Smoke and Steam

If you remember the atmosphere from childhood train journeys, you would love the old steam trains still running in Great Britain. Many follow some very scenic routes through areas that you may not have readily access to otherwise, and you can relish the sight in a relaxed and comfortable manor. And at the same time enjoy the trip with one of these wonderful trains that are so lovingly cared for.

Severn Valley Railway is one of the railways that still run regularly between Kidderminster in Worcestershire and Bridgnorth in Shropshire, a distance of 16 miles. The route follows closely the meandering course of the River Severn, and the surrounding area is unspoiled and beautiful. At some point the train crosses the River Severn by means of the Victoria Bridge from 1861- a good example of the craftsmanship of that time.

The historic trains run most of the year and from time to time special events are on the programme. Maybe a certain period of time is reconstructed and the participants dress in costumes of the period, or maybe a “Steam Gala” is being held with a great collection of steam locomotives, a very frequent service of trains and all-night operation. This must be something for all railway enthusiasts.

At such a day we went to Arley station; one of the stops on the route. Arley began as a tiny station in 1862, and although the station grew in time, the main passengers were the anglers who came to spend the day fishing in the river. Wagons with coal frequently drove through the station with cargo from the mines, but in the mid-1960s the golden times of the railway were over - the passengers preferred the car, and many rural stations were closed. Arley station was one of them, and soon it became overgrown with bushes and trees.

In 1974 Severn Valley Railway bought the line, and the station was restored and reopened with great festivities. Since then volunteers have looked after the station and kept the buildings, the platforms and the small gardens.

The autumn Steam Gala event saw trains from near and far. Some came all the way from Devon and Sussex, while others had taken the weekend off from the museums, where they normally belonged. One of the guests were the famous City of Truro; the first European steam locomotive to travel in excess of 150 km/h, and another celebrity was the locomotive 6024 King Edward I.

The arrangement lasted for three days, and during that time no less than 350 locomotives were on tracks. Beautiful trains with fine names such as 7802 Bradley Manor and 9017 Earl of Berkeley came puffing into the station for full steam. It was a splendid sight, and the amateur photographers flocked to get the best pictures of their favourite train.

You probably have to be an enthusiast to tell the difference between the trains, because there are so many different kinds. Until 1948 there were four great railway companies in England constructing lines and producing trains, and those four were later nationalised to form British Railways. The locomotives from these four companies each has their own characteristics, and personally I prefer the dark green from Great Western Railway with all the fine details of brass and copper.

Also the carriages for the passengers are different. Outside they can be wooden or painted in chocolate brown and cream colours; inside they can be extremely elegant. Many of the carriages have teak wood interiors, and there is very comfortable seating for the first-class passengers. Some carriages may even have a bar, where you can enjoy refreshments during the ride, and the dining car has cloth covered tables dressed with fine china.

Severn Valley Railway still serves dinner on board the old trains, so you can eat in style while driving through the English landscape. If you want more than just dinner, you could risk it and take part in a murder mystery. Titles like “Murder at the Station” and “Death for Dinner” might indicate what to expect, and the fellow travellers on these trips may not all be trustworthy...

Special Moments

In Yorkshire we once stayed far out on the moors in an ancient house. There was absolutely no one and nothing nearby. The house was surrounded by vast moorland, and in the distance you could see the Cumbrian Mountains. It was pretty tough out there, and there was snow, even though it was in May. In the evening we sat at the dining table with an open window to hear the bird’s evensong, but otherwise there was absolutely silent.

One day after dinner I went for a walk on the moors. The dusk was falling, and the area was covered in a very evocative, light gray tint. I knew that I should stick to the narrow, unpaved roads, partly because I wasn’t familiar with the area, and partly because there were many abandoned and more or less collapsed mine shafts, I could fall into. So the evening stroll consisted of a long walk out and an equally long walk back.

I had occasionally seen horses out there. Beautiful black horses with long flowing manes, and they moved so gracefully, almost floating, that they were a pleasure to watch. The horses were not fenced and could move around as they wanted, but they were very cautious and stayed at a safe distance.

At one point I stood and enjoyed the sight of the sun going down behind the mountains. It was, as usual, completely quiet, but suddenly I heard a faint snort right behind me. My heart skipped a beat or two, and very, very slowly I turned around. I hadn’t even heard that a herd of horses had showed up. There were 5-6 adult horses, and with the herd were a few foals.

We stood for a long time and just looked at each other. Then one foal slowly approached me and came so close, that it could sniff my neck with his velvet muzzle. Meanwhile I stood completely motionless, hoping inwardly that the adults were not troubled.

When the curious foal had finished his investigation and found that I was probably not a horse, but on the other hand nothing dangerous, it went back to the herd. And the horses just vanished as silently as they had appeared...

Asters

In the autumn months everything blooms in shades of purple in Picton Garden near Great Malven, where the Picton family has grown asters since 1906. Today, the site forms The National Collection of autumn-flowering asters, and it has gradually become quite an extensive collection.

From August to mid-October, you can see over four hundred different asters growing among other late perennials, grasses and shrubs. It is a fantastic sight, as asters come in a range of colours from white and pale pink through light purple to very dark purple.

The autumn flowering asters can be from just 10 cm in height to almost 200 cm. There are great variations, and it depends - among other things - on the soil they grow in. If the soil is well-drained and sandy, they will not grow that tall, while in nutrient-rich soil they can grow above average height.

Asters are wonderful plants to have in the garden because they are hardy and bloom so willingly. Fortunately, more people are realizing that asters are not just beautiful to look at; they are also extremely good to plant for the sake of wildlife.

Asters attract butterflies and bees in large numbers, and they are a fine source of food for the insects at a time when there is not much else in the garden. When the plants later go to seed, the birds come to eat the seeds, so asters will bring life to the garden in a lot of different ways.

The joy of writing

In the beginning of the 90's I wrote three books – one about Dolls Houses; one about other kinds of miniature projects and one about stencilling – but for a long period of my life, I did anything but write. I worked as a secretary, a clerk, a copywriter and a translator – just to mention a few of the many jobs I have had.

Writing is my passion though, and from 2008, I wrote and published magazines about Great Britain – which was another passion of mine. In all 32 magazines with articles of historic houses, history, gardens, animals and all things nice and British… 

Lately I have come full circle. I stopped writing magazines and resumed writing books – and I feel like I have come home. I have so many projects; so many things I wish to write about. I have written a book about the beautiful things in life, one about the English Christmas and one about London. All in Danish...

I have also written a book about Scotland. I have visited Scotland many times, and for two months I drove from East to West and all the way round in a motorhome. I miss those days and would love to go back… but for now, I must make do with my Scottish pictures.