Travel Appeal
by John
Relax. this appeal is not asking for money.
I have been wanting to see 1. the Trevithick dredger engine in the London Science Museum 2. The Dardanelles cannon at Southampton 3. The Musee des Artes Et Metiers (Paris) 4. The York train museum …. for ages. And waiting for months and months for SWMBO to agree to set aside the time to do so. Finally, today, I had a frank discussion with her.
And she has agreed! I am going alone. Considering my aims, that suits both of us.
There is a price to pay (of course), but more about that some other time.
The appeal is for recommendations of what to see. I lived in UK for almost 2 years, 1979-80. But I was working hard, and sightseeing was brief and of the traditional tourist variety… stately homes and countryside mostly. Beautiful and interesting.
But this trip will be for me only. And I daresay that my readers will get some reports too. I want to see industrial England. Probably wont get to Wales, Scotland or Ireland this trip. Going early May to early June. Will probably be mainly London, Southampton, Cornwall, Manchester, Birmingham, York areas.
So, if you know of a particular engine, museum, ship, or industrial history site, or other industrial/scientific “must see” in England or Paris, please leave a comment.
I am also considering a new camera. I dont fancy carting around my excellent and reliable, but large and heavy Nikon with lenses and flash guns, but I want something a bit more versatile than the iPhone, and something that will take videos. I have not looked at cameras for a couple of decades, and suspect that the options might have changed somewhat. Recommendations welcome, please.
Well besides anything else, i would love to meet you for a coffee John! I live in Southampton if you fancy workshop visit.
You could try Bursledon brickworks. I think there are some gems there.
LikeLike
sounds good Ben. email me at jviggers@iinet.net.au
LikeLike
hi Ben. email me jviggers@iinet.net.au I will be in Portsmouth 14 May pm and 15 May. John
LikeLike
Change of plans Ben. I will be in Southampton May 28,29,30. I would like to meet up with you, and workshop visit. John
LikeLike
Science Museum London Victoria and Albert Museum London Water and Steam Museum London
Science Museum Oxford
Check the Model Engineering Workshop Calendar at back of the magazine for any live steam events that might be near where you are staying
Ask the same question on the UK Model Engineer Workshop forum, based in UK, they will know lots of things well worth seeing. There are various places like Combe Mill that are well worth a look if you are nearby on the live days.
LikeLike
Thank you Bill. I will check all of those. Except V&A. Spent a day there a few years back. I do hope to get to the York train museum.
John
LikeLike
I think there is a train museum up in Yorkshire that is worth a look. https://www.railwaymuseum.org.uk/
LikeLike
That one is on the list, thanks. Will probably be a post about it after the visit, end May. John
LikeLike
Wow!
Looks like you are in for a dream holiday here in England.
I will check around and let you know what other things here in Yorkshire that may be of interest to you.
I myself have had the York Train Museum on my bucket list since moving here some four years ago.
I hate to think what you had to trade to SWMBO for this opportunity. Perhaps I should take some negotiating lessons from her.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Train museum York is on the list. Look forward to any other recs. Bath steam museum too.
LikeLike
John how can you not go to N.Ireland
LikeLike
Swen, I feel like I have been there recently, after your talk. But actually, just off my planned route. already crossed off Paris and Holland, for ?future visit. John
LikeLike
John it may be too far out of your way being on the East coast in Kent but I just love the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. An interesting history and still carrying passengers. http://WWW.rhdr.org.uk
Tim
LikeLike
John, I highly recommend the Olympus micro 4/3 cameras and lenses. I currently use an EM1 .Happy to bring to club meeting on Wednesday. Cheers Neil
LikeLike
Hi Neil, yes please do. I will bring the books. John
LikeLike
The big sulzer machine could interest you, (in Mulhouse), Stephane
https://www.musee-electropolis.fr/musee-electropolis/expositions-collections/collections/la-grande-machine-sulzer-bbc/la-grande-machine-sulzer-bbc-1901
LikeLike
Thankyou Stephane, this one looks very interesting. It will have to wait until a future trip because I have decided to confine this trip to UK due to time constraints. John
LikeLike
The big Sulzer-Brown Boveri machine in Mulhouse could interest you, also the train museum and Schlumpf collection (if you like cars).
https://www.musee-electropolis.fr/musee-electropolis/expositions-collections/collections/la-grande-machine-sulzer-bbc/la-grande-machine-sulzer-bbc-1901
https://www.citedutrain.com/decouvrir?lang=
https://www.citedelautomobile.com/en
The Schlieren machine in Switzerland (working on the 8th of june)
http://www.tgvzu.ch/
The steam ships fleet on lake Geneva
https://www.cgn.ch/fr/la-suisse.html?___store=fr
And les Arts et métiers in Paris, a must.
All the best, Stephane
LikeLike
I can see a trip to Europe not too far off. I wonder I could interest SWMBO in these? Thank you!
LikeLike
PS: The Kempton steam museum
https://www.steamheritage.co.uk/museums-and-attractions/entry/kempton-steam-museum1
LikeLike
This was on my list from the beginning, watch out for posts. John
LikeLike