The Tale of the Lost Railway (Part – Fourteen)

Breakfast at Baskerville Manor was, of course, a lavish affair but everyone had finished  and were seated on the motor coach by 8-30 am as planned.

The six men were joined by Flic and Melissa plus Giles Forsythe, the Baskerville Estate Manager.

By 9-05  all nine were aboard the train. The lone station porter,  who had come up especially from Newton Abbot as Moretonhampstead was officially closed to passenger traffic, loaded seven or eight large picnic hampers, filled with food and drink, aboard whilst the driver checked around the little diesel to ensure that all was well.

"I say old bean", remarked Bertie Poppingham to John Hammond as he surveyed the interior of the Pullman carriage, "You have certainly done us proud with this beauty"

"Only the best" , replied John, "It's a special carriage for a special day. We'll be travelling back down the line to Newton Abbot first then back up here again then onto Baskerville. That will allow us to get a feel for most of the line".

At exactly 9-15 the driver gave a little toot on the horn and they were off.

Over at Mrs Harris' Guest House in Baskerville village  Colin Penn had just finished his omelette with bacon and pork sausages.

He collected the packed lunch, thanked his host and headed off along the main village street in search of the lane  which headed along to the railway.

To be continued........

On a recent visit to the doctor, I was told I had to provide specimens out of both orifices. Glad to see them colour coded so I know what goes where!   

Must say I was impressed when Charles and Camilla arrived at the Commonwealth Games in the Tardis!

Quote from: njee20 on Yesterday at 06:59:02 PMDefinitely haven't mown ours in a month. Our corners are very different.

Ours is a wildlife garden - so it'll get clobbered later in the year for the most part to simulate what would happen if there were goats and pigs and the like present.

Much easier to maintain much cooler and full of life. Got inch long grasshoppers all over the place.

Quote from: scottmitchell74 on July 22, 2026, 10:52:50 PMJust finished mowing the lawn. It's 103 degrees! 

That's pretty steep. Are you sure you used a mower not an excavator

Definitely haven't mown ours in a month. Our corners are very different.

Quote from: njee20 on Yesterday at 07:59:59 AMI mean... you could just not mow the lawn. 

  Yes, true...

I had food poisoning last week that knocked out for four days. Then my 48-hour shift. So, I was sort of painted into a corner. It was cool(er) when I started.   

I mean... you could just not mow the lawn. 

Just finished mowing the lawn. It's 103 degrees! 

The Tale of the Lost Railway (Part – Thirteen)

It was around 9-30 that evening that the six men retired to the Drawing Room to re-join Flic and Melissa.

As they strolled along the wood panelled passageway Archie caught up with Bertie Poppingham, "I say, old chap, I think that this evening has gone remarkably well. Better in fact than I had dared hope. Just one thing though that I didn't want to bring up in front of Gerry and John . Whilst we were inspecting the track around six weeks back we came across an old, dilapidated shed. Inside was a rather old Manning Wardle 0-6-0 saddle tank whilst outside was a sheeted over pile of coal and a very rudimentary water crane. One of the young lads who was part of the inspection party piped up that some  years back his grandfather had driven the locomotive, under cover of darkness, through the grounds of Baskerville Manor with his Lordship, my Grampy Bill, also on the footplate. The young lad claimed that his own grandfather had performed this duty on several occasions in the 1920s. That would most likely  be the source of some of the tales related in the village pub by  some of the older regulars about mysterious steam trains in the night. I don't want Gerry and John to find out as it could, feasibly, sway any decision to help me out with my plans.I'm sure they would be fine about it but best not take any chances,eh".

"Thanks for telling me", replied Bertie, "Your secret is safe with me".

Once everyone was assembled in the drawing room Archie once again addressed his guests :

"I hope you have all enjoyed this evening. Tomorrow morning I  have arranged a trip along my railway from Moretonhampstead station to the site of the new station at Baskerville.  I must extend, at this point, my grateful thanks to John Hammond for organising  this trip. He has kindly arranged to bring an 0-6-0 diesel shunter plus carriage over from Exeter  just for us", at which point everyone spontaneously applauded. "Could I ask that we all assemble in the dining room at 7-00am sharp for breakfast  I have arranged for a small motor coach to collect us at 8-30 to take us to the station and a  departure at 9-15. It should be a good day and, as I mentioned earlier, you will all be in for a big surprise when we travel through the tunnel just after departure. For now though  I wish you all a very good night and I'll see you all in the morning".


The little shunter making her way towards Moretonhampstead. She is here passing Hackney Yards at Newton Abbot. It seems that John has arranged a rather special coach for the trip along the railway tomorrow

Meanwhile that same evening :

We return to the Baskerville Arms where Colin Penn is just finishing his final pint before returning to his guest house. By now the pub is almost empty so Colin takes the opportunity to engage the landlord in conversation.

"I hope you don't mind me asking", I said, "I came stay in this area for a Summer holiday several years back as a young boy . My  Uncle, with whom I was staying back then, always teased me about hearing the occasional steam train and this evening there have been veiled hints from one or two locals. Is there any truth in the rumours do you think?"

The landlord gave the very faintest hint of a smile, " 'Tis a bit quiet up 'ere. People do imagine things, specially when the fog do come down. An mighty thick 'tis sometimes. Some do say they 'ave 'eard a stem engine in the past and some do say there be stories of an 'eadless woman roamin' round. Some do talk of 'owlin dogs. 'Tis all twaddle in my opinion. However, if you do go explorin'  I'd stay away from the grounds of the big 'ouse . If that scoundrel of a gamekeeper do catch ee look out. I don't trust 'im so best stay out of 'is way".

I finished my pint then wandered back to my accommodation. By 9-45 I was in bed. My plan for tomorrow was to try to walk the railway line back towards Moretonhampstead if I could once more gain access via the gate in the wall.

To be continued.............