Taking on water

We travelled to Sheffield Park and Gardens in East Sussex to meet up for a day out with friend Rosemary who drove up from Waterlooville in Hampshire. A torturous journey for both of us with road closures, detours and heavy traffic both ways.

This National Trust site is one of a lovely place to visit whatever the season. It is spectacular in autumn with an amazing range of colours. At the moment the azaleas and rhododendrons are very good although there was quite a lot of frost damage evident.

And, of course, the National Trust site is adjacent to the Bluebell Railway’s Sheffield Park station to which we repaired after finishing at the Gardens.

As luck would have it the last train of the day was on its way so we waited for its arrival with an ice cream followed by a welcome cup of tea. I visited the signalbox for a chat with the duty signalman, then went on the loco footplate for a chat with the fireman. A benefit of being a volunteer and a member of the railway fraternity.

I will probably get grief for posting another railway shot. It should be one from the Gardens. See in extras should you wish to look at a garden shot.

The loco is a relative youngster, a Standard Class Mixed Traffic 4-6-2 Tank built in 1951: https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/locos/80151/index.html