Victor makes a spirited start from Haverthwaite

Those of you who were looking forward to another Lakes blip will be disappointed I’m sure. Lovers of my steamy blips will be delighted!

It was my LXVII birthday today, so I get to chose the blip! I have included a Lakes shot in extras.

The Haverthwaite and Lakeside Railway cafe offered an intriguing breakfast: a stacker! Unusual in that it came on three plates like a cake stand! All very hot and delicious. I got to look inside the signalbox too.

The weather didn’t play ball, a stationary band of rain settled over the area not moving all day. We made the most of it by driving up to Grasmere and walking to Easedale Tarn and back finishing up at Bawdry’s for afternoon tea.

The loco is Victor, a Bagnall saddletank built in 1950 for the South Wales Steel works, going on to the Austin Motor Company from 1957 to 1973 then to the West Somerset line, Strathspey line and GCR (Nottm) line until finally coming to H&L railway in 2009.

We’re now about to get stuck into the evening festivities.

Thank you for continuing to visit, comment and leave stars while we’ve been away. Normal service will be resumed next week.

See you tomorrow.