Peak Rail 2017

Posted on December 30, 2017December 30, 2017 by Rod Ash

It’s hard to believe that when I visited Matlock the temperature was in the region of 30 degrees C, given that I’m writing this with snow on the ground outside. How the UK’s weather changes over just a few months. whilst visiting this line is always a pleasure, however I do wonder if I’ll live long enough for a trip all the way through to Buxton.

One of the features of this line is the bookshop in the Station building at Matlock. They do also stock other items of interest to travellers and a few postcards are available.

National Railway Museum York Dec 2017 update

Posted on December 28, 2017December 28, 2017 by Rod Ash

I’m pleased to report that the NRM shop at York is still stocking a wide variety of postcards – perhaps the widest variety of shapes and sizes ever.

The largest ( A5) shows a view from 2013’s great gathering of A4 locos. Barcode ref 5021043 1600211

Next size down we have three cards 406178 Great Gathering 2014, 406222 Mallard & 406420York station c1870

Then slightly larger than the standard postcards we have 3D postcards and jigsaw postcards. The wooden postcards noted a few years back are still available too.

As for standard postcards there are a large variety of poster views which have been available for some years. There are two new series:

404239 ,406246, 406253 & 406260 ( first 5 digits are the serial numbers and the final digit appears to be a check digit)

Finally a set that will bring back memories for those over 50:

the references are 411608, 411615, 411622, 411639 & 411646.

Hornby visitor centre Margate

Posted on October 29, 2017October 29, 2017 by Rod Ash

Another place for persons of a certain age to visit and find a host of childhood memories – Airfix, Scalextric and the home of model railway production for so many years.

Plenty of toys and model to see plus an informative hour long video. Postcard collectors are not disappointed either with four Hornby postcards in the shop.

Bekonscot – Beaconsfield

Posted on October 27, 2017October 27, 2017 by Rod Ash

I paid my first visit here a couple of months ago. I don’t know why I hadn’t visited before because it’s great…

It’s a model village first constructed in the 1930’s with a significant railway theme. The ticket office is a BR mark 1 carriage. It’s a short walk from the station.

The signal box controlling the model railway is a treat.

Older postcards have been produced but the current offering is detailed below ( one is a wooden postcard):

Bristol Harbour Railway

Posted on October 15, 2017October 15, 2017 by Rod Ash

The Bristol Harbour Railway operates at certain weekends through the year and uses local Avonmouth steam tank engines to transport passengers along the dockside from a city centre location to the dock of Brunel’s SS Great Britain. There is a general transport museum located in warehouses beside the line that house a variety of exhibits with a local connection.

The museum shop does have a small selection of postcards from the Star Editions range featuring Bristol.

The Amerton Railway

Posted on September 17, 2017September 17, 2017 by Rod Ash

Just by the A518 between Stafford and Uttoxeter can be found the Amerton Railway. This ia a 2′ gauge line around a lake and farm land.

Most of the locos have local Staffordshire connections. There’s an interesting assembly of steam and diesels.

My Sept 2017 visit found three postcards for sale in the ticket office/shop.

Royal Deeside Railway

Posted on August 31, 2017August 31, 2017 by Rod Ash

Based at Milton of Crathes, not far from Aberdeen, the Royal Deeside Railway is a long trip for England based railway postcard collectors, but one which will be rewarded with a shop stocking eleven postcards of the line (August 2017). There is also a large range of greetings cards produced by a local artist. The relayed lines do not yet reach Banchory, but the short journey has pleasant scenery.

The Caledonian Railway – Brechin

Posted on August 31, 2017December 1, 2017 by Rod Ash

My recent visit to Brechin was the first time I’ve visited this railway. Why have I not gone before – it’s got so much that I love about preserved railways.

The people are really friendly, there’s steam and diesel, the two major station buildings are authentic and I had a great time. The shop at Brechin had four postcards.

Aln Valley Railway

Posted on August 31, 2017August 31, 2017 by Rod Ash

Set beside the A1 north of Newcastle the Aln Valley railway has great plans. A lot has been already achieved with a loco depot and vehicle storage building already providing cover to several resident items of rolling stock. The current running line is very short but steam traction is provided most of the time.

The shop has a good selection of wares including three postcards featuring Richboro.

Second hand postcards were also to be found in a fund raising vehicle on site.

Elham Valley Trust

Posted on August 31, 2017August 31, 2017 by Rod Ash

Located within a couple of miles of Dollands Moor, the Elham Valley railway centre isn’t what it first appears to be.

You find a visitor centre and a segregated railway “station”. Within the station area is a signal box and several buildings containing, a super museum, a shop, and a huge model of the channel tunnel together with construction artifacts. There’s a standard gauge tank loco on a piece of track and a miniature railway.

The visitor discovers that the site buildings are relatively recent creations, with the old line alignment crossing on an embankment through the centre of the site at right angles to the “station”. Even the petrol motor sounds from the 7 1/4″ miniature railway locomotive are artificial as it runs on a battery.

All in all well worth a visit, and they even print their own postcards. A visit in August 2017 yielded four cards but a fifth was out of stock.