The train now arriving on Platform 2.....

...... is for Minehead.... and it's a STEAM TRAIN!! Whoo hooo I cried in response to the aforementioned train.  Oh I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled I was to find the West Somerset Steam Railway had a station at Watchet where we were staying for the week. I became quite geeky about it in a very limited way. But I learnt the timetable so I could look out for the tell tale steam streaming through the countryside, and listen for the Toot-Toot as it approached a station or level crossing.

The West Somerset Steam Railway is run privately and has an army of volunteers. The locomotives (some diesel and lots of steam trains) run from Minehead to Bishop Lydeard along 20 miles of track through the most stunning countryside. It's mostly for tourists and visitors, and has lots of special event days... I'm sad I missed the Thomas The Tank Engine day ;-)

There are 10 stations along the way kept to the highest of standards, with wonderful historical details at each. Some stations have a cafe or perhaps a museum or a walk into an nearby village.  The carriages are very comfortable (and fitted to modern safety standards and have toilets but MUCH better kept than your average "British Railway" train OR station).  Hmmmm I think I need a career change -I want to drive a steam train. Tee hee!! I doubt I could see out the window, never mind stoke the fire.... ah but I can dream.....

Travelling along was like being in the old 1940/50's movies, or a "Miss Marple" adventure (minus the bodies). All the staff were so enthusiastic and so friendly.  And nobody minded me going choo-cha-puffa as a train went past (no really they DO make that noise!!).  Though A. was trying to disown me most of the time I did that........  There's more on the history of the railway here.

I'm just too young to remember steam trains as a regular train service, but I remember my Dad speaking about travelling on them to Wales. I remembered him saying not to stick your head out the window as you'll get smuts of coal dust and smoke in your eyes! And tales of the steam train going over the viaduct in Folkstone (Kent) during the night.

Minehead was great as there were lots of steam trains on tracks and in sidings, some of them being worked on. I was worried about this one with it's front open.... it looked as if someone had taken a can opener to it! (I'm sure it was fine really....).

At all the stations visitors were just fascinated by the steam locomotive and lined up to have their picture taken or just look at the engines.....

I mentioned the stations - they had flower tubs and baskets, old style lamp-posts.....

Luggage carts..... gosh - remember the days of PORTERS who would move your luggage for a few pennies? OLD pennies?!

And a reminder that the steam trains were THE transport of their day carrying passengers and moving other goods - like milk in churns like these.

And Minehead as well as a museum had an old style bookshop too.....

Oh but the locomotives.....sigh....

And so dear readers..... to my very wobbly/shaky video taken on my iPod of.... a steam train..... see they really DO go choo-cha-puffa.... you listen! (Sorry for those of you on poor broadband speeds as you may not be able to view this....)

If you are EVER in the Minehead to Bishop Lydeard area GO ON A STEAM TRAIN RIDE!! (Ahem.... we spent an entire afternoon just going up and down the line...... ).  Thank you to the West Somerset Railway folk for making this wee woman very happy :-)