Zealot

My family & I have just returned from spending Christmas with my wife's family in southern England. We managed to get two steam railway visits in ! :mrgreen:

The first one was on Dec. 21 at the Mid-Hants Railway (watercressline.co.uk) on a Santa train. In these pics you can see the large, green 5MT 4-6-0. The Mid-Hants Railway is less than 8 miles from my in-law's house in Winchester so it's very easy to get to. :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
(I also saw a fleeting glimpse of the newly-restored steamlined A4 pacific, Bittern, at their engine shed -- I was frustrated that I didn't have a chance to stop and look at it in detail! :cry:)

The second visit was to the Swanage Railway (swanagerailway.co.uk) on Dec. 31 in Dorset in SW England. Here, an M7 0-4-4 tank engine was running. We enjoyed the awesome scenery and seeing the ruins of Corfe Castles which is high on a hilltop.

Both trips were great and I strongly recommend both railways if you're ever able to visit southern England!

Rob

This is the green 5MT at Alresford Station, the Santa Train on Dec. 21.
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This is the M7 Tank engine at Swanage Station with yours truly and my youngest son on the platform.
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The M7 photographed from the coach immediately behind it.
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Here's the M7 shunting at the other end of the railway.
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