I complain a lot about the UK and I left these shores permanently 7 years ago, but an enforced long term stay back here has made me look a little more objectively and see the positives for which the citizens of the UK should be thankful for.
One of these things, are Museums and the fact that the national museums are incredible places to hang out and even better, are free to get in!! That's right I said free. Ok, admittedly paid for out of government taxes but still a better way for the government to spend our money than some of the crap they spend it on...
Anyway, to feed my borderline Asperger train obsession, I took a trip to the National Railway Museum in York. Here is their official website.
It's full of trains, railway history, clocks, engines, station stuff....loads of stuff to keep me wandering around for hours. There is also a research centre and a resource library where you can find anything you want about British railways and their history.
It's housed in some old railway engine sheds and buildings as York was at one time a huge railway centre in the UK.
That is just sooooo 1930's !! You real feel like you've been transported back in time!!
I've never been much of a history fan, but as I've got older, I perhaps realise more the importance of the past in shaping the future and hanging around old stuff seems to evoke a wonderment and appreciation of the difficulties of the past and in this case, the huge advances in Engineering.
This is Mallard, the fastest Steam locomotive in the world ever. Back in 1938, it achieved a speed of 126mph....using steam! 165 tonnes of metal, running on a little track. Amazing!
This is King George V desk in his own carriage.
Tech for the Steam Punks!
Time for me to be an anorak.....I used to be a trainspotter in the 80s, oh lord forgive me...but there's a problem with this pic....There were never any electric class 87 engines at Paddington Station...that kind of spoiled the effect for me lol...
Anyway, its a good day out if you're ever in York and there are loads of stuff to keep the kids amused too.