July Photography Walk Northampton and Lamport Station

It was another rainy day

the clouds were ominous

the vegetation

lush, green and rain spangled.

Not the most photogenic sky

but a great day to road test wellington boots

and watch the rain making ripples in muddy puddles.

We had a wonderful time exploring the countryside

looking at the Evening Primrose and Thistles

growing wild on the railway embankment.

We found another signal box

and plenty of interesting rolling stock.

In spite of the rain there was still

 much colour to be seen.

We didn't forget to.....

before we reached the bridge on our return journey.

Slug by special request from the children!

The full set of the photographs from the walk can be viewed on the Flickr Set here where you can enjoy many of the textures and colours found on the engines and rolling stock in and around the station of the Northampton & Lamport Railway

Fabrication at Brampton Halt

I had hoped to make some up-cycled china delights on the station platform at Brampton Halt during the Jubilee Weekend 

but the rain put paid to that idea, instead I decided that simple fabric corsages would be easy for all ages and skills, quick and would use some of the many scraps of vintage fabric I have been gifted from  friends and friends mums!

I reasoned that if my kit was small and portable I could easily set up shop inside the train and catch participants as they waited for the journey to begin.

This approach worked well 

and soon children, parents and grandparents 

were working together

in spite of some initial shyness.

It was lovely to see people sharing and enjoying a such simple but pleasurable activity 

whilst the lush, damp Northamptonshire countryside rattled by.

I also spent some time in the Buffet car and met people who had travelled from Scotland to spend some time at the station. You can see some of the creators, creations and sterling NLR volunteers showing off their up-cycled finery!

I couldn't resist adding this picture of one of the NLR team tucking into a feast known as The Engineers Special - it seemed to have every element of a tradition English breakfast barring the egg!

A Tales on the Rails

Our first On the Right Track Story Telling event took place early in December at Northampton and Lamport Railway Station with a party of children from Priory Lower School in Bedford. Carole has worked with the school for seven years and was keen to bring the children out to explore the Northamptonshire countryside. Some of the children were wearing their very first pair of wellies and were soon to discover the delight of puddle jumping.

The first task of the day was to take a brisk walk, there had been rain earlier but barring the odd grey cloud the day way fine and the countryside still looked autumnal rather than wintery

A party of NLRS volunteers were working on the line

Someone found a ladybird hotel and the children decided to take it back to their Bug House at school

Here are some of the things the children asked Carole to photograph

After the walk we headed back to our toasty warm railway carriage

Where Allan began a tale that had everyone in the 

carriage joining in with sound effects and laughter.

Philippa checking her notebook

and playing with sock caterpillars 

Allan Davies

Gordon Titmuss - our Station Master for the day

and a man of many keys!

Just before lunch Carole produced socks and stuffing, pipe cleaners and fluffy pompoms

and everyone made their own caterpillar.

After a bit of a tidying up everyone put on their hats, scarves, gloves and coats the brave the chilly station platform. Before leaving, Philippa told us a fantastic story and many of the children were roped in to help.

You can see a clip of the story here

Thank you to everyone who helped to make it such a special day!

You can find out more about A Word in Edgeways here