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puddleshark
I have been on a small adventure, over the border in Devon.
I'm useless at holidays. When I have a few days booked off work, I sometimes say to myself, "You should go on holiday, like other people. Where would you like to go?"
And the answer is always "Somewhere in Dorset." Because I have local knowledge. I know where the quiet places are. I know where I can park the car for free. I know where a nice cup of tea is to be had. Going further afield seems like a terrible gamble.
But yesterday I went to Devon on holiday. And bits of it were very nice. Almost as nice as Dorset.
And Seaton Tramway was UTTERLY BRILLIANT. I will proceed to share some photos of tracks.
Station at Colyton. The Seaton Tramway is a narrow gauge electric tramway that follows the route of the old railway branch line to the coast at Seaton. As with so many rural branch lines, trains stopped running in 1966 after the Beeching cuts.
I boarded the tram and sat upstairs, out in the wind and the weather, and was rocked not-so-gently down the Axe Estuary, with views out over the reedbeds, and the Seaton Marshes, and with the distant hills softened by the rain. Wonderful. (I'm not being sarcastic. I love being out in the weather. Always have. It's one of the many things I miss now I've not got horses or spaniels).
The photos may be a little blurred.
Video. Click to go to Flickr and play.
Every so often, a passing place where the track doubles. Here the drivers halt the trams and exchange hand signals before proceeding.
The Tramshed.
Approaching Seaton there are a series of near-right-angle bends. Trams are quite nifty at bends.
A very shiny new station has been constructed at Seaton, but unfortunately it has a café selling tea in paper cups, rather than a proper station buffet, so I didn't stay for refreshments, just waited for the next tram back.
On the way back, I got off at the Seaton Wetlands halt, and went for a wander through the nature reserve. There are hides dotted around the lakes and the marshes. Miles of paths to follow.
Blackbird. The only fellow who co-operated. Though I caught glimpses of warblers and reed buntings.
One of the tram drivers said there was a rare visitor to the Wetlands, a Black-winged Stilt. I think that might be it in the centre of the picture - a most elegant bird, tiptoeing through the water on long dainty legs.
Then it was back to the halt, to wait for the next tram to Colyton. Not a long wait. They run every twenty minutes.
I was the only passenger. A private tram! Like royalty! (Well, just me and the very informative lady driving the tram.)
Before the level crossing, the tram stops, and the driver presses a button to activate the warning lights and klaxon to stop traffic. The driver then waits for the signal light to turn from red to white before proceeding.
Colyton, from the tramway.
At Colyton station, refreshments from the buffet. After being out in the wind and the weather, a proper pot of tea and a fresh home-made scone: this is heaven.
no subject
Date: 2023-04-18 05:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-04-19 01:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-04-19 04:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-04-19 04:28 pm (UTC)Though I probably chose the right time of year to visit, despite the rain. I should imagine it gets extremely busy in high summer...
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Date: 2023-04-20 07:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2023-04-21 04:26 pm (UTC)Such a wonderful way to travel! So short-sighted to get rid of them in this country.