Reflection - 'The Train Has Shrunk'

The sun was shining this morning, when we set out for the seaside. The plan was to explore the west coast of Cumbria. 

It didn't go too well. We found the sea easily enough but the bit we'd chosen turned out to be a military firing range. We drove on, turned a bend and found the road flooded, and there was no other way out than to retrace our route till we got back to the main road. 

Finding food then became the priority.  We came to Ravenglass and pulled into the station car-park. We were last here about 40 years ago, with our very small children, riding on the Little Ratty Railway.  And it's still running! 

After lunch in the cafe we went into the museum and learned a bit about the history. It was built to bring iron ore from the mines high up in the fells down to the coast.  The tiny gauge was chosen because it was the cheapest way to build a track over the challenging terrain. It opened in the 1870s, with passengers being carried almost from the beginning. It may look like a big boys' toy, but has had a remarkably long and profitable life.

Judging by the numbers there today, it will last for a good while yet.

Thanks to Chantler63 for hosting the Mono Monday challenge. The train was very shiny :-)