switzerland 1977

(Both 17.2.1977)

This is Chur in Switzerland, on a cold evening in February 1977. Yes, that is a train running down the road, and this is a sight you can still see today, although the track has been doubled in the town itself.

I'd been Interrailing and this was one of those iconic locations I'd planned to visit. The branch line up to Arosa is very spectacular and soon after leaving Chur runs into deep snow. But this was my favourite stretch of the line, the incongruity of long trains running down the road still a novelty.

This was very different from home back in Littlehampton, I was just twenty and couldn't speak a word of German, so it all seemed very foreign. It's very familiar to me now of course, having visited (and lived) in Switzerland many times since!

our best winter holiday

The view from our hotel room window.

40 miles to the south we were in Italy having a genuine pizza.

(Both 4.12.2008)

Back in 2008 we were very lucky in nabbing a long break in St Moritz. I'd been there before of course but never thought I'd be able to stay there. We stayed at the Waldhouse at the head of the lake. It was an amazing place. Thanks to the prices St Moritz is 100% chav-free.

We had a rover ticket for the railways, first class of course, and one day went down to Tirano on the amazing Berninabahn. We popped ina  genuine Italian pizzeria near the station and walked about the rather quiet town, so different from the Swiss towns just a few miles up the road.

Going down we went in a panoramic coach which was great. We were filmed most of the way by a helicopter. The train coming back was very different, with a single coach and a few freight wagons. It was getting dark and the tiny first class section in the coach had a real cosy feel. We got talking to an American and his Croatian wife who were also staying in St Moritz, and the time passed really quickly.

A fantastic holiday which I expect will appear here many times in the future!

Help!

(Barnham 27.8.1986 copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

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Back in 1986 this was the Brighton to Plymouth train at Barnham station - signalbox, blue and grey coaches and class 33 and 73 locos date this nicely. It looks like the class 33 was having problems and a class 73 was being attached to haul it the rest of the way to Plymouth. The class 33s were nearing the end of their working lives here, being well over 25 years old. Looks like fun anyway!

truro 1972

This is one of the famous Western class engines running into Truro on 28 August 1972, almost 40 years ago! This seems like just a few years ago to me to be honest! I used to buy the Western Region Rover tickets which allowed me to travel all over the west country. I think I was staying in Shaldon this time, keeping well out of my parents' way! I was just 16 but I'd been allowed to do pretty much what I wanted from the age of 12!

mission statement

A new blog that will dip and dive into the past covering everything from popular culture, toys, events, railways, my own history and hopefully yours!