Choo choo

Today, after waking late from exhaustion of yesterday's zoo with 2 year old whirlwind, was a slow start and then a trip to Seymour Heritage Railway Centre. Not what we were expecting. The yard was full of locos, 1 steam, the rest (around 17) diesel in various stages of restoration. Rail gauge is Irish 5ft 6inches. 1 engine is the same as BR shunter. This is the first main line diesel loco type.

The guide who had worked his way to Operations Director of Victoria Railways showed us through several carriages that were reserved for royalty, heads of state and senior Australian politicians. So I have seen the Queen's bedroom (1953 tour) and the seat that held Lady Di's bottom. The carriages vary in condition and are of differing ages but are wonderfully equipped.
I cannot show you a photo of Lady Di's seat as it might raise male blood pressure.
Simple lunch in Seymour. Gentle drive around a very arid landscape though trees still green. Gum trees tap roots go as depp as the tree is high so they can tap in to underground sources. We looked at one lot of 10 acres with a pond (called a dam) almost empty as the creek that serves it is bone dry where a house could be built with a fabulous North facing (=South in UK) view over to hills. So quiet, just parrots and magpies but other visitors had to include a kangaroo or two as their droppings were evident. This plot owned by another cousin who is uncertain whether to buid so the plot is an escape from suburban Melbourne for him and his family and a trip to the wild for the grandchildren.

Car to airport put back to 7.25pm tomorrow - odd that the distance is around half that from Manchester to home which has been free but the Australians want a $22 surcharge. Oh well.