Steam Engines at Sherringham Park

Train spotters in the field

Lottie took Van-Man for a short stroll before breakfast as if expecting a long trek later on. Over breakfast Van-Man found out that the Poppy Line were having a steam gala over the weekend with their own loco’s and five visiting steam engines.

our first steam sighting

“I’d like to see that,” Van-Man said. “The weather is going to be lovely today. Unfortunately the large Lurcher took a strong dislike to steam engines when we visited one steam railway in Bodmin and encountered a beast with a peculiar backfire. After her dragging me out of the station and spending the next half hour quivering we could not take her train spotting again.

“Sherringham Park?” I asked.

“Yes,” Van-Man smiled. There’s god parking for Sally-Van and we can take the walk over to Weybourne Station. Lottie will be fine if she’s further from the trains.”

“Let’s do the tree trail then turn off for the station. We can complete the tree trail on the way back.”

Weybourne Station

Van-Man had bought the tree trail back at Felbrigg and it also covered the tree trail at Sherringham Park.

There was a smell of rotten eggs from the waste tank as we bumped our way up the rutted track to the road but it cleared on the tarmac surface with the windows open.

train spotters at Weybourne Station

“That track must shake up the sediment in the tank,” Van-Man complained. We arrived at Sherringham Park at 10.45 and parked in the overflow field as there was more room there for Sally-Van. 
While Van-Man scanned his NT card for the parking I rustled up an easy to carry lunch.

Windmill

Get ready here comes another one

We set off on the main track then followed the tree trail in reverse, losing all other walkers. Having enjoyed naming some of the beautiful trees on route we descended the ramblers trail to the sound of distant whistles. 

heading for the platform

 As we came into the open an hour later the station appeared packed with train spotters. Van-Man walked down to the edge of the estate and paused.

“There’s a good view from here,” he said walking round the turn in the path.

double header

A train spotter had a camera set up on a tripod facing the track where it ran along an embankment. Another sat on a bench with an expensive camera and big telephoto lens. Beyond them a nearby field had a crop of train spotters arranged in random clumps. I looked longingly at the bench and the train spotter moved to one end obligingly.

“Plenty of room,” he announced.

“Wow there’s a good view of the station here and the track to the east,” Van-Man said. Soon he was chatting about trains with his new acquaintances while I sat on the bench with Lottie lying quietly on the grass beside me.

I think we followed one of these engines on Wednesday

“I can see smoke,” the man with the tripod said. They fell silent gazing at the track then snapped away happily. Lottie remained lying by me even when Van-Man jogged towards the station for a different angle. We remained there for 45 minutes munching our snack lunch in the breaks between steam engines. I enjoyed the shady position and thought the train spotters in the field must be baking in the mid day sun. Lottie was content to rest knowing she had another hours walk back to Sally-Van. She only reacted to passing walkers when two dogs ran up to her.

“Woof, Woof!” I think she was saying this is my spot, don’t sniff my rear end.

We waited for this one on our way back

After we had watched four trains go through Lottie announced that it was time to move on by going up the slope behind us. She barked and began digging in the soft tree litter so we packed up leaving the full time train spotters in peace.

last view of the windmill

Van-Man decided to follow the path around the estate rather than retracing our steps thus keeping the track in sight for a while. As soon as we turned our back on the Poppy Line another train whistled from the east. We had climbed up the hill towards Sally-Van but still had a good view over the railway so Lottie had another rest until that train passed below us.

After waiting a few more minutes Van-Man turned his back on the Poppy Line and marched into the woods. We found a cut through to the ramblers trail and then managed to follow the second part of the tree trail which we followed in reverse to the car park.

Back at Sally-Van we had a cold drink as it was still hot out and Van-Man had a snooze. He woke revived and we left for the camp site.

Back there Van-Man emptied the waste tank and flushed it through with fresh water from both sinks to remove whatever had caused the smell.

“That should fix it!” he said. He drained it again as he topped up the fresh tank. He returned to the pitch happy with his day.

one of the specimen trees