Sittin’ on a railway station, with a ticket to our destination………but, no steam today….

Guess what for breakfast?..……Eggs and eggs again in all different shapes….

But soon on the road again to catch our train in Pickering at 10:55. Straight on to the Car Park and after a short walk to the footbridge onto the right platform. Plenty of time to get the tickets and finding some nice seats for the 5 of us together with a nice British couple.

Unfortunately we found out that today no steam locomotives were running because of the extreme risk of fire. We could fully understand it - especially after seeing the burned moor halfway aside of the track. Better a diesel train in this nice weather, than a steam train in pouring rain…..

Right in time the train left for our destination Goathland halfway the line to Whitby. On our way we stopped twice and with a minor delay we arrived at the beautiful station of Goathland. This lovely place played a role as Hogwart station in the Harry Potter films and indeed it really looked very picturesque and right from the old days. 

We enjoyed some cold drinks in the tearoom which was located in one of the freight sheds on the platform and made some nice pictures before the return train to Pickering arrived.

Rene even catched the moment when the stationmaster ‘caught’ the ‘token’ from the driver of the oncoming train indicating that the single line was free again for another train to enter this section. What an ingenious simple safety system of train control!

On our way back to Pickering Brian and Rene were struggling with their ‘analog’ Google Map to find out where we were exactly….

After reaching Pickering we found our hot Alfa’s again. ‘Look! 3 funny Lada’s on the Car Park…….’

Leaving Klaas Jan & Regina to stroll around in Helmsley, the others returned to the Plum to get some rest before starting of at 5 PM again for our AROC meeting in Green Hammerton.

In the Bay Horse pub we arrived early and ordered our evening meal also early. Rene was really shocked they didn’t have 0.0 beer and rather crestfallen ordered just water instead. But the friendly landlady offered to try 0.0 gin tonic instead and from now on he has found a new addiction….

Steadily the AROC people dropped in as well. Their number was quite disappointing, but to our surprise some friends we met at the Coppa and also during the AROC trip to Ireland Jennie & Rene made a couple of years ago joined in as well.

We had some nice ‘Alfa talk’ and happy memories of our trips together, so we almost forgot the time.

 
We ended up together in the parking lot to make some group photos with the Alfas before returning ‘home’ just before nightfall and a good night sleep before the long tomorrow….