Photo 1: Lakeside railway station and dock.
Photo 1: Lakeside railway station and dock. |
In Lakeside is mainly the ship dock and train station, their continued existence supported by the tourist trade. Volunteers maintain and operate the Lakeside & Haverthwaite railway, a 3.5 mile trip from the Lakeside dock up through the Leven Valley to the original station in Haverthwaite. A small 0-3-0 steam engine hauled 6 passenger cars up through the overgrown right of way through the valley along the river which feeds Lake Windemere. The scenery was very charming but there are many signs of modern growth and housing construction. |
 Photo 2: Haverthwaite railway station |
The trip ends at the Haverthwaite station where there are further shops, museums, etc. for the tourist trade. They uncoupled the engine and ran it up to the water tower where they replenished the tank. As I was preparing to take a photo of this historic sight (photo at left) I remarked to the fellow beside me, "Well, that's something you don't see every day." Without turning, he replied "Well, actually, I have one of those at the bottom of my garden." It turned out that he is a railroad aficionado and collector and has a similar un-restored engine in his back yard! |
 Photo 3: The little switching engine taking on water. |
On our return to Lakeside, we had lunch in the restaurant upstairs on the dock. For dessert I had a piece of chocolate cake which was exceptionally good. It had the old fashioned type of chocolate frosting which you make by boiling. I've always done the no-cook version because I was in a rush to get to the eating part, but maybe this old recipe is worth the trouble! We took the other large ship back to Bowness and learned that both of the ships claimed that their crew was handsome and the other ship's crew was homely! |