I Love Railways

You are right, I live on the heart of Wales line from Swansea to Shrewsbury. It's very old fashioned!

@blodyn: "heart of Wales line from Swansea to Shrewsbury. It's very old fashioned!"--that's incredible! To such a place I feel a kinship in my soul.

It's so nice to hear from someone who likes the old fashioned railways. I suppose I am lucky to live on the Heart of Wales line. In the doctors surgery which is built on the old station there are photos of steam trains. It isn't as old fashioned as that any more. We have a one coach diesel train. It goes five times a day. But it's still quite old fashioned. Like we have real gates at the level crossings and often it's the guard on the train that opens and closes them so the train has to stop for the guard to get out and do that, then the train crosses and waits for the guard to get on the train again! And the train actually goes through farm yards. At 5mph! And it takes four hours to get to Shrewsbury! But I go there a lot because my Aunty lives in Welshpool. Btw, I talk a lot. @Seth531:

No not all. Its a delight to see lands Ive never trod through the eyes of another. The U.K is a beautiful and wondrous part of the world I shall see some day. What a pleasure it has been as you've shared your passion and love for your countryside with me, relating details (such as the level crossing gates) that only a resident would be intimately attune to.
How precious and unique that much of the old ways and structures have been preserved and maintained.
If you're familiar with the Reverend W. Awdry's Thomas the non-animated Tank Engine Stories, they contain much of the same railway structure, procedure and even landscapes as you're describing and it is the reason I find them so charming, even as an adult.

Hope to speak again sometime, take care for now.

Hope you to speak to you. And I never thought it but yes, the stories of Thomas the Tank were like my childhood. My grandfather was like the Fat Controller.

@blodyn: Thats fantastic. Truly enchanting, your experiences are valuable beyond measure blodyn.
I need to read some more, see some more pictures of your portion of wales, theres much I have to ask/discuss!

Well please ask. My memories are unique I think! @Seth531:

Most certainly. I cant wait to hear more, especially how you feel/what you experienced growing up, and most of all your deep love for your land.

Ok. It started with my grandfather. He was the station master. But he always took me with him in the school holidays. It's when I learnt to ride the trains. In the cabs, and with the guards. There was four trains to Swansea but most trains were coal trains. EWS engines out of Port Talbot. I still know the drivers!

Amazing. So you in effect had a bunch of uncles who'd probably wave to you as you made your way to school. And coal?--so bona fide steam engines?
Your grandfather was the real life Sir Topham Hatt !

Ha ha, he was, and the engines obeyed him!

@blodyn: LOL as station master they must.

So these were old fashioned steam?

@Seth531: So even as a little girl you probably knew your way around a train and the rail yard as safely as the men.

I did. I knew the rules! @Seth531:

@blodyn: That's so cute. I picture a little girl in woolen tweed coat with hat and knapsack waving locomotives through with a kerosene lantern and climbing up onto the deck of the engine. Priceless.

It was a bit like that! There were engines that weren't allowed on the rails. I remember going out with a red flag! @Seth531:

@blodyn: 😀Ha HA HA..thats awesome."🤚STOP!"

It was like that except the drivers knew! The red flag was just a formality! @Seth531:

Yes, just the same as they're familiar with the modern day signal lights and know when/where to expect them.

Did you ever help shovel in the coal to the furnace?

@blodyn: That must have been quite a treat for a child to control something so massive and as important as trains. Most likely where your love was born.

No. @Seth531:

I never was in control! But I rode the engines! @Seth531:

@blodyn: oh,"Controlling" with the flag I meant. How long did the journey to Swansea take by steam?

About an hour. The mine is close by. It takes one class 66.