A boy watches clouds of steam beneath the undercarriage at England's North Yorkshire Moors Railway train at Pickering Station.
The train conductor kindly agreed to pose for a photograph.
On the return journey, this adorable little boy played "peek-a-boo" with me.
A train arrives at Pickering Station, the hub of the railway. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway first opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway. It was designed by George Stephenson to open trade routes inland from the coastal town of Whitby. Initially, the railway was intended for horse-drawn carriages. In 1845, the railway was acquired by the York and North Midland Railway and the line was re-engineered for steam locomotives. Permanent train stations and other structures along the line were built, which remain operational today.
Hogwart Express scenes from a Harry Potter movie were filmed at Goathland Station. The hills surrounding the station are covered with thick clumps of heather.
A station sign at Pickering, next to the Porter's office.
James David, the author of the children's book Magic beneath the Moors signs books and gives autographs to his young fans. His book is the latest in a series of mysteries that take place on the Yorkshire Moors.
Baskets of flowers hang from iron lanterns at Pickering Station.
Large carts store weather-beaten vintage luggage.
A trio of freshly-painted enamel fire buckets, reminiscent of the 1920s, hang from hooks at the train station.
Vintage enamel advertising signs adorn a station fence at Pickering.
A vintage sign advertising the famous Yorkshire Relish.
Old oak barrels are lined up on a wooden cart at Pickering Station.
The Grosmont train station.
Puffs of smoke escape from a train arriving at Grosmont.
The steam train pulls into the station.
An old train car has been converted into a local railway office, midway along the 18-mile route.
Oh how beautiful. Pickering is a breath-taking place and you've managed to capture that. Well done, Tara and thanks for sharing once again.
Posted by: Kelly Roccoisian | 26 March 2008 at 20:14
You've captured the essence of Yorkshire! Amazing photos!
Hugs Sherrie
Posted by: Giggles | 01 March 2008 at 02:39
loved these pics.............love the lush hills and flowers as well as the train station and trains......the little boy was adorable...big smiles.
I'll show my kids the photos and let them know that some of HP was filmed there.
thanks for sharing.............it fires up my travel bug!
Posted by: awareness | 29 February 2008 at 10:27
That little boy playing peek a boo is just the cutest! The last train I was on was the Orient Express! It was fun, except for the part where we had to get dressed for dinner in our tiny car, riding backwards. I was too sick to eat after that.
:-o
Posted by: melissa @ the inspired room | 29 February 2008 at 07:01
That was so much fun!!! I loved going on a train ride!! I really want to take Faith on an actual "train" train ride sometime. She would LOVE it. Thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: holli | 27 February 2008 at 19:26
this looks like fun!
Posted by: designdna | 27 February 2008 at 15:40
Looks like fun!
Just found your blog. We seem to have plenty in common.
Posted by: MamaShift | 27 February 2008 at 10:20
This brings me right back to my childhood.
I just about remember steam trains - London to Cornwall.
what super, evocative photos.
Posted by: Elizabeth | 27 February 2008 at 03:33
This is wonderful! I always remember train rides when I was little with my nana and grandad - always loads of fun!
Posted by: Amy | 27 February 2008 at 03:22
And the conductor is there, but where is Sir Topham Hatt?
Posted by: pepektheassassin | 27 February 2008 at 02:54
If they had faces they would look just like Thomas, and Percy, and James!
Posted by: pepektheassassin | 27 February 2008 at 02:52
HI! I am trying to catch up on blogging again! This is so cool. A trip through magical Yorkshire! WoW!
Posted by: Pam Aries | 27 February 2008 at 02:08
This would have been so awesome to do with my son when he was little. There is a certain charm to trains and especially those run by steam engines, that's just magical.
Posted by: Enzie Shahmiri | 27 February 2008 at 01:50
Wonderful pictures Tara. I would like to ride on that train. I wouldn't be askeered of that one! It looks so peaceful and pleasant in the countryside there. So much better than the city life here.
Posted by: artzyjudie | 27 February 2008 at 01:19
Thank you for taking us on a picture perfect train ride! This was such a lovely view to come back online at last, to see. Your little peekaboo partner is adorable - what fun! ~xOx
Posted by: tinker | 26 February 2008 at 23:30
Hate typos. That would be Magical. LOL
Posted by: annieelf | 26 February 2008 at 22:38
Oh Tara, you bring us to the most magincal places.
Posted by: annieelf | 26 February 2008 at 22:37
I do love trains and this one and everyone of the photos just takes me back to another time. That photo of the luggage...looks like a movie set.
Beautiful post!
Posted by: stephanie | 26 February 2008 at 21:36
Ah! Marvelous! Do you embark from Platform 9 3/4?
Posted by: dianamuse | 26 February 2008 at 20:11
Step by step, like a storybook! Wonderful! xoxo
Posted by: Colette | 26 February 2008 at 19:35
All great but especially the little boy that played peekaboo and the old luggage!! Thanks for the ride.
xo
Constance
Posted by: rochambeau | 26 February 2008 at 18:51
Tara, I love travelling with you!!! My paternal grandparents were from Yorkshire and I've never been -- in some ways I feel like I've been "home" looking at these photographs and it makes me feel a trip must be on my "list of things to do".
Posted by: Sherry | 26 February 2008 at 17:21
what a beautiful place! it really does look as if it was frozen in time. the trains and the scenes you captured are simply lovely, tara!
Posted by: kelly snelling | 26 February 2008 at 17:20
A photo journalist as well, huh?
Great shots in all of your recent posts. This could almost illustrate a childrens story. My son adored trains for years and at 28 probably still would love your shots.
Moving?
Posted by: karen cole | 26 February 2008 at 16:43
Gorgeous but I bet they are the only trains in England that are ever on time.
You have been given a - You Make My Day Award - at my blog today - Well deserved my dear
Posted by: Di Overton | 26 February 2008 at 16:38
these are gorgeous photos .... i love when you post a series of photos, i feel like i've stepped into the pictures (rather like those chalk paintings in Mary Poppins!). xx, JP/deb
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 26 February 2008 at 16:34
The peek-a-boo boy is a doll! I can almost hear him giggling.
Loved these train shots...the conductor has a conductor's face, doesn't he?
What colourful and cheerful photographs. Maybe I'll get to London this year!!
xo
Gillian
(yes, meet me there! We have a Whitby and a Pickering near us.)
Posted by: Gillian | 26 February 2008 at 16:29
Wonderful, wonderfully evocative photos, Tara. My dad's family are from Middlesborough and one of my cousins lives in N. Yorkshire Moors Park, but I've never been to these train stations. Now I'm really, really wanting to go for a visit.
Posted by: materfamilias | 26 February 2008 at 16:25
how fabulous & fun was this day?? Oh I wish I was on that train with you !!! I love train rides, especially on beautiful old trains!!!
Posted by: PennyMichelle | 26 February 2008 at 16:22
thank you for the time travel!
Posted by: bibbi | 26 February 2008 at 15:23
The train and station seems to be to a nice human scale.
I once heard a sociologist say "we used to travel leisurely by train, eating on board and our luggage being handle by attendants. We stayed in comfortable rairoad hotels. Now we drive ourselves down crowded highways and sleep in trailer and tent slums by the raod."
Posted by: Philip Robinson | 26 February 2008 at 15:16