My Twitter pal Reddy (@reddy1408) visited Churnet Valley Railway last week and spotted that this weekend they had a scifi weekend going on, with Daleks! Ooh. So, we agreed to meet up there for the 10.30am train on Saturday morning.
The trouble started when we noticed we were low on petrol and then the Sat Nav wanted to take us one way and the signpost the other to the trains. It turns out - we know now - the sign was for the Cheddleton Station end of the track, while we were meeting at the Kingsley and Froghall Station end. A little cross country driving and we arrived about 10.40am - to find they were having problems and the 10.30am train had been cancelled anyway! Unfortunately it meant they were cut from a two-train service to a single train.
We didn't have a lot of time, as my assistant, Paul, had a train to catch later that day, but we figured we'd make do.
We met Reddy on the platform, bought our tickets - £14 for this special event day (£1 cheaper if bought online, but we didn't bother). The regular price is £11 for all-day travel.
We got our luggage together - no, just kidding - this was just on the platform, then waited for the train to arrive under the bridge - it wasn't too long.
They have a nice green engine, so we boys got our picture taken before the driver let me onto the footplate so I could take a look. Our locomotive for the day was TKH 2944.
There was a coach group waiting - delayed from the 10.30am ride (seems the teashop had offered free tea and coffee for those that were left waiting, which was nice of them) - so we were forced to move up to a first class corridor compartment train. Much more our style anyway - very Harry Potter-y.
We set off towards Consall, the middle of the three stations and the location of today's science fiction event - Doctor Who vs Star Wars!
Reddy and I (and his mummy and wife Pink Ted, together with my assistant Di and the boys Frank and Theo) got off at Consall to check out the Daleks, but we sent assistant Paul and the Ancient Assistant Noreen off to check out the rest of the line and Cheddleton Station. They had another steam locomotive over there as well as a selection of carriages.
Meanwhile, while they were off playing on the trains, we were playing with Daleks! Woohoo!
We met this chappie, and he was having a bit of a rant - you know how Daleks are - and so, well, we hugged him! heehee! I don't think he was that impressed, but once we were hugging he couldn't exterminate us!
The train was about to leave so we thought we should get a few shots of it leaving the station. While we were sitting on the fence, one of the Doctors (they had a few folks in costume from both Doctor Who and Star Wars) let Reddy borrow his Sonic Screwdriver! Reddy made the train disappear. Amazing!
We did what it said on the tent - but only briefly as there really wasn't a queue when we arrived! We were also duly warned! Thanks for the tip, Torchwood!
The dalek in here sounded more realistic (the other one wasn't bad!) and he had some kind of smoke machine (apparently all healthy and won't affect asthma sufferers!) They had a TARDIS in here too. Oh, yeah, and some space-zoning restrictions!
Along with the dalek we had our lookalikes, the Tenth and Twelfth Doctors, along with Clara and Captain Jack from Torchwood. We're not sure who the child is, but he joined our picture so clearly he should be there. They all seemed bear-friendly.
Of course we did have to sit up on the TARDIS - who wouldn't?
We headed outside and spotted a Star Wars Storm Trooper. This one didn't seem very bright - didn't even see us sneak up behind him. This Jedi Knight was much more pleased to see us!
They had a little fair set up - with a small sales stall, tombola (those tickets were hard to reach when you have little arms) and a make-you-own-Dalek stand.
They also had some burgers cooking with fried onions, but we were told we had to wait for the assistants. Hmpf!! We took a look at Consall Station. It took a few seconds for us to figure out the sign on the picture below centre. Heehee. Very scifi! We also had a picture outside of the Consall Signal Box.
When the train arrived, the assistants got off, but we decided that, as time was tight, and it would be a while before the train made it back here, we would be better off heading back immediately to Kingsey and Froghall. We'd pretty much seen everything and they had a tea shop there! Had to say goodbye to that burger though.
We took some movie footage during the trip, so I've put it together (mine and Assistant Paul's) to make you a short movie - not too bad, only five minutes this time!!
There was a bit of a line when we arrived - mainly because the train we were on had just arrived, full of passengers wanting lunch. It was a bit of a squeeze but getting a table was no problem. We decided to have pasties for lunch.
After we'd finished we were working up our energy to head to the Souvenir Shop, I spotted a bag on the next table with a yellow furry head sticking out. When I pointed this out, a dragon appeared too - it was Gresley Dragon! He was a friend of Reddy's and mine from Twitter. We didn't know he was coming here. Small world!
He introduced us to his buddy Fred Bear and we introduced our pals. Gresley had been in Whitby during our lunch visit but we didn't get to meet him, then here he was. He and his assistants are also train fans! As we were about the go to the shop, I remembered the Flatties! Pictures of some of my Twitter pals that couldn't make it in bearson.
The souvenir shop was pretty good - quite big, with a reasonable range of stuff, including some Doctor Who and Star Wars bits, presumably for the weekend. They had some nice reasonably priced badges too, but I didn't buy anything, though Frank did get a fridge magnet.
We had a lovely half day out. It was great meeting my pal Reddy and his mum and the boys and I always love a train ride. Being able to hug a Dalek was pawesome so made our trip, even though I missed a part of the ride. Will just have to go back sometime and finish it off!
They dropped a Ted because they lost a train (should have been a two-train schedule but this had to be cut to one) and because the organisation was a little iffy, with the trains not running on time, though this was probably - in part - owing to the technical difficulties. Despite all that, you should, go visit.