~Brief Encounter~
13th November 2010
Today provided an opportunity for me to take young Matthew out for a few hours. He's my nephew and I wanted to visit a local church fair, where a narrow guage railway had been laid to carry a "homemade" steam locomotive. On such occasions you need a small child in tow, otherwise you look a bit out of place.
Towneley Hall
Scroll down for photos and a description of the day....
Railway Track
At work, we have a neighbour "Old Fred" - so named because we employ a younger Fred (64) and we could easily get mixd up, who has built a steam locomotive and decided to build a track to run on it at the church's Christmas Fair. Fred is 80 years old and he bought all the steel, cut all the sleepers from pallets, made all the "chairs" drilled all the holes, fitted all the screws and put together the rails, including bending the steel to take the corners.
The Locomotive
The plan was to run the engine and a carriage along about 60ft of track, giving youngsters and others a short ride in the church yard.
Letting Off Steam
Fred's loco is blowing off excess steam. Problems: the tight curve in to the yard was causing the tender to derail, so Fred thought he could run the engine with a carriage behind, without the tender; but this led to frequent water shortages in the boiler and the only way to fill up was via the tender, which was parked next to the railway (out of pic).
Fred
Cursing the weather, enjoying a butty between heavy showers.
Off it goes, but disaster strikes. Despite a trail run, the carriage derails on the sharp curve and the towel is thrown in. Fred was disappointed, he'd spent weeks putting the track together and had hoped for a better day with good running. Matthew is one of the two passnegers who had a brief encounter with the train.
Fred
No problems with overcrowding, but downheartened Fred talks railway strategy with his pal. I've told Fred that we will store the track and he can come and get it whenever he wants if he wishes to take it to any other events. He keeps the engine in the outhouse of his terraced home and does all the metalwork on the machinery he has in the cellar, including a stand-drill, milling machine and laithe.
Matthew and I went off to Towneley in search of something to eat.
River Brun
Swollen by days (weeks) of rainfall, but now sunshine has taken over from persistent showers.
Towneley Hall
For 500 years, or so, the home of the Towneley Family. The last 100 years, the property had been owned and run by Burnley Council. What has the cylist spotted over our heads? I turned and saw nothing of note.
The Puddle
Much of Towneley Park is on a flood plain and frequently hosts puddles of this size.
Rainbow
Maybe this is what the cyclist had seen, our position earlier, relative to the position of the light rainfall might have left us out of sight of the rainbow. Sometimes I could forget I'm in Burnley, artists have set up their easels for less.
Matthew at Towneley
Feeding Time
We're in "The Stables" at Towneley Hall. I'd rather forgotten what it's like to entertain a four year old for a few hours, but a plate full of food seemed to keep him occupied for 30 minutes. He's inherited his mother's fastidious approach to eating and as he examines every morsel of food, this lot took a full half-hour to process. A chip off the old block, perhaps.
The Stables Restaurant, Towneley
See RRR later, but in the meantime can anyone name the former Burnley, Everton and England footballer who is sat, on the right, at the table in view? Doesn't say much about Turf Moor catering as this chap is on the staff and could have eaten at the ground prior to the afternoon fixture against Watford.
The Hall
Burnley residents can gain entry for no charge, folk from elsewhere who choose to pay us a visit have to pay £3.70. Does that help to draw in the crowds? The Hall houses exhibitions and old stuff, much like all the stately homes around the country.
Towneley Hall
Sojourners: Matthew and Me
Time taken: A while
Places: St.Andrew's Church, Burnley and Towneley Hall.
Weather and conditions: Heavy showers, easing to bright sunshine.
Richard's Refreshment Review: Matthew and I enjoyed the benefit of a full menu at The Stables, including good choices for the discerning child. My benchmark choice - The Tuna and Cheese Toastie was very good, the tea was fine, but no extra hot water, which is a slight downer for me. They have a tasty Christmas Meal menu on show for daytime visitors in the run up to the Festive Season.
Fred Berry, BurnLey, Locomotive Engineer
All photos copyright Richard Ratcliffe 2010 ©
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