September 18 Scarborough  (North Yorkshire Railway)Scarborough ( North Yorkshire Moors Railway)
The upstairs neighbours were up at 5:00 am, they went back to bed around 6:00 after someone left but it was hard for us to go back to sleep. We were up and ready, lunch packed to leave at 8:00 for Pickering and the 9:00 train. However, it was not meant to be. First Andromeda sent us in the most roundabout route and then traffic was unbelievably heavy. Every mile or so along the A170 there was a village to slow down for and in between we had slow traffic. As we drove along we recognized the villages we had driven through with the Brownes on Sunday. Finally we arrived in Pickering and knew we were late. I saw a sign for the train; thought it said go straight but it was turn right. We drove straight on to probably what was the next village. Roy turned around we got to the station 15 minutes late. Coffee at the station tea room was in order. After coffee we got tickets for the 11:00 train and then walked down the street to an HSBC and withdrew some cash then over to the TI where we got lots of good information and post cards. Time for the train.

Steam train to Goathland

First you hear the chug a chug of the train and then see the clouds of steam and the pssh sound of the steam venting. The whistle blows and the train is there. We were on the train and into window seats. Roy even had paper towels to clean the window as suggested in Rick Steeves book. No sooner did he wash the window than they came along and cleaned them. Nicely settled for our ride, the conductor asks, “is everyone in this car with action tours?” Nope, we have to move to a different car - rats!! We wind up in a compartment for 8 people. There are only 6 of us and a dog (a very well behaved dog). One couple is from Kent, they are older and he is a classic type that we have all seen on a tv show. Very friendly people. The dog people are younger and from Manchester. We enjoyed the ride with them and they seemed to enjoy me trying to take a video and have the camera going when the train whistle sounded. We chug a chugged along to Goathland where we got off. The station was used in the first Harry Potter movie and the village was used as Aidensfield. As you walk up the hill into the village you see the Aidensfield Arms and across the street is Scripps Garage.

Aidensfield Arms

 The garage is a tourist trap with Heartbeat bric a brac for sale. They have a dusty car on display and a couple of motorcycles. Outside there are Ford Anglias. But the gas pump is there and the front of the garage looks just like it does in the show.

Scripp's Garage

  We didn’t go in Aidensfield Arms but continued on into the village. We had our lunch looking onto the Green and grazing sheep and the shops. Very like the show except the Green seems way too small. After lunch we wandered on down (or up) the road past the doctors house, what looked to be the police house and several houses that looked like they had been in the show. There were splendid views of the moors too. We walked as far as a cross road then headed back to the village. Visited the church which is at the crossroad. Back in the village we checked out the shops. Roy got a Ford Anglia police car and I got some coasters. They have a Ford Anglia Police car outside the Aidensfield shop. Next stop Aidensfield Arms - just like is in the show. The pub was actually used for the first five years of filming and then a replica was built at the studio. We had a drink by the fireplace. Could only get near the bar long enough to order. Back to the train - this time we are able to get window seats. We took lots of pictures as the village and the train station are very quaint and picturesque.

Aidensfield Arms



Aidensfield Arms later for a drink

Michael and Shirley had invited us to join them at a pub they go to on Tuesdays for curry but we were back too late and we were exhausted. We think it might be the wind that is tiring us but at the end of the day here in the north we are bagged. We were disappointed to miss going for dinner but they were lucky as we would have been poor company.

I just talked to Michael and we will go see them tomorrow evening.