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Two pairs of batteries...
Jul. 4th, 2007 04:03 pmHere I am in York. I'm in an old hotel and can see York Minster out the window. It's quite a nice place, modern in an old shell, despite the (new!) two-tap sinks in the bathroom. My perennially worn-out father is fast asleep on the other side of the room, but I've still got some energy left.
We got in around 11:30 and the first thing we did was book tickets for tomorrow's leg of the trip, the train from York to London Kings Cross (and yes, I do plan to get at least one photo of Platform 9 3/4). After leaving the station and checking in, we went straight to Mecca: the National Railway Museum.
[[non-train fans can skip the next two paragraphs.]]
I was able to get photos of almost everything in the Great Hall (one of four buildings) before both pairs of batteries wore out. And the shop on site didn't sell AA batteries... -_- So, now I've got a reason to go back! The best of the photos I did take, however, will be popping up here as soon as possible.
It was quite an enjoyable part of the trip. Where else can you see the fastest steam engine, Britain's early and last steam engines, and a steamer from China and an early Japanese bullet train engine under one roof? Not to mention the other wings, which held several coaches from Royal Trains, several diesels and countless pieces of memorabilia? Didn't get a chance to see one of the newest pieces of the collection, Flying Scotsman, because it is currently undergoing a wheel to chimney restoration so it can run on the main line again. I managed to see the tender, the frames, and a few bits and pieces scattered around the shop floor, but that's all. Also saw a couple trains pass by from the viewing platform overlooking the main line approach to York station.
[[Okay, done now.]]
After finishing the three-hour visit to the NRM, my father stayed at the hotel bar while I went across the street to York Minster, the largest church in Britain and seat of the Archbishop of York, the number two man in the Church of England. It's a gigantic cathedral with rows of stained glass windows. I went through most of the building except the nave because they were conducting a service.
My ticket also allowed me to ascend the church tower and go under the ground into the excavated bits. I went up the tower first, climbing 275 very narrow steps to the highest point in the church. The view from the top was excellent, but my thighs are going to hate me tomorrow. After this, I went in the opposite direction on the tour of the crypt and into the excavated foundations. Besides the early church foundations, I got to see the remains of the old Roman administrative building that sat on the same site nearly two millennia ago, the place where it's believed Constantine the Great was made Roman emperor. Quite a fun tour, despite not being able to see the nave.
I can hear the shower calling me, so I'll wrap up here. Tomorrow, a two-hour, first-class trip from York to London on the East Coast Main Line!
We got in around 11:30 and the first thing we did was book tickets for tomorrow's leg of the trip, the train from York to London Kings Cross (and yes, I do plan to get at least one photo of Platform 9 3/4). After leaving the station and checking in, we went straight to Mecca: the National Railway Museum.
[[non-train fans can skip the next two paragraphs.]]
I was able to get photos of almost everything in the Great Hall (one of four buildings) before both pairs of batteries wore out. And the shop on site didn't sell AA batteries... -_- So, now I've got a reason to go back! The best of the photos I did take, however, will be popping up here as soon as possible.
It was quite an enjoyable part of the trip. Where else can you see the fastest steam engine, Britain's early and last steam engines, and a steamer from China and an early Japanese bullet train engine under one roof? Not to mention the other wings, which held several coaches from Royal Trains, several diesels and countless pieces of memorabilia? Didn't get a chance to see one of the newest pieces of the collection, Flying Scotsman, because it is currently undergoing a wheel to chimney restoration so it can run on the main line again. I managed to see the tender, the frames, and a few bits and pieces scattered around the shop floor, but that's all. Also saw a couple trains pass by from the viewing platform overlooking the main line approach to York station.
[[Okay, done now.]]
After finishing the three-hour visit to the NRM, my father stayed at the hotel bar while I went across the street to York Minster, the largest church in Britain and seat of the Archbishop of York, the number two man in the Church of England. It's a gigantic cathedral with rows of stained glass windows. I went through most of the building except the nave because they were conducting a service.
My ticket also allowed me to ascend the church tower and go under the ground into the excavated bits. I went up the tower first, climbing 275 very narrow steps to the highest point in the church. The view from the top was excellent, but my thighs are going to hate me tomorrow. After this, I went in the opposite direction on the tour of the crypt and into the excavated foundations. Besides the early church foundations, I got to see the remains of the old Roman administrative building that sat on the same site nearly two millennia ago, the place where it's believed Constantine the Great was made Roman emperor. Quite a fun tour, despite not being able to see the nave.
I can hear the shower calling me, so I'll wrap up here. Tomorrow, a two-hour, first-class trip from York to London on the East Coast Main Line!
