A short while ago I made a short pilgrimage to Aberystwyth for my sister’s graduation (very proud moment there, wipe away manly tear etc). And it almost goes without saying that after the ceremony, I found time to explore the railways of Aberystwyth.

The most famous, without a doubt, is the Vale of Rheidol. Why, it’s even mentioned in Malcolm Pryce’s Aberystwyth Mon Amour. This line runs from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge, and shares a terminus with Arriva Trains Wales. The main station is severely reduced from its original glory, with only one platform in use and the main building having been turned into a Wetherspoon’s (although admittedly they’ve done a fine job preserving the original architecture).

The Vale of Rheidol departs from alongside the main line.

Number 8, Llewellyn, pulls into Aberystwyth

It then climbs through the titular Vale to Devil’s Bridge, which I am told is scenically spectacular. Unfortunately, the day we went there were only two trains running, so there wasn’t time to get out and look.

However, here is the station.

No. 8 at Devil's Bridge

The line is currently owned by the Phyllis Rampton Narrow Gauge Railway Trust, a somewhat cagey charitable organisation founded with the aim “to preserve, exhibit, display and loan for demonstration for the public benefit and for the advancement of technical, historical and general education, steam and other railway locomotives, rolling stock, equipment, machines and relics which are historical, operational and of general interest and in addition are of educational value.” To this end, they keep the engines in private locations and don’t let anyone see them. Several are apparently stored at Capel Bangor on the VoR, presumably in that locked shed with no windows. I mean, I don’t want to cry “conspiracy”, but I strongly suspect that one of the trustees got drunk once and started boasting that they have, like, fifty locomotives. Then, the next morning, rather than admit their booze-fuelled exaggeration, they got caught in the lie and now they’ve got to act like they really do have all these rare engines. A cautionary tale for us all, I feel.

The Vale, as seen from the train

But more notable is the fact that, prior to 1989, it was still owned by British Rail. Yep, twenty years after the end of BR steam, BR was still operating this little narrow gauge tourist railway. The engines were known as Class 98 and painted in BR blue.

I’m not entirely clear how this is supposed to have happened.

No. 8 again, this time in blue.

I mean, it’s not as if BR was exactly sentimental at the time. None of the online histories seem to have any reason why this line survived while, say, the Varsity Line was closed. I rather imagine that it went something like this.

The Scene:  The office of Dr Richard Beeching. BEECHING sits with an UNDERLING, working out the fine details of the Modernisation Plan.

BEECHING: Right, let’s see who else is for the axe… Audlem, Ambergate, Chittening, Cheslyn Hay… Hand me that copy of the lyrics to ‘Slow Train’, would you? I can’t remember what comes next.

UNDERLING: I believe it was the line from Selby to Goole.

BEECHING: Ah, thank you.

UNDERLING: Oh, and one other thing – this Vale of Rheidol Railway rather stands out.

BEECHING: Never heard of it. Please explain.

UNDERLING: Oh, it’s this narrow gauge railway in Wales. Used to be all about timber and lead, now it’s all tourists.

BEECHING: Ah, a good point. Well, let’s -

Enter ERNEST MARPLES, Minister for Transport.

MARPLES: Good morning, Beeching.

BEECHING: Oh, good morning, Mr Marples, how are you today?

MARPLES: Very well. I am glad to say that there is still nothing suspicious about my extensive interests in road building, and that nobody has made the link between my pro-road, anti-rail policies and my many, many shares in road construction, which as you know I sold upon taking office and can buy back as soon as I leave. I also have no track record of corruption and certainly do not plan to flee the country in 1975.

BEECHING: I’m glad to hear it.

MARPLES: How goes the Modernisation Plan?

BEECHING: Oh, well, well. I am confident that our policy of considering each line in isolation rather than as part of a larger national network will not be counterproductive by removing sources of traffic from the main lines. I am also sure that, with hindsight, we will not come to regret the removal of many of these lines and have to reopen them at great cost.

MARPLES: Excellent! And dieselisation?

BEECHING: We think the way to go is to continue buying characterful but non-standard locomotives of varying reliability.

MARPLES: Excellent! Excellent – but here’s an idea. They are indeed characterful, so I suggest that in the long run we should consider painting them blue with full yellow ends that will make them look really ugly!

BEECHING: Brilliant!

BEECHING & MARPLES: (dancing) Paint them blue! Paint them blue!

UNDERLING: Sirs? Sirs? What about… Hell0? What about the Vale of Rheidol?

BEECHING & MARPLES: Paint them blue! Paint them blue!

UNDERLING: (shrugging) Alright then.

Each month I will feature a property for your pleasure. My first Villa of the Month is Gordon House.  It is situated at Dian Bay around the corner from famous Long Bay. I have represented this casual West Indian style home for over 22 years. The villa affords a 180 degree water view.  The villa is 3600 sq feet for comfort and has all the modern amenties needed yet is casual in feel.  The 4 bedroom villa offers casual comfort for a family or pure romance for a couple. There is a seaside patio for au natural sunning or swimming. 10 minutes over the Hill is Long Bay Beach. Long Bay Hotel is the perfect spot for a romantic dinner or lovely lunch. I have enjoyed lovely meals in this traditional West Indian Hotel.

Annemarie Williams is the manager and will meet your flight and whisk you away to the villa. Marilyn the cook and housekeeper will prepare your breakfasts and lunches. Ask her to prepare our local favorite breakfast, saltfish and bread with Choba and plantains. She is a delight and will take care of all your needs.  Let us know ahead of your visit what we may provision or if you require childcare. Your villa comes with a free online Concierge.
Nearby enjoy Seatons and Stingray City. Swim with the rays in this unique setting. You may enjoy some photographic opportunities at Devil’s Bridge. Harmony Hall is the perfect spot to enjoy lunch and shop for local and Caribbean art. My own home has many prints from this lovely gallery.

Gordon House is the perfect escape for those needing to unwind or in search of the perfect getaway.

Welcome soon. Call Caribbean Wind & Sun at 800 219-0118 or email ann@antiguacaribbean.com. More photos may be seen at www.antiguacaribbean.com

Devil’s Bridge – Kirkby, U.K., originally uploaded by Tokenhippygirl.

Wow, I’m actually posting this on Saturday, the day I’m supposed to be posting the photo hunt photo for the week. I’m impressed with myself. Especially considering that I’ve been very late in posting the last few weeks. Luckily I remembered today was Saturday.

Today’s theme… supported. I took this one last September during our trip to England. This is the Devil’s Bridge in Kirkby/Lonsdale. Both of the roads crossing these bridges are supported by the arches. In bridge building it has to be just so or the whole thing becomes disastrous. The Devil’s Bridge arch obviously works as it’s stood the test of time. The bridge dates back to around 1370.

If you’d like to join in all the photo hunt action, visit tnchick for all of the how to info.

Gonna be a busy week here at Sedona Green. Bringing inventory into the shop for Moonlight Madness (Labor Day Weekend) events. Promoting the goings-on, including hourly raffles on Saturday, Sept. 1st.

Friday, 5PM to 7PM: Greg Lilly, local Mystery Writer. Kick off the celebration early! Meet a local writer. Join Greg Lilly at Sedona Green. Mr. Lilly will be selling and signing copies of his novels, Devil’s Bridge, named after a famous Sedona Red Rock feature, and Fingering The Family Jewels.

Saturday, 5PM to 7PM: Matthew Barlow, local Guitarist. Utilizing a guitar and a hungry imagination, Matthew Barlow creates entrancing, often improvisational, “sound scapes.” Mr. Barlow’s music softens and relaxes even the toughest, most hurried-and-harried personalities. Stop by Sedona Green, enter our raffles, and take your time browsing … allow Matthew Barlow’s sound scapes to capture your imagination.

Saturday, 8PM to 9:30PM: Greg Nix, local Poet and Spoken-Word Artist. A Conversation with the Artist as a Young Man. A veteran of countless slam poetry competitions, Greg Nix is a quick-witted, headstrong and handsome young man with the rare ability to translate nebulous, twisty thoughts into concrete observations. To describe Nix as a Slam Poet is misleading. Nix’s recent chapbook, unpretentiously entitled, “CHEAPO KINKOS CHAPBOOK” demonstrates Nix’s craftiness and wit; however, it also demonstrates that the sharing of opinion and life experience is, at it’s core, a matter of conversation, not performance.

Also in the Uptown Mall Plaza on Saturday:

“I feel sorry for anyone who isn’t me tonight …” No, not really. Just listening to some old-school Kenny Rogers from the 70s and early 80s.

In a good mood, but not a blogging mood, so I’ll just jot a few notes here and let it go for the day:

1) Received twenty-two handcrafted Sedona Red-Rock tea-light candle holders yesterday. Late last week, a lady bought every candle holder in the store. I called up the local craftsman and asked if he could make more on short notice. He came through with some truly excellent designs.

2) Am hoping the UPS Man delivers the Sedona Javelina shirts today.

3) Spoke with Buffalo Don this morning. His store (here in Uptown Mall) is hosting a book signing on Saturday, September 1st, 1 – 3PM. Features Lisa Schnebly Heidinger and Janeen Trevillyan, authors of Images of Sedona: History of Sedona Told through Historic Photographs. Buffalo Don knows I’m a history buff. I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of this new book. As we were talking, he leaned in close, placed his large, wrinkled hand on my shoulder and said that he wants to introduce me to his friends at the Sedona Heritage Museum. Said the folks there would like me. I’ll say it again, I really admire Buffalo Don. Good, good man. It means a lot to me that he considers me part of the community.

4) Speaking of book signings, don’t forget that Greg Lilly, local mystery novelist (local means, yes, he lives in Sedona), will be signing copies of his books, Devil’s Bridge and Fingering The Family Jewels on Friday, August 31st, 5 to 7PM. Please come out. Meet a local author, have a glass of champagne, chat, buy a book, get it signed, go home and stay up late reading. Today, I’ve been piecing together publicity for this and several additional events going on at the store Labor Day weekend. A big blog about all the events is coming soon. Patience.

5) Up last night working ’til 3AM. Got to stop that. But … Moonlight Madness is just a week away, and I’m attempting to get organized. If I stay up too late I start talking at the house elf who now hides in the cabinet under the kitchen sink. He’s not a satisfying conversation partner. He never comes out from his hiding place unless I turn out the lights, and he rarely answers me, even if I ask him a direct question — when he does, he actually reminds me of a parrot; I’ve never heard him utter a word that’s not a mimicry of something he’s heard me say.

6) My friend, Greg R., from West Virginia flies out to visit me in late September. We’re planning a trip to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. I’ve never been to the North Rim, so I’m looking forward to that. Also, just looking forward to seeing a buddy whom I haven’t seen in over a year now. Greg thought I’d never move to Arizona. I’d talked about it for years, you see.

7) Am still planning to squeeze in the first of the Sedona Green Blog Gallery Hops next week. As mentioned in previous blogs, I want to familiarize myself better with the art featured at local galleries, particularly the newer galleries, and I’ll blog on what I discover.

Speaking of newer galleries: Kehoe Cottage Gallery (formerly, Cottage Gallery; 323 Jordan Rd., beside Sedona Memories Sandwich Shop) is hosting a poetry reading tomorrow night — that’s Friday, August 25th. I only heard about this because someone mentioned it at the party after open mic last Tuesday. I’m not sure what time it starts. The gallery’s phone number is (928) 282-4304, according to Sedona Chamber of Commerce. I tried calling to find out what time the performance begins … no answer. So that’s all I know, folks. Since Kehoe Cottage Gallery is only about 300 feet from Sedona Green, I plan to walk down there around 6:30 or 7:00 tomorrow if possible.

9) OK, I got to get going. No pictures today. Blog more at y’all later.