Clickety-Clack! A Cream Tea on the track.

Welcome back to The Lady’s Great British Tea Room Tour, it has been a while hasn’t it.

As I said in my last post I was planning to take some travels on other modes of vintage transport, while in search of more tea room destinations.  So why not start off with an adventure on the rails.   Earlier in the month I took The Lady for a drive over to The West Somerset Railway to blow out the winter cobwebs.

A pleasant journey on a grey bank holiday weekend, however The Lady brought up a few ailments.  One surprise was the return of the charging problem from the dynamo, the little red warning lamp refusing to go out.  (A strange whiff of de ja vu here.)  So, whilst I am trying to sort this out. I have forgone a trundle out in The Lady for a rather less grand ride in the daily Rover.  In this posting I have returned to WSR.  (This feels a bit like cheating, though there is still tea and cake involved. I think it still counts.)  A modern Rover, really doesn’t have the gentle grace & pace of a two-cylinder trundling tea room touring old car.

The West Somerset Railway “The Longest Heritage Railway in England” Boasts some stunning scenic views along the way departing from Bishops Lydeard steaming through 10 stations arriving at the coastal town of Minehead.  Over & under bridges, past beaches, past rivers, roads and through level crossings.  Some roads right next to the railway line, great for some vintage style snaps along the way.  Perhaps a plan for a driving route when The Lady is back to health in sunnier weathers.

For this entry I have booked onto “The Steam & Cream Tea Special”.  Not so much a tea room destination, but certainly an interesting place to indulge in a dollop of cream & jam.  Perhaps I should start a list of 101 places to enjoy a Cream Tea?  Well this being the twelfth entry on the blog only another eighty-nine spots to go.

As I sit here writing with the noise of the coaches and the whistle of the train, there has always been a nostalgic love of trains.  Although not seeing them in their heyday, during my childhood there were many summer visits to the WSR, for the vintage rally which used to be held near to the station at Bishops Lydeard. I seem to recall a rather late-night drive home in The Lady from the station when I was around 8.

Back to the present, I hopped on the 10:15 from Bishops Lydeard for an hour & a half journey to Minehead. As the guard whistle blew the loco rolled into life.  A rather grand way to travel.  Taking you back to a refined way of making journeys, steam bellowing from the chimney, the carriages rumbling over the track, that hypnotic sound.  My seat rather conveniently was on the buffet car.

Nice to grab a cup of tea along the way while getting lost in thought looking out at the green scenery of the countryside. Stopping off at each of the stations while passengers got on and off the train. Steaming on towards the end of the line.  Arriving in Minehead I had a little time before the return train back, for a little wander around the station and a short walk into town.  Spotting another tea room, for a future visit. Even a quick pit stop in the Pasty shop waiting for the next train.

The 14:15 train for Bishops Lydeard. I boarded the reserved coach for the “Steam & Cream Tea Special”.  Laid out on the tables were table cloths with paper plates and wooden knives. Once the doors slammed and whistle blew I was once again on my way.  Once the train started on its return journey from the station, I was greeted by railway buffet staff walking down the aisle serving my table with pots of Cream & Jam.  Followed closely by Scones.  Two giant scones baked at a local bakery in Williton (One of the stops along the line.) One fruit & one plain.

 

As you can see my presentation skills still have a bit of work after the winter break, hopefully a summer of touring will be of help. The ratio of scone to Cream & Jam was not quite towering but enough for a nice spread. (Have you ever tried to put Jam on a scone when on a moving train?)  The tea was served at the table in a giant tea pot poured into the cardboard cup.  This is a first on the tour, a tea destination without china tea cups, however I think the great service and scenery is more than enough to make up for a touch of modern on this vintage outing.  I must admit the train was a smooth ride from start to finish, not even a drop of tea was spilt.  A first-class afternoon on the rails, admiring some rather majestic machines. On a journey in search of tea, cake and travel.

Until next time join myself and The Lady for another helping of The Lady’s Great British Tea Room Tour.