Below is the itinerary for the trip:
The guide book included a sketched map of the train journey (pictured below) and then a fabulous description of the journey which I typed up for ease of reading:
'From Loughborough we travel along the soar Valley through Hathern (Brick and Tile Works) to Kegworth and over the Trent. Turning North West here, we follow the Derwent Valley to Derby (Locomotive, China and Rolls-Royce Works). From Derby, after twice crossing the river Derwent near Duffield (Ruined Castle) we pass through the Chevin Tunnel to Belper (Cotton Mills).
Notice the wide view of the Derwent Valley. Next comes Ambergate, a triangular junction, with a wire works and the wooded Shining Cliff. Notice here that the railway, road and canal run parallel through the valley. Several Tunnels bring us to Whatstandwell (Timber yards) and Cromford. Now we enter the deep derwent Valley at Matlock Bath (Limestone Heights of Abraham), tunnel under High Tor and on to Matlock (Tarmac Works), and to Darley Dale (Bakelite Works) with Stanton Moor to the left.
Next comes Rowsley (Peacock Inn for anglers); look out for River Wye joining the Derwent. Another tunnel takes us under Haddon Hall and soon we come to Bakewell (Tarts) Notice the limestone walls of the Peak District taking the place of hedges. Lovely views at Hassop and Great Longstone, then another tunnel, Monsal Dale, in the Wye Valley is on your left as we leave this tunnel. Still another tunnel, then a lovely deep cutting in the Wye Valley appears on our right. Next look down on the left at Miller's Dale to see the Wye as a rushing mountain stream.
More tunnels, especially Dove Holes Tunnel, in which the railway is at its highest point in our journey, then we rush downhill to Chapel en le Frith (Ferodo brake linings). At Chinley we leave the Peak scenery and the journey becomes less interesting. Look for the Diesel Oil Engine Works and Brick Works.
After another tunnel, we reach Hazlegrove, cross the old L.N.E.R. line at Cheadle Heath. Now look out for the Manchester Ship Canal. The railway hereabouts was built with great difficulty over Chat Moss, marshy ground, and had to be packed underneath with brushwood to get a firm foundation.
We may see our first big ships in the Herculaneum Dock, then our last tunnel and we arrive at Liverpool.'
The guide book also includes some facts about Liverpool; a plan of Liverpool Cathedral; a description of the Mersey Tunnel, how it was made and what to look out for; and information about The Ferry from New Brighton pier. (Am happy to scan more pages of the booklet if anyone is interested to see more - just let me know!)
The boys also had to adhere to some 'instructions' about behaviour and were advised to stay in their own 'compartment' unless they had permission to leave. One of their instructions reads:
'Keep calm - seats are reserved for you and fussiness will spoil the pleasure of others.'
All in all, this sounds like a fabulous trip with much of its enjoyment being in the travel as much as anything else - I bet they loved all those tunnels. It sounds like a world away from most of today's school trips where destinations are reached after a journey made along a characterless motorway with all the pupils plugged into their iPods to pass the time!!
More from Dad next time - National Service coming up!
© Ruth Coward 2012
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