Monday 28 December 2015

The North Pole Express

I've had some of my family staying with me over the Christmas period, so I've done no blogging. However, I can show some photos of our trip on the North Pole Express (steam train) where we met Santa Claus.  I went with youngest son and his family to give my youngest grandchildren a surprise treat. The hissing and clanking as the train approached took me right back to my childhood when I used to cycle to the next village and stand on the railway bridge and take deep breaths as the steam trains passed underneath.  Such a wonderful smell - but it always resulted in me and my clothes being liberally spotted with sooty splodges, much to my Mum's annoyance.
Here it comes, with excited children on board from the previous trip.


The valiant engine, named 'Albert' but re-christened The North Pole Express for today's trips.


Happy, smiling children - my youngest granddaughter and her big brother.


Surpriiiise!  Guess who's just appeared in the doorway of our carriage? He was very tall and wearing a bright red suit.


And he brought presents - a set of three juggling balls for Leo . . .


 . . . and Eleanor took her time opening her present, waiting until The Big Man had gone!


Ooooohhhh can you smell that lovely steam train smell?  I confess that I loved this outing as much as, if not more than, the children. This was the North Pole station where we could get off the train, meet and have photos taken with Santa.


Oops!  Sorry about the sideways Santa photo.


Eleanor found him a bit scary but she was OK once Daddy picked her up.


Through the window . . .



But there's always a joker!


Daddy reading the instructions out struck Leo as really funny!.


The North Pole Express left from Plym Valley Railway in Plympton and cost just £5 per person - which I reckon was excellent value. 
After our trip, we all enjoyed freshly made doughnuts before going home for mugs of hot chocolate.  Mmmmmm . . . . . 

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8 comments:

  1. Elizabethd28 December 2015 at 11:20

    What fun! We went on the Bodmin steam railway a few years ago for a 'dinner' trip.

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    1. Rambler31 December 2015 at 03:02

      I thought I'd replied to your comment Elizabeth . . . just me being senile! We looked at the Santa Express on the Bodmin Steam Railway, but it was much more expensive and would have cost about £150 for the 5 of us. It would have been a longer ride, but we thought that the £5 each we paid on our trip was excellent value.

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  2. Barb30 December 2015 at 17:57

    Loved your photos and the children's smiling faces! Happy 2016 to you!

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    Replies
    1. Rambler31 December 2015 at 03:03

      Thank you, Barb - a happy New Year to you and yours, too.

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  3. John Going Gently31 December 2015 at 08:54

    Happy New year old bean , hoping 2016 will be a cracker xxxxxxx

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  4. Rambler1 January 2016 at 03:21

    Thank you so much, John; that means a lot. Same to you and yours . . all of 'em! xxxxxxxxxxxx

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  5. Unknown2 January 2016 at 11:44

    I have just discovered your blog today and have been reading some of your latest posts. How lovely to take your grandchildren on the North Pole Express. My husband is really into steam trains and our eldest son (now 30) had his first steam train ride at 3 weeks old! He has grown up to love steam trains as much as his Dad. I am looking forward to reading more of your blogging adventures this year. Happy New Year, xx

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  6. Rambler2 January 2016 at 15:54

    I'm so pleased you found my blog and you are very welcome, Jan; I'm so eager for the better weather to arrive so that I can get out and about with my dog and my camera. What with the short daylight hours, the weather and my dog's increasing lack of mobility, the blog has been suffering lately. Hopefully, Spring will bring new life and inspire new posts.

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Thank you for showing an interest in my blog. I do appreciate your comments.

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