carlisle to see it in the station. this was the best part of the day as we not only got to see the train but we got to watch an interview with a driver who had worked on steam trains, including TFS, for 47 years. (See extra photos) Later, his son introduced us to him and he, Tom Hayton, told us the answer to something which had puzzled us? Why does Carlisle station have very tall, golden sandstone walls so far along the platforms. In conversation it came out that in earlier days Carlisle station had a wide glass roof which stretched from one side to the other, supported by these walls.

What a day he was having, he was treated like a celebrity! Thank you Tom, we enjoyed our chat.