OVERSEAS TRAVEL
Trip to Burma
On the 20th April, I set off on another expedition to Burma. The first trip report can be found here, with a link to the next post, and so on. Alternately, all the posts on the trip can be found here. Each post has links to related photographs. All the pictures on the trip are in the collection here (apart from railway pictures, which are in the collection here).
Dr. Hla Tun met me on arrival in Yangon and, accompanied by his son, we travelled to Mon State (south of Yangon) to visit a number of Drop In Centres forming part of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children Project. We returned to Yangon where Dr. Hla Tun had arranged for me to visit the Power Signal Box at Yangon Central Station. I also travelled around the Circle Line in the cab of the diesel-electric locomotive (there's an incomplete technical report on the cab ride here). Next, Dr. Hla Tun and I flew to Nyaung Oo so that the Doctor could see patients at the Bagan Medical Clinic and I was able to study the growth of this project. Dr. Hla Tun then returned to Yangon in connection with the donation of medical equipment to the clinic but I was able to visit a number of schools in the Bagan area which are supported by the RTM Social Contribution. Next, I flew to Mandalay where I spent a day with my friend Htein Linn and his family and met my friend Ko Hlaing and his family. Then, it was back to Yangon for two nights before flying north again to Rakhine State. I spent three marvellous days in Sittwe and Mrauk U seeing a little of this historic area, after which I flew back to Yangon. I managed to meet Dr. Hla Tun and Captain Myo Lwin for drinks at the Strand briefly then I explored the city again on foot. All too soon it was time to leave Myanmar.
Shaitthaung Temple, Mrauk U.
One Night in Qatar
I flew Yangon - Doha where I spent one night before returning home on a Doha - Manchester flight. My brief visit is described here.
View of the amazing skyline from across the Bay, Doha, Qatar.
Trip to Vienna
On the 7th November, I flew from Heathrow to Vienna with my friend Rita for a weekend exploring the city. Although only a short visit, we managed to fit in a number of experiences. The first trip report can be found here, with a link to the next post, and so on.
Schoenbrunn Palace, Vienna
TRAVEL IN THE UK
During the year I made various trips (mainly by rail) to various destinations.
Blackpool & Fleetwood
On 3rd January, I made a trip to Blackpool and Fleetwood, described here (with railway notes here).
Holyhead
On the 25th January, I was off again, this time on a day trip to Holyhead, described in two reports - Part 1 and Part 2. Later, I added another report with more information on the history and signalling of the Holyhead to Crewe line, which you can find here.
East Croydon
On 5th February. I travelled to East Croydon by rail, to visit my friend Rita. The journey was affected by Industrial Action. The trip is described here.
Birkenhead & New Brighton
On 8th February, I made a trip to Birkenhead and New Brighton which is described in three posts - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3. Later, I added another report with more information on the history and signalling of lines in the Birkenhead area, which you can find here and a post on Services to Birkenhead Woodside in Steam Days which is here.
Chirk
On 26th February, I travelled by train to Chirk, described here.
Liverpool via the Borderlands Line
On 8th March, I travelled by rail to Liverpool, via a route including 'The Borderlands Line', described in two reports - Part 1 and Part 2.
Furness and the Cumbrian Coast
On 21st June, I made a day trip by rail to Furness and the Cumbrian Coast which is described in two posts - Part 1 and Part 2.
South Wales
On the 26th July, I made a day trip to South Wales by train. This is described in two reports - Part 1 and Part 2.
Southport and Liverpool
I made a day trip by train to Southport and Liverpool on 9th August. The trip is described in two posts - Part 1 and Part 2.
Huddersfield and Shipley
On 23rd August, I travelled by train to Shipley, near Leeds, to attend the 2014 'Lionsmeet'. I travelled via Manchester, Huddersfield and Leeds, allowing time to stop off at Huddersfield to admire the station buildings (listed Grade 1). My report on the trip is here.
Llandudno by Road
On Saturday 30th August I went to Llandudno with Ann and Dean by road. We stayed overnight at the Imperial Hotel and spent most of Sunday exploring the pier and the Great Orme. There's a report here.
The Great Eastern Railway in London
On 8th September, I travelled to London for a business meeting, but left early enough to let me look at the Great Eastern Railway terminus at Liverpool Street and travel as far as Stratford. There's a report here.
The CLC, Liverpool Docks and Wirral Railways Today
Following publication of my post on the history of the Cheshire Lines Committee (CLC) here, I decided to travel over the remaining lines on the 4th October. There's a report on these journeys here. On the same day, I transferred to Merseyrail trains to 'finish off' the available CLC lines and explore some of the dock area on foot (On foot around Liverpool Docks) and then continued to explore the Merseyrail network, travelling to West Kirby and finally to Ellesmere Port. The report on my Merseyrail travels is here. Finally, back on Network Rail metals, I travelled from Ellesmere Port to Helsby, Helsby to Warrington Bank Quay and caught a Virgin service back to Wolverhampton. My report on the last segment is here. After all this, I added another post titled Signalling on the former Cheshire Lines Committee in the 1950s.
On Foot around Liverpool Docks
At the end of October, I published the post Notes on Liverpool and its Docks to supplement the earlier On foot around Liverpool Docks. So, having explored on foot from Sandhills to Pierhead on 22nd November, I walked from Sandhills north to Seaforth. This walk is described in two posts - On foot around Liverpool Docks (2) and On foot around Liverpool Docks (3).
RAILWAY PRESERVATION
During 2014, I was re-elected Secretary of the Old Locomotive Committee and remained an active volunteer at The Battlefield Line and Peak Rail.
The Old Locomotive Committee
On 14th June, the OLCO Annual General Meeting was held in the Museum of Liverpool Museum. There's a report here.
In 2014, 'Lionsmeet' was held at the Bradford Model Engineering Society track at Shipley and there's a report on the event here.
You can find all my posts about OLCO here.
OLCO A.G.M. 2014: The 'Group Shot'.
The Battlefield Line
On the 22nd March, I was rostered to drive the diesel railcar. There's a report here.
I described turns at the Battlefield Line on the single-unit diesel railcar on the 15th July and on 3803 on the 20th July in the post Another Busy Week. The 20th with the Great Western 2-8-0 was particularly notable - five round trips with a 6-coach train and a party of around 60 Morris Dancers performing on the platform at Shenton, taking lunch on the train to Shackerstone and performing on the platform at Shackerstone before we returned them to Shenton! Our last trip of the day started in one of the worst thunderstorms I can remember.
Midweek driving turns on the diesel railcar at the Battlefield Line on 13th August and 27th August are described here.
On 7th September, I was driver of 3803 during the Shackerstone Family Festival. There's a report here.
3803 at Shackerstone ready for the 3rd trip to Shenton on 20th July 2014.
Peak Rail
In January and February Peak Rail operated a Winter Timetable where 'Lord Phil' worked the service between Rowsley and Matlock Riverside, running round at each end. I had four driving turns in this period, described here.
On the 2nd March, I was driving 'Lord Phil' when a HST Charter visited Peak Rail, described here.
I described turns at Peak Rail on 12th July and 20th July in the post Another Busy Week.
On 3rd August, I was driver on the second day of the 1940s Weekend. The weather was hot and the event was very well supported. There's a brief report here.
My driving turn on 16th August is described here.
In December, I had one driving turn on the 'Santa' trains, described here.
Peak Rail 1940s Weekend, 2014.
TY GWYN
I'm involved in the management of a small commercial woodland in Wales and on the 26th February, I made the first of a number of visits in 2014 with the forester, Rob MacCurrach. There's a report on this visit here.
My next visit was on 24th July, when a felling programme had started. There's a report here.
On the same day, Rob and I had a private tour of the Kronospan factory at Chirk where MDF and related products are manufactured. My report is here.
I next visited Ty Gwyn on 18th August, when timber extraction was well in hand. There's a report here.
Finally, I visited Ty Gwyn on 31st August with Ann and Dean, as we returned from Llandudno. The photographs taken during this visit are at Harvesting (3) 2014.
Harvested timber awaiting collection.
BREWOOD HALL
The Second Brewood Vintage Garden Party was held at Brewood Hall on the 5th July. Despite heavy rain the previous day, the sun shone for the event itself. There's a report here.
Brewood Music Festival was held at various venues around Brewood from 10th to 13th July. There's a brief report on the Free Concert in the Market Place here.
As part of a 'Twilight Storytelling Walk around Brewood' initiative by the Libraries and Arts Service of Staffordshire County Council, on 26th November a party of about 25 visited Brewood Hall. There's a short report here.
Once again, the sun shone on the Brewood Vintage Garden Party(Photo: Tricia Underwood).
'ROAD TO MANDALAY' SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION
For a number of years, I've tried to support the charitable initiatives operated under the above name in Burma. When I visit Burma, I try to see as much as possible of the work in hand. When I'm in the U.K., I receive regular e-mails about the work which (with permission) I report in my blog. The charity provides Educational Support to a range of schools and orphanages and Medical Treatment to all ages (centred on the wonderful Bagan Medical Clinic). You can find my posts on Educational Support here and those on Medical Treatment here.
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