Caldon Cruise: Day 4

We were booked on the steam train at 1030 from Froghall Station, so we had no reason to rush this morning.  We had plenty of time to get the clippers out so Adrian could give me a hair cut, and I went to pick some more wild garlic, as there’s masses of it a little way down the canal.  Then we walked down to the station where our train was waiting.

We had booked the Breakfast service, as it’s only £8.50 more than the standard ticket.  It’s very nicely done, with the dining cars at the back of the train.  You’re welcomed by staff on the platform and shown to your seat.  Once under way, tea and coffee is served, and breakfast arrives.  We’d booked the Old English, which comes with a Staffordshire oatcake.

And excellent it was too.  We were impressed by the quality of the ingredients, and the service is very friendly.  The train trundles along quite slowly, and it went further than when we did the trip in 2017, going all the way to Ipstones, where the engine changes ends for the return journey.

The whole trip took more than two hours.  We’ve done quite a few heritage railway journeys in our time, and we reckon this is probably the top one.  On the way back, after Consall station where the railway and canal are close together, we passed a couple of boats.

Back at the boat, we set off at about 1.15.  Some of the sections on this part of the canal are very narrow.

Just through Cherry Eye Bridge we met the trip boat returning to Froghall.

We passed Consall Station for the third time of the day.  The trains there are described as awaiting restoration, which is a polite way of describing the state they’re in.

The Black Lion pub was very busy with people in the garden.  We stopped at Consall Forge on the water point, where the tap has the most amazing pressure.  We started the washing machine, and it hadn’t even finished the wash part of the cycle before the tank was full.  We carried on up the river section and then back onto the canal.  At Wood’s Lock there were two boats ahead of us, but one stopped to meet someone before the two Cheddleton Locks.  There we swapped with a boat coming down the top one.  At the top, the level of the pound was very low, which seemed odd because it’s a long pound, all the way to Hazlehurst locks.  It took ages to find a place where we could kind of get into the side to moor.  Later, some CRT people walked past, and told us the level was currently 6.5 inches down, which is an inch better than it was earlier.  She said by 8am tomorrow, things should be a lot better.

5 miles, 5 locks.  (22 miles, 22 locks)