Inside Track Railway Holidays

18/06/2024

The final day of To Hull and Back saw us concentrate on the City of Kingston upon Hull itself, crossing the River Hull to its unique 'subquarium', home to 1,000s of fish, aquatic mammals - and penguins!

From here, it's just a short stroll through the Old Town (which lies on the banks of the Hull) into the Museum Quarter - three excellent museums on 3 sides of a rectangular garden.

The Streetlife Museum is Hull's excellent transport museum, with trains, horse drawn and self-propelled carriages - even a plane!

It lies between William Wilberforce's house, a poignant museum dedicated to the man and the campaign against the Trans-Atlantic slave trade of which he was such a key part, and the East Riding Museum, a dynamic archeology collection mixing recovered material with reconstructions of scenes from the past.

After chance to enjoy lunch in the Old Town, we gathered back together at the magnificent Guildhall before heading for the equally splendid Paragon Station and trains home after a packed long weekend!

17/06/2024

Day 3 of To Hull and Back certainly lived up to its name as we first headed north of Hull to the Yorkshire Wolds, then returned to Hull en route to the Lincolnshire Wolds before dining on the Trent just before it joins the Ouse to form the Humber.

In the Yorkshire Wolds, our destination was the Yorkshire Wolds Railway to see how our friends there were progressing, take a brake van ride on the first part of their 2 mile project and view the collection of wagons recently arrived from Levisham, as well as take refreshments!

We began our south bound journey by heading to Hull for a quick lunch break before taking the Hull Trains service to London as far as Brough via a reversal at Hull Paragon Station.

From Brough, we travelled across rural Lincolnshire to the 'other' Wolds and the Lincolnshire Wolds Railway at Ludborough. A ride on their Father's Day service, a visit to their shed and a chance to learn about their extension plans followed before we pressed on to Gainsborough, passing the LWR next planned terminus on the way.

At Gainsborough, the magnificent Gainsborough Model Railway had opened especially for us, with their amazing model of the East Coast Mainline from Kings Cross to Leeds Central - as well as homemade cakes!

All too soon we had to press on the Burton Slather and the Ferry House Inn and Riverside Restaurant. This amazing find was where we enjoyed a Sunday Carvery as the sun set over the River Trent before a last crossing of the Humber Bridge as we returned to Hull!

16/06/2024

Day Two of To Hull and Back saw us heading back across the Humber Bridge to one of the lesser known branch lines from Barton on Humber.

From here, it was to Cleethorpes for a quick run along the sea front to the Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, to be shown around and view the locos brought out into the sunshine especially for us.

After a train ride, it was time for a proper seaside experience of fish and chips followed by ice cream as well as chance to frequent the world's smallest pub.

Then it was time to sample the motorways of Lincolnshire to head across to our friends at The Trolley Bus Museum at Sandtoft. Here we spent an hour and a bit, enjoying the Trolley Bus rides, exhibitions and chance to take a ride through neighbouring villages in a classic double deck bus. Our final visit of the day was an Inside Track first - the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum at the former RAF Doncaster.

It was their Open Cockpit weekend, when you could actually sit in numerous examples of their huge collection of complete aircraft cockpits. That it was Falklands Armistice Day made their Falklands display and memorial a poignant end to a packed and varied day.

15/06/2024

Day One of To Hull and Back started by meeting at Doncaster and then heading to the City's Danum Gallery, Museum and Library for lunch, an illustrated talk on the Doncaster Grammer School Railway Society collection and chance to browse this collection and other displays at the Museum, including one on Sir Nigel Gresley - Doncaster based 'Genius of Steam and Speed'.

We then pressed on the Scunthorpe and a holiday highlight - a couple of hours touring the massive Steelworks by steam hauled brake van special, courtesy of the Appleby Frodingham Railway - Scunthorpe.

After refreshments, it was literally time to head 'To Hull', over the Humber Bridge and past Hull's splendid Paragon Station to our base for the next few days, the Doubletree by Hilton.

14/06/2024

Inside Track Railway Holidays special charter!

09/06/2024

Two days of railways. Somerset and Dorset, cream tea at Cranmore, Avon Valley beer festival, Swindon and Cricklade, Gloucester and Warwick and finally the Toddington Narrow Gauge. Must be time for a rest!

08/06/2024

Day one of Feeling Chipper stared at Frome and soon got rather wild.

06/06/2024

The Highland Island Fling has come to an, touring the Far North to the most Northerly point (Dunnett Head, with its views of the Old Man of Hoy) and John O'Groats (past the distinctive church where the man himself is said to be buried) before joining the train at Wick for the stunning journey through the remotest parts of Britain back to Invergordon.

From here, our trusty coach too us (via Charleston to view the Kessock Bridge) back to Aviemore for our final night together before most departed on the Highland Chieftain back south of the border, reflecting on an amazing holiday!

04/06/2024

Any guesses as to where - or what this railway is for?

04/06/2024

Orkney day on the Highland Island Fling dawned bright - but a little breezy!

Heading to the Island from Gill's Bay, we arrived on South Ronaldsay before using the Churchill Barriers to make our way on to Lamb Holm for a short, reflective visit to the incredible Italian Chapel, built by the same prisoners of war brought to the Islands to help build the Churchill Barriers.

Then it was time to move to Mainland (of Orkney!) for lunch and a look around in Kirkwall, including St Magnus' Cathedral and its memorial to the men lost on HMS Royal Oak, whose loss prompted construction of the Churchill Barriers.

We now jumped in our TARDIS (=Irvings coach!) to travel back in time several millennia to around 2,500 BC and the Ring of Brodgar. Blowy but sunny weather accompanied a brisk circuit of the stones before moving on the Skara Brae, a unique surviving village of a similar era in a much sought after beachside location!

Then it was on to Stromness and the NorthLink ferry back to the Scottish mainland, passing the Old Man of Hoy in the sea haa.

What a full day of exploration!

02/06/2024

Saturday on the Highland Island Fling was our circular trip immediately north of Inverness, heading first around the south-west of the city to Clansman Harbour for our cruise on Loch Ness with Jacobite Cruises to Urquhart Castle. Chance to look around the in the glorious sunshine.

We passed through Inverness, crossing the Ness quite centrally before heading for Culloden Battlefield and the very interesting NTS centre with excellent cafe.

A lovely drive in the afternoon sunshine gave a chance for chasing (or maybe racing!) a train to Aberdeen before joining our friends on the Keith & Dufftown Railway Association for a delightful run on their lovely line from Keith Town to Dufftown, during which suitable local refreshments were served!

Finally, a gentle drive in the evening sun along the Spey valley, passing distilleries and remains of the old railway before reaching Broomhill for a birds eye view of the Strathspey Station and arriving home to view the 'purple headed mountains' at the end of an amazing day!

01/06/2024

Second full day of The Highland Island Fling was the spectacular Skye Circular tour. Off early for the scenic drive to Fort William via the Commando Memorial and to the world famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. The estimate of about 800 onlookers for the passage of The Jacobite steam train looked at least right!

Back to Fort William to ride the West Highland extension ourselves to Mallaig, then over the sea to Skye to meet up with our coach for a refreshment stop and a lovely drive through the garden of Skye to catch the train from Kyle of Lochalsh, which runs coast to coast through stunning scenery to meet the Far North Line at Dingwall, where we left the train to coach 'home' after a long but memorable day!

31/05/2024

31/05/2024

First full day of Highland Island Fling and we stayed quite local to Aviemore but found plenty of variety as we enjoyed local scenery, wildlife and steam!

First off, a pause to view the ancient Carrbridge, then on to Loch Garten, where the ospreys had gone fishing but left some home videos playing.

Then it was on Broomhill and the wonderful Strathspey Steam Railway. One and a half round trips with lunch served at our seats as we sampled the fantastic scenery and steam action.

Then on to the Highland Wildlife Park at Kincraig, for an excellent guided tour of the drive through area and a chance to encounter polar bears, elk and a tiger amongst others!

Finally, up the Cairngorm to the base station of the currently closed Mountain Railway to enjoy the views before heading 'home' to the hotel after a packed day!

30/05/2024

The Highland Island Fling started with the journey north, over the Tweed at Berwick (for most, not all!) And on through Edinburgh into the Highlands before the 'official' meet up at Aviemore - ready for a week of adventure!

30/05/2024

5025 departing Boat of Garten.

27/05/2024

The end of a long and interesting familiarisation trip to Hungary. Inside Track are definitely heading there in 2025, it's a must!

25/05/2024

The view from what will be our Buda base

25/05/2024

Went completely wrong today and ended up not where I meant to be. But look what I found simmering in the station!

24/05/2024

More Hungary inspiration. Only 2 more days and it's all tied up. Can't wait to get back to wet old England, the weather is far too nice here.

23/05/2024

I have arrived in Budapest, and there's a storm brewing.

22/05/2024

More delights discovered today. Another steam charter secured, scenic wonders and storks galore at Hortobagy, in the plains. They call them cranes but I saw no building work!

22/05/2024

Safely back from the Baltic & Berlin Bonus, with the trip across Europe completed in a day, thanks to an early start, German high speed running and regular Eurostar connections!

En route, a bit of German integrated transport at VW - rail and river - more of the operations of the owners of 'Racing Roland', far from Rugen and a quick visit to our favourite band in Cologne!

What a glorious week of steam, sea and adventure!

21/05/2024

I can report that cheese soup with bacon, nachos and jalapeños is yummy. Come with Inside Track to Hungary next year and be convinced!

21/05/2024

Sadly, the time came for the Baltic & Berlin Bonus to leave the Baltic behind - but Berlin was waiting for us!

Armed with local transport tickets, we toured the centre by S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram and bus to take in the sights, walk the streets and even see a special appearance on a mainly cloudy day of 'The Pope's Revenge'!

This brought us to the fantastic Deutsche Technik Museum, cramped full of trains, planes, automobiles and much more, before a quick change brought us 'underneath the arches' to Restaurant Nolle at Friedrick Stasse for an excellent final meal together of Berlin fare in amazing Art Deco surroundings! What a finale!

20/05/2024

Another eye opening day covering hundreds of miles and I have landed at the palatial Hotel Palota. This stunning place even has it's own narrow gauge railway station.

20/05/2024

Our last day on the Baltic (before the 'Berlin Bonus' part of the Baltic and Berlin Bonus!) was certainly packed!

Off to Rugen by train, we arrived in the port of Saassniz. While some went to the National Park Centre for the Jasmund Peninsula, most explored a perhaps unexpected resident of the harbour - Royal Navy submarine HMS Otus. A fascinating insight into the silent service not afforded to many.

Sassniz harbour is a lovely spot to explore and lunch, but we tore ourselves away to the amazing Prora - the planned National Socialist holiday camp ironically now regenerated luxury apartments!

The main attraction here is the 'Old Timer' Museum, or rather 3 museums - trains, cars and motorcycles and a military museum with 2 helicopters and a fighter jet!

From here, it was either Goehren or a chance to explore Sellin with its famous 'seebruecke' (pier!) before a near full length run once more on 'Racing Roland', a swift change to the standard gauge branch they operate and then mainline train back to Stralsund, where we found the familiar sight of the Gorch Fock had returned, glistening in the sunset, to her home berth!

19/05/2024

Went to Hungarys highest point today overlooking beautiful Pecs.

19/05/2024

Chanced across celebrations in Baja

19/05/2024

Day Five of the Baltic & Berlin Bonus saw us initially head inland, to explore the agricultural heart of the area, travelling on a train propelled by a product of the DDR.

There were more 'blasts from the past', nothing with ICE 1s at Stralsund and a pair of Ladas in use as wedding cars at Neubrandenburg!

We now made our way to our great friends at the Mecklenburg-Pommersche Schmulsparbahn (MPSB), a wonderful line recreating the massive MPSB 'Feldbahn' system, which at it's height, was over 250km long.

Our host Harald was even more delighted than ever to see us after a long gap, and we were royally looked after with lunch, train ride and geology in the collection of ice age debris from Scandinavian laid out geographically correctly in the 'Rock Garden'. This is a wonderful railway with big plans!

Then we pressed back to the coast and the island of Usedom, pausing briefly to view the Karnin Life Bridge - now scheduled to return to use - then right across the island, via a (very) short visit to Poland to Peenemünde and the amazing Historical Technical Museum.

What a packed day!