Jane got railroaded into this...

Once again, a day devoted to trains. On the other hand, it was POURING down rain this morning and cold as well, so riding inside a nice warm train didn't seem like a bad option. In fact, we actually got into a pretty heavy SLEET storm between train rides! CRAZY weather!!

There are two trains here; an old steam engine with several passenger coaches and a two-car diesel railbus. One ticket pays for both rides. The steam engine probably dates from the early 20th century I should guess: 1910-1925 or so and the rail bus and all of the coaches date from the 1950's in my estimation. Here's Jane enjoying the rolling English countryside as we rattle along.

There were actually a total of three depots along the route. These are all actual, historic depots which are no longer used for revenue-hauling passenger service and serve only for this historic tourist railway.

The interior of the coaches was all made of mahogany and comes from a simpler time.

Jane got a cup of tea with cream at the depot to keep her warm on a cold, blustery English day.

You've heard the phrase 'letting off steam' of course. The steam engine was letting off steam before uncoupling it from the passenger coaches and 'running it around' to hook onto the other end of the train for the return trip.

Now it's been disconnected and they're backing it up to fill the tender tank with water.

This is in another of the depot areas where the two-car diesel railbus was operating.

There were just two of these identical coaches with motorman's controls at both ends. When they reversed direction the engineer simply walked through the length of the two cars and took his position seated at the opposite end of the train.

Here are the engineer/motorman's controls from inside the engine cab.

The engineer's view out the windshield.

Jane was reading a used 'Tin Tin' book she had just bought at a used book seller.

Another view from the engineer's operation position.

Jane made friends with a lady on the second train and they spent much of the trip discussing local birds and flowers. Imagine that! LOL!

The rolling Cotswold hills are still beautiful even in the rain.

A working freight diesel on a siding track as we passed.

Even the depots are beautifully landscaped- like absolutely everything else in England it seems.