Trip To the Abbey Pumping Station - 2nd December 2013
Around sixteen of us all managed to turn up at the pumping Station in Leicester at around the same time using our own transport and having only laid the barest of plans as to departure and arrival times. Though two ladies are known to have bunked off on the way through Leicester and went shopping instead, they know who they are!
I think we must have picked one of the best days of the year for the visit, a cool crisp day, full sunlight throughout with just that nip in the air that told you winter was on the way.
There was an underlying theme of Christmas running through the event, from Father Christmas at the entrance to Christmas displays dotted around the site and for me the icing on the cake a brass band playing carols on the top level of the pumping station between of the massive beams of two of the engines. There was only one engine out of four working , where there would have normally been two, the attendant on that level said the steam and condensation would have been too much for them (the band), to play in with two engines running. As it was I had to wait for five minutes or so for the fog to clear on my camera lens.
I think we must have picked one of the best days of the year for the visit, a cool crisp day, full sunlight throughout with just that nip in the air that told you winter was on the way.
There was an underlying theme of Christmas running through the event, from Father Christmas at the entrance to Christmas displays dotted around the site and for me the icing on the cake a brass band playing carols on the top level of the pumping station between of the massive beams of two of the engines. There was only one engine out of four working , where there would have normally been two, the attendant on that level said the steam and condensation would have been too much for them (the band), to play in with two engines running. As it was I had to wait for five minutes or so for the fog to clear on my camera lens.
In one of the large barns there were several quite large displays of toy steam engines and layouts, mainly Hornby 3 rail, early two rail and ‘0’ gauge layouts but also Meccano models craft items and book and magazine stalls.
Outside there were several displays of static and working steam powered engines, and also conventionally powered utility vehicles, coaches and a fully restored and working fish and chip van, that seemed to have a never ending queue leading to its hatch.
All in all a good day out so I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.
Paul Millers.
Outside there were several displays of static and working steam powered engines, and also conventionally powered utility vehicles, coaches and a fully restored and working fish and chip van, that seemed to have a never ending queue leading to its hatch.
All in all a good day out so I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the story.
Paul Millers.
