Five Friends Reunited...

"Smile Now" (Pic - K.Evans)

Hi all. Today saw me joining the usual duo of my girlfriend Jenny and her best friend Alice for a trip up to York to meet our good friends Kieran and Casey before spending a day at the National Railway Museum in York. My day started at 06:00, catching the train from Burton to Derby at 07:50 to meet Jenny and Alice in Derby before catching the train from Derby to York at 08:40 eventually arriving at York at 10:34... What a long journey... On arrival at York we were met off our train by our friends Kieran and Casey who were feature in my post from our visit to Ecclesbourne Valley Railway last year, see post here. After getting off the train in York, we went over to get a group photo in front of 68024 "Centaur" which was parked up in the bay platform. 

"York Station front" (Pic - J.Davies)

After taking a group photo, we went out the station and headed for the National Railway Museum home to worlds famous LNER racing thoroughbreds 60103 "Flying Scotsman" & 4468 "Mallard". 

We entered the NRM via the Great Hall where both 60103 & 4468 can be found, although the first engine you see on entering the museum is 35029 which has been sliced in half as a demonstration to help explain how steam engines work.

Having walked past No.1 Stirling Single which can be seen in the photo below sat on the Turntable. We slowly made our way to the Flying Scotsman exhibit. We soon discovered that the exhibit was reasonably quiet. so decided to make the most of it.

The girls were quick to pose for a photo on a specially constructed platform splitting 60103 from her tender. Thanks to Kieran for allowing me to use some of his photos in this post.

"On The Footplate Of Flying Scotsman" (Pic - K.Evans)

After taking multiple photos of Flying Scotsman, we headed over to the workshops to have a look outside on the outside viewing gallery looking towards York Railway Station.

Of course couldn't resist a overall high up photo looking across the Great Hall with the two main centre pieces being 4468 "Mallard" and 6229 "Duchess of Hamilton" both currently in streamlined condition. 

After taking a few photos, we wandered up to the workshop viewing gallery where we saw 60007 "Sir Nigel Gresley" which can be seen in the photo below currently in pieces for a 10 year overhaul.

After looking around the workshop viewing gallery, we decided it was time for lunch so headed back into the Great Hall before wandering over to the other hall "The Station Hall" for lunch.

Course I couldn't miss the opportunity to take photos of the iconic LNER A4 Pacific No.4468 "Mallard though. 

For those interested, 4468 Mallard was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley and built at Doncaster Locomotive works on the 3rd March 1938. In July the same year she become the first and only steam locomotive to reach 126 mph record (Miles Per Hour), interestingly though a fellow class mate 4464 "Bittern" was allowed to do a 90mph run on the East Coast Mainline in June 2013, the same route used by Mallard in 1938.

After having lunch in the Station Hall, we decided to wander round the hall before venturing out into the unusually hot sunshine for April. While looking round the exhibits, I was lucky to get a photo of Jenny, Casey & Alice (pictured above) on the footplate of one of the older style Midland Railway / LMS Steam locomotives. Great photo girls.

In the photo above, Jenny poses in front of one of the tank engines which can be found in the Station Hall, giving us a great perspective of how big even a tank engine is at track level.

We slowly made our way outside to find a little 0-4-0 saddle tank Acecroft No.1 seen in charge of Steam Rides up and down South Yard. We were quickly joined by fellow enthusiasts Xav and Tayger. Kieran and the girls decided to have a ride on the train leaving me, Xav & Tayger to keep an eye on their stuff. 

After their ride behind No.1 we decided to get out the sun for a few minutes and wandered into the diesel depot or as I call it "The Pop Up Tent" which was empty with just a DMU Railcar, a class 47 diesel, a few wagons and a Class 09 to look at. 

After walking round the diesel shed, we said 'bye' to Tayger, who disappeared back to the Great Hall while we bought ourselves an Ice Cream before heading back into the museum. After a quick look round the gift shop before heading back to the station for one last photo in front of the Class 68.

"All lads together" (Pic - C.Johnson)

After one final photo in front of the 68 this time just us four lads: Myself, Kieran, Xav & Tayger. It was time for all of us to go our separate ways, me, Jenny and Alice headed to platform 9 kindly waved off by Xav and Tayger, Cheers lads. Another fantastic day out. Thanks to Jenny, Alice, Kieran for their company and thanks to Xav and Tayger for joining us this afternoon. Cheers all, Jake...