Virol

Coming to a halt at Oakworth Station with its vintage signs and one in particular is perfect for this weeks letter - Virol.  The message underneath reads "for health and vitality" and it was recommended for making children healthy but also for the sporting cyclist who were advised for the best results to take it together with milk (no doubt making them able to zoom up hills).  This elixir was a malt extract product invented by Bovril in 1899 and was sold up to the middle of  World War II, when production ceased because it became too costly to manufacture. It is possible that production restarted post war because there was still malt extract being fed to small children but it may have been a different brand. 

The train moves off as I continue to take photographs through the window.  Oakworth Railway Station was opened in 1867 but this station on a heritage railway in West Yorkshire is created to look how it would have done from 1905-1910.  For some it may look vaguely familiar, especially if you are a fan like me of the 1970 film The Railway Children for here is where Mr Perks was station master and much of the story was filmed (some other locations in the area are listed on the Keighley and Worth Valley railway site).

Subconsciously I must have been very excited I was at Oakworth because I took photographs coming through the station both going and coming back, or perhaps I was attracted by the virnal displays of flowers. Thanks to the railway volunteers one can enjoy both stations and a trip behind a steam train and happily, unlike the railway children, there is no danger of a landslide onto the track.

For lovers of steam locomotives here is the teaser for next week and the letter W 

An entry to ABC Wednesday, a journey through the alphabet, this week sojourning at V here