Booking on line is not always the best plan.

We really must NOT rely on the Beeb's weather forecast. Opened the curtains to a cloudy day but with the glimpse of sun trying to poke through, we had high hopes of a good day. This mornings news weather forecast mentioned a small chance of a shower mid-morning followed by overcast conditions. So with 23deg also being forecasted, we were glad not to have to carry a coat.  By 8.30am we were on the road and with only 5 miles to do to get to the North Norfolk Line and Holt station we arrived 8.45am.

Both Steam and Diesel ran today, with the first departure at 10. 35am. It happened to be the diesel train and wanting to spend several hours in Sheringham, decide to catch the steam loco on the way back.

Holt station and the diesel train

 Having booked the tickets last night and been issued with an electronic phone ticket all was not well when we went to show that to the ticket inspector. This being a new system, a small scanner was the means to read the displayed bar code. But could the inspector get it to read that code? Not a hope! A full 5 minutes trying and with the train about to leave, told us to get on anyway and hope it worked on the return journey.

So a pleasant trip to Sheringham and as the train pulled into the station so the heavens opened! Was this the light shower mid-morning forecasted? Well no it blooming well wasn't! There were we, me with a jumper and Ian in just a T-shirt with the rain relentless coming down. Dodging the rain became a necessity and in the end, we abandoned the idea of heading to the beach making our way to the Robin Hood pub instead. At 13.50 the steam loco was due to leave which meant a mad dash through the rain to get to the station before it turned up. Me being me wanted to get photos of it arriving so I stood on the overhead bridge getting soaked to the skin just to get the pictures.

Same photo with the left as we arrived before the rain came down in torrents and the right a few minutes later.

Third photo top R and the diesel arrived at Weybourne station.

 
 By the time we got back to Holt, the sun came out. Typical. Oh, and the barcode scanner wasn't used on the return journey. The ticket inspector didn't have one!

Tonight we have stopped at a Brit Stop place in West Runton. A lovely small pub so another drink to put money over the counter is in order.

No wildlife today although three muntjacs and a pheasant was seen from the train. No chance of getting a photo though.