Sun was shining but it is was a bit on the cold side. As you can see from the photos, we are all well wrapped up.
A new walk this one, introduced and led by one of our walkers.
Leaving the countryside, back into Kirby Muxloe and crossing a couple of roads walking out of Kirby Muxloe towards Ratby.
Turning onto a local bridle way which has been laid on the former railway track to Leicester.
For info: In 1828 William Stenson observed the success of the Stockton and Darlington Railway and, with John Ellis, and his son Robert, travelled to see George Stephenson where he was building the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Stephenson visited Leicester on their invitation and agreed to become involved. The first meeting to discuss the line was held at the Bell Inn in Leicester, where subscriptions amounting to £58,250 were raised. The remainder of the £90,000 was raised through Stephenson's financial contacts in Liverpool. The line obtained the Royal Assent in 1830 and the first part opened in 1832.
We came across an interesting junction as we approached the Motorway and then the A46 ring road. How were we to get across these very busy roads?
Our leader was very confident while the rest of us were a little curious.
The fields were still showing how wet it was. Walking over them was definitely not an option at the moment.
Then the moment of truth. The walkway under the motorway was flooded, impassable, the rain overnight had scuppered our walk!!!
It was impossible to get through.
Turning back, we then had to solve another problem, we had planned to have our cuppa on the other side of the flood. We were racking our brains on where the best hostelry was in this area.
More info: The Leicester and Swannington Railway (L&S) was one of England's first railways, being opened on 17 July 1832 to bring coal from collieries in west Leicestershire to Leicester.
Five locomotives were built by Robert Stephenson and Company for the line. The first was Comet, shipped from the works by sea to Hull and thence by canal, its first trip being on the opening day in 1832, when it is alleged its 13-foot high chimney was knocked down by Glenfield Tunnel. The second engine, Phoenix, was delivered in 1832; both had four-coupled wheels. Phoenix was sold in 1835 to work in the construction of the London and Birmingham Railway. The next
were Samson and Goliath, delivered in 1833. They were initially four-coupled, but were extremely unstable and a pair of trailing wheels were added. This 0-4-2 formation was also used for Hercules, the next engine to enter service. These were the first six-wheeled goods engines with inside cylinders and, after the flanges were taken off the centre pairs of wheels, were so satisfactory, that Stephenson decided never to build another four-wheeled engine.
Back to the problem - the answer was The Railway Inn in Ratby. We had not booked and there were thirty walkers so we sent our leader for the day to suss the place out.
The Railway came up trumps. We all piled into their very cosy snug to have our drinks.
Plenty of railway memorabilia for the railway enthusiast to dwell on.
The snug was aptly named so the person next to the bar volunteered to be the makeshift waiter - great job, well done.
On our way back to the cars now. We will be back, got to get to the other side of the motor way and sort out the rest of the walk.
This is the way we meant to go. The A46 ring road was where we came across the floods.
See you all next week.
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