Bridgnorth with the Beardsmores

Saturday 22nd September saw me joining forces with Stephen and John to attempt the Bridgnorth Train Trail, a sequence of locomotive sculptures dotted around the two halves of town. The weather may not be the kindest but the rain won't be stopping play completely...

- Whistle Stop -

The 10:45 number 9 bus is our means of getting from Wolverhampton to Bridgnorth, drizzle already being detectable as we trundle through Worfield. John regales us with fishing tales as we look forward to some trainspotting with a difference; twelve statues have been created to pay tribute to Richard Trevithick's 'Catch-Me-Who-Can' locomotive which was built in the town in 1808. Our first specimen is therefore Whistle Stop on Whitburn Street, depicting local landmarks within zentangle patterns.

- Just the Ticket -

The High Street is very busy as we try to dodge market shoppers before spotting Happy Holidays Express outside Bridgnorth Library. Each of the trains has been fabricated from cast aluminium for long-term durability as it is intended that the trail will be in place for a full five years. Next we descend the hill to the Severn Valley Railway station to spy Just the Ticket among the booking office flowerbeds; this design directly references Trevithick's pioneering steam engine with appropriate date included.

- Town Crier in the George -

Keen to keep out of the worst of the weather, we eye up our first pub of the day. The Railwayman's Arms on the platform is already packed so we pop into the George instead, handily positioned at the bottom of the station driveway. Shropshire ales are to the fore here, Mr B Senior opting for Three Tuns XXX whereas I partake of Hobson's Town Crier. Stephen samples his customary lemonade and blackcurrant while valiantly trying to teach John how to use his mobile phone camera - easier said than done!

- Lavington's Hole -

The rain is refusing to relent but we press on regardless, Underhill Street leading us to Lavington Gardens which are named after a Civil War officer who plotted to blow up Bridgnorth Castle. The gardens serve as the setting for Tracks in Time, an industrially-inspired creation showcasing the aluminium rolling process. Just over the road on the Quayside is Train of Thought, quietly contemplating the historic river bridge along with other prominent features such as the cliff railway.

- Bathams in the Black Horse -

Crossing the Severn into Low Town, we pause for our second pub interlude. The Black Horse certainly meets with our approval, supping excellent pints of Bathams Best Bitter in the comfortable surroundings of the lounge. Unfortunately we've missed out on the Tom Jones impersonator so John offers (or is that threatens?) to sing us some Frankie Laine numbers by way of compensatory entertainment; thankfully we manage to persuade him that his vocal talents are not required and the regulars are thus spared a unique rendition of 'Jezebel'.

- Choo Choo Choose Bridgnorth Rugby Club -

From the Black Horse we troop to Fox Corner, noting the presence of Filtermist Steams Ahead as sponsored by a local manufacturer of air pollutant extraction units. The Bandon Arms becomes our venue for lunch as we tuck into gammons and smothered chicken washed down with Banks's Amber (good old Banks's Bitter under its modern marketing moniker). It's then a short but soggy walk to the Severn Park home of Bridgnorth Rugby Club where their Choo Choo Choose train tempter carries a confirmed nod towards Twickenham. 

- The Great Bear -

We complete our sculptural sweep courtesy of Flame Grit and Noise (a fiery find at the site of Hazeldine's Foundry), Central Station: Great Bridgnorth High Street (outside the Card Stores), and The Great Bear (a Lego-like example with a beauty spot lookout perch on Friar's Street). A closing Holden's pint in the Golden Lion allows us to keep up to date with the football scores, Stephen squeezing in under the television as Wolves secure a memorable 1-1 draw away at Manchester United. The 16:53 bus takes us home and wouldn't you know it, the rain has stopped - typical!