Yesterday I had right jolly old time sweating away on a big hot old steam engine, complete with fish & chips and live (very loud) rowdy music on one of the hottest days of the year. Ace.
I was actually working; filming onboard on the steam train to promote the Haworth Haddock experience.
The Haworth Haddock line runs between Oxenhope and Keighley in West Yorkshire, UK.
It’s been going for over 10 years, steadily growing year on year (sounds a bit familiar, like our own steem perhaps..?)
The evening I was filming was completely sold out and has been booked months ahead, with folk gagging for their fish & chips.
I asked the steward how many portions of fish and chips will be handed out. He said 165 (I think). Astonishing numbers really for a quaint local service, run almost entirely by volunteers/train enthusiasts.
Who knew such a combination of trains, booze, fish and music would be such a winning combination? (Someone clearly did)
So to start they serve up drinks before the train sets off.
At 7.15pm the train departs for a sun soaked (season depending) and scenic 20 minute journey where the next stop lets passengers stretch legs and grab a beer at the Keighley platform. After a leg stretch and a pint, on the return journey to Oxenhope they serve a decent portion of fish & chips with various booze choices available from the drinks carriage.
After finishing the meal, the journey takes us back to Keighley to enjoy a performance from a live band that happens on the station platform. They play everything from The Proclaimers to Chuck Berry.
At 11.15pm train makes the final journey back to Oxhenhope with a carriage full of (some) nicely drunk people.
The end.
It was actually a brilliant concept for a night out, and it was a pleasure to be filming it.
Well organised and aimed mostly at groups of people in works do/birthday party mode as well as couples.
The sounds and smells of the steam engine was a fun experience in itself - and the food, drink and music was the icing on the cake.
The edit will be done soon I imagine, and I’ll probably share it on here :)
Cheers for reading.