Sometimes a casual invitation can hide much behind what lies ahead…and this one such invitation. And all too often it is easy to say ‘no’ when a positive ‘yes’ opens up opportunities that one had not foreseen.

I have lived where I do for many years and walk around the City extensively, yet, as always, when one least expects it, something new can be stumbled upon. I was walking with a lovely friend on a hot summer day, sharing a wonderful conversation; we were on the way back from visiting a delightful lady. We walked past some model railway lines. Firstly, I did not know they were there, secondly, my friend, who did know they were there, had never seen them used - and she has lived in the City longer than I.

The invitation was from someone in a group I am part of and said she had organised an afternoon with some trains on the tracks I had recently seen. A casual ‘I would love you to come along but don’t worry if you can’t.’ But there was a lovely sincerity in the ‘ask’ so I moved a couple of things to make it work.

It was a delightful afternoon with lots of people I knew, plus many I had not met before, all having a wonderful time riding on trains.

The trains are working scale models of the much larger trains that would have been in service across the country many years ago. On this day there were 3 steam engines and one of a diesel train that would have run in the 1960’s; all were scale models.

The train you can see in the picture is steam and does have a coal fired engine. It was so interesting speaking with the driver who explained about the way it is fuelled, showed the burning fire in the engine, freshly refuelled with coal from the tender behind. The need to create the steam pressure before the train can start, and so much more. This train, like the others on the day, had a passenger ‘carriage’ that we sat on. It easily pulled the driver and 5 passengers along.

It is testament to the dedication and interest of these enthusiasts that such trains exist and their clear enthusiasm in their hobby and keenness to share with others. I was startled, when talking with the train owners/drivers, that this was not the only train they had…some admitted to having six! They are part of a group who regularly meet to discuss all things ‘train’; I am sure they have developed some wonderful friendships through their shared interest.

One of the highlights of the day was seeing our host tutored in driving the trains. She initially had a go on the diesel train which is less complex before ‘advancing’ to the larger of the steam trains.

All in all, a delightful day…because I said ‘yes’…and turned up.

Sometime people say ‘yes’…and don’t turn up, or never commit.

Do you commit and turn up – I am finding too few people will honour their word?

My best wishes,

Peter