|
Photo Gallery 40 |
| |
|
 |
| |
|
After clearing the
tracks of pollen and before the arrival of the Flying Scotsman, Colton
and Lilli crank up a battery powered Brandbright resilient diesel. |
| |
|
 |
| |
|
A
Flying Scotsman Tea Party
By Jim
Pitts
Spring signals an
invitation to come outside and celebrate in the warming sun. Always
looking for a reason to party and to share the experience of steam in the
garden, while spring 2010 was in full bloom a tea party was planned.
Now this was not to be
a tea party as a political protest in the tradition of Boston 1773 or the
partisan “us against them” political banter of 2010. This tea party was
to be a convivial and relaxed moment in Travelers Rest.
A full contingent of
G1MRA membership for the colony of South Carolina was involved in the
planning and hosting: Steve Baker and Jim Pitts. G1MRA members here in
the southern colonies are a minority in the garden rail scene.
The Flying Scotsman,
the world's most famous steam locomotive, No. 4472 was built in Doncaster
in 1923. It weighs almost 160 tons, and ran about 2 million miles
with the LNER and British Railways. The Flying Scotsman recorded the
first 100 mph trip in 1934 between Leeds and London.
Recreating the scene
of May 1928 at London’s King’s Cross to Edinburgh’s Waverley station, the
392 miles of non-stop glamour, romance and elegance rolled past an
appreciative audience of world traveled guests. The train featured an
Aster A3 locomotive with a full complement of eleven Flying Scotsman
coaches custom crafted by Pete Comley at Sunset Valley Railroad. |
| |
 |
| |
|
Along with tea and
crumpets, shortbreads and biscuits, Geoffrey Humphreys shared memories of
the UK railway scene of his youth. Both his father and grandfather
worked for the London Midland region.
His grandfather was
signal man on the high level. His father started at the Tamworth station,
but later worked at the head quarters in nearby Birmingham. Since his
family did not own a car, they traveled exclusively on the train. |
| |
|
 |
| |
|
Emotionally moving was
Geoff’s recounting the history of his mother, Ruth Ofner. Her railway
journey to the UK was on the Kindertransport, a rescue mission which began
nine months prior to the start of World War II. Predominantly Jewish
children were sent by their parents out of Nazi Germany, Austria, Poland
and Czechoslovakia to safety in Great Britain. His mother, now 81 years of
age and one of twenty-six survivors, last year participated in the 70th
anniversary observances of the Winton Train.
Geoff shared that his
family were “publicans.” That is not to be confused with a political
party, but the name given to the proprietors of a pub. A pub is a public
house, a tavern, a bar and inn or hotel. In British society, the pub is
often the social center of the community, where everyone gathers to eat,
drink and discuss the issues of the day. It is obvious that his career as
a broadcaster was enhanced by his social orientation at the Star Inn in
Tamworth, Staffordshire, England. |
| |
|
 |
| |
|
In addition to the
Flying Scotsman locomotives both in LNER apple green 4472 and BR dark
green 60103, to introduce the tea party guests to other UK rail
locomotives on display were an LMS Duchess of Sutherland, LMS Jumbo, GNR
Stirling Single, Southern Bulleid and an L&M Lion. |
| |
 |
| |
|
 |
| |
| Steve Baker, not
content to have the American railway scene go unrecognized, provided his
Aster classic Reno with classic passenger coach. So the Wild West met our
refined British heritage from across the pond for a good time of boiling
water for tea and small scale live steam. Truly a lovely way to spend an
afternoon in the garden! |
| |
 |
| |
|
