Category Archives: Railway interest

northernvicar – April to June 2024

I had a good patch just after Easter and managed to get some train rides in. Dundee was fun! The garden at Wallington National Trust property was beautiful on 11 April, and I had a slow walk round. Another trip … Continue reading

Posted in Northumberland, Railway interest | Leave a comment

northernvicar – January to March 2024

I’m coping with chemotherapy, but managing to get out. No churches visited, but you might like these photos. The level crossing gates remain at Thorneyburn station on the Hexham-Riccarton Junction route – the line closed in 1958. Lovely snowdrops at … Continue reading

Posted in Northumberland, Railway interest, Roman | Leave a comment

northernvicar November and December 2023

One of my ambitions in life has been to see the Northern Lights. We should have been in Orkney for the last fortnight, and there have been some lovely photos from there. We have also seen photos from Northumberland over … Continue reading

Posted in Northumberland, Railway interest, Roman, Scotland | Leave a comment

northernvicar October 2023

I started October with a Curator tour of the Wartime history of the English Heritge house at Belsay. The house was requisitioned at the start of WW2. The then owner, Stephen Middleton, kept a close eye on it, and there … Continue reading

Posted in Hadrian's Wall Walk, Personal, Railway interest | 2 Comments

northernvicar September 2023

We’re back in Northumberland, and the gardens at Belsay (English Heritage) are looking beautiful. I had a trip on the South Tynedale Railway and a hospital visit to Manchester via Liverpool. At Carlisle I was pleased to see 46115 “Scots … Continue reading

Posted in Cumbria, National Trust, Northumberland, Railway interest | 1 Comment

Leadgate, County Durham – St Ives

Sunday 17 September 2023, one of the Heritage Open Days. St Ives church, Leadgate, NZ130551, was buzzing. A talk was just starting, there were local history displays, some mining art, and a cup of tea available. Sadly there was no … Continue reading

Posted in Durham, Railway interest, World War 1 | Leave a comment

northernvicar August 2023

We started the month with a trip north over the Border to Melrose, and a visit to the Roman Museum at Trimontium – https://www.trimontium.co.uk/. It reminds us that the Romans did move north – by 79 AD they were pushing … Continue reading

Posted in National Trust, Northumberland, Personal, Railway interest, Roman, Scotland, Trams | Leave a comment

northernvicar July 2023

Our last month in Derbyshire, and we can still find new experiences. Kedleston was a favourite spot during lockdown, but my days of walking “The Long Walk” are over. On Monday 3 July I found they now have a Tramper … Continue reading

Posted in Northumberland, Personal, Railway interest, Roman | 1 Comment

northernvicar June 2023

The Ecclesbourne Railway have done a superb job with a disabled access coach – other railways, please take note. We had a visit on Sunday 4 June, and I got on the footplate at Shottle. We went to Hardwick Hall … Continue reading

Posted in Personal, Railway interest, Roman, Wales | Leave a comment

northernvicar May 2023

On May 1 May I woke about 0500, listened to the dawn chorus, and thought “I’ve retired!” Time to pack, but also to find some trains. The Severn Valley Railway on Saturday 6 May was a good way of avoiding … Continue reading

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