Another epic journey of four miles and 35 chains, and back again! Wot? A 'chain' is a measurement used on railways, and in other engineering works, it measures 66 feet, or 22 yards, or 100 links, or 4 rods. 10 chains equal a furlong, 8 furlongs a mile. Railway distances are measured in miles and chains from the starting station. Each object, bridge, station etc, is listed as so many miles and chains from the starting point. By inquiring in my book on this railway line I can tell I cycled around this distance. The doubtful bit is me getting to the line which takes a few minutes. So today I went a mere 9 miles, almost! This 'Halt' was added to the railway to encourage passengers during the twenties. Bus travel was hitting the railway money, which was never strong, and folks walking the half mile from the village would hail the train, climb the steps lowered by the guard, and go their way.
Early morn but the sun was already high and I made several attempts to capture the light rays coming through the gaps in the trees. The problem was the sun was too bright, something the camera and I are not used to dealing with. Out of the treeline the sun made everything too bright to capture easily.
The brickwork on Victorian bridges is much admired however every so often a weakness arises. Possibly this one took cracks from bad weather, rain turning to ice and over time developing cracks that threatened to collapse. Only one house lies over the bridge, a farm, so what passes can be quite heavy even though the road is only occasionally used. The repair will hold it up, no doubt for years, and also allow people to pass safely. However it is not worthy of the original architecture, but it will be cost effective and safe.
Naturally real life returned during Andy Murray becoming the first SCOTTISH Player to win at Wimbledon. The brats over the road have somehow managed to make something catch fire. Who knows what it was, I could not see for the trees, but these firemen will have a busy time in the sun, there is always someone setting dry haystacks on fire somewhere around here. Tsk!
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