Alan Bloom, the man who founded the garden at Bressingham, had other enthusiasms besides gardening. One of these was steam trains, and that hobby also spilled over onto the Bressingham site. As we made our way towards the Dell Garden we passed by the Oakington signal box. Oakington is just a few miles from Les's house.
After our walk around the gardens (and a good lunch in the café) we made our way to the exhibition space.
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First of all you pass through the "Dad's Army" exhibition. Much of the TV sitcom was filmed around here. Corporal Jones's delivery van has now made its final delivery and has retired to Bressingham.
As has his butcher's shop.
Here is the fire engine with which the brave men of Walmington-On-Sea attempted to infiltrate "the enemy" during a training exercise. Several of the old vehicles featured in the series were on loan from Alan Bloom's collection.
The Dad's Army exhibits fade in rather muddled fashion into the steam engine museum. Behind the small green locomotive you can see the full-size mail coach. We can take a peek inside...
I remember having one of these in my toy train set. It automatically picked up a mailbag hung from a trackside gantry. Magic! Here you can see where the letters were sorted as the train sped along its way.
There are a number of these wonderful machines, but they are crammed into a small space and were not easy to photograph.
I didn't really expect to use these photos for a post and, although I read the information boards, I can't remember many details about these old steam locos. There were a few old steam traction engines too...
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There were various other steam-driven devices on show. Those red and green lines are all applied by hand. And who nowadays would design a pressure valve to look like a Grecian urn?
But we had to have another look at that signal box. Mum's brother, our Uncle Bill, was for a time the signalman at Old North Road station, near Longstowe, and we once visited him at work and were allowed to pull the big levers that operated the points and signals (probably a lever that wasn't in use). An unforgettable experience for little boys!
A wonderful blog post! I’ve always loved trains; my grandad was a train driver with the GWR. He was working in the days of steam trains and then just after when it became diesel before he retired. On his days off, he would often take me to watch the trains at Newton Abbot.
ReplyDeleteMy mum always said that he would arrive home from work absolutely filthy and that even though we look back at the steam train era with great fondness, it wasn’t really quite like that..especially for my grandma who had to deal with his very grubby clothes!
However, your photos do show what wonderful engineering took place and those machines are absolutely beautiful!
When I worked in a residential school one of the fathers used to volunteer on the many little steam railways scattered across East Anglia. On a couple of occasions he came to visit his son on his way home and was on the point of being asked to leave the premises before we realised who it was behind the dirt and grime!
DeleteThere seems to be a universal nostalgia for the days of the steam era on the railways, but in fact it was far from glamorous. Just ask the many ill- treated Chinese labourers who died during construction of the track here in Canada.
ReplyDeleteOr indeed the many labourers who lost their lives constructing the tunnels and cuttings on Britain's railway network.
DeleteWow. I can think of many little boys (and girls) and their grown up versions who would love to visit this place.
ReplyDeleteMy father loved Dad's Army and when it was on here watched it religiously.
A whole post without a flower,b ird, bee or butterfly in sight John? What is the worlld coming to-but Idid enjoy seeing all those old vehicles - and that sorting office on the train - Flying Scotsman to Edinburgh and all that.
ReplyDeleteOh and regarding your 'last train' heading - I thought it went to San Fernando and if you missed this one you'd never get another one???
That place is a treasure. Your Uncle knew how to entertain you lads! He sounds like a wonderful uncle. Great memories indeed!
ReplyDeleteThat sorting office caught my eye too. I stood on the bricks of a long-gone train station in town waiting for that train with the wind turbine blades to come through. I really had a nice daydream about what 'used-to-be' while I waited. One of our tenant's sons works for the railroad, and each day he rides the train. There is a park called Letchworth, with a very high railroad span. One of the rules is that when the train crosses the bridge, everyone not occupied with doing a job that very minute must go to a window and wave at the people below. I love that.
ReplyDeleteI would love a museum like that! Never heard of Dad's War show...must not have made it to the states. We're very limited in British shows to watch. I like the mechanical side of things that work well, and am especially drawn to the design work which went above and beyond the utilitarian purposes of certain parts. Real artisans they were.
ReplyDeleteLooks an interesting museum. I seem to remember, many years ago, taking a short ride on an old steam train at Bressingham, I don't remember a museum though so great to see it:)
ReplyDeleteSounds and looks like a great place to visit. I can imagine that a young child would have a great time. Nice memories, makes me think of a visit to a fire station I had as a kid. Our neighbor was a fireman, he brought us up to the station and the highlight was sliding down the pole and turning on the siren.
ReplyDeleteInteresting place to visit. I like old cars and trains.
ReplyDeleteExcellent shots! There are some steam engines in the collection at our Science and Technology Museum.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun little museum he has gathered.
ReplyDeleteGran museo, con buenas máquinas expuestas.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo
At school in the late 1960s I was in the cadet corps, and one of our summer camps was at Thetford. One of our exercises was on the assault course that featured in Dad's Army.
ReplyDeleteSo nice to see those old trains!Remember what they have seen :)))
ReplyDeleteLooks like a neat museum!
ReplyDeleteThis place rocks! So many well-kept vintage cars and artefacts
ReplyDeleteWhat a great collection! The old fire engine looks to be perfectly preserved.
ReplyDeleteMy grandsons would love to see all of the trains! So colorful!
ReplyDeleteThat's the kind of museum we like to visit. Here's an interesting tidbit about trains: Canadian Rails are using AI to help reduce the amount of diesel used and cut emissions. I read how it works but can't explain it. Apparently diesel trains are a big polluter.
ReplyDeleteA fabulous visit!
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see the Dad's Army vehicles and to recall the hilarious fire engine scene.
I love to watch old machines. They are powerful and nostalgic.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice weekend.
I always wondered what those mail trains looked like inside. What a great little museum.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to spend an afternoon. I love the old delivery van and the mail room.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I always enjoy the nature walks, John, it was interesting to see the steam train museum. This is exactly the sort of place we would enjoy visiting and maybe one day we will have the chance. Thanks for showing some of these wonderful trains.
ReplyDeleteIf you are ever in the UK and wanting to see some old trains I'd head for the Railway Museum in York.
DeleteHi John - I'm very late - but this is a delightful post to read and all your photos are great to see ... especially the Dad's Army ones ... but the trains are special - incredible collection - cheers and thanks - Hilary
ReplyDelete