Stop six · Joshville and the far side
The Countryside
Round the far corner, the town gives way to countryside. First comes Joshville, the station Grandad named after his grandson, with its car park, the Swan and a timber yard beside the brick water tower.
Along the far side, the main line crosses the river on girder bridges beside a tunnel, above farms with pigs, sheep and milk churns, and a wedding party gathers at the village church.
Gold markers point out small details. Select one to read about it.
JoshvilleThis is Joshville, which Grandad named after his grandson Josh. He lettered the nameboard himself; the red car and lamp post hide the rest.1 of 4 details
A welcome homeAt the station door a woman in yellow throws her arms around a man with a red suitcase, as though he has just stepped off the train.2 of 4 details
Soldiers on the platformFive soldiers in khaki wait together on the platform beyond the car park wall, perhaps off home on leave.3 of 4 details
Ready for the offA family sorts out its luggage in the car park, the boy in the red shirt waiting with his hands on his hips.4 of 4 details
JoshvilleOnly the letters …VILLE peep out past the lamp post, but this is Joshville: Grandad named the station after his grandson Josh and lettered its board by hand.1 of 4 details
Hello or goodbyeIn the station doorway a couple hold each other close, his brown suitcase in hand. Whether it is a hello or a goodbye, we can only guess.2 of 4 details
Soldiers waiting for a trainA handful of soldiers in khaki, some in black berets, wait along the platform, perhaps on their way back to camp.3 of 4 details
A garden with everythingBeyond the line the big house has a garden with everything: greenhouse, bean poles, a swing, and a couple on the bench beside a little girl in red.4 of 4 details
Joshville
Grandad named this station after his grandson Josh, and lettered its nameboard himself, in the same capitals as his drawer labels.
The board sits by the car park wall, half hidden behind a lamp post and a red sports car.
Look closer
This is Joshville, which Grandad named after his grandson Josh. He lettered the nameboard himself; the red car and lamp post hide the rest.
Merry at the SwanTwo men come out of the saloon bar arm in arm, one waving his hat in the air, as though the Swan has served them well.1 of 3 details
A fresh coat of paintUp his ladder, a decorator in paint-spattered overalls is giving the Swan’s wall a fresh coat.2 of 3 details
Real twigs for logsGrandad sawed real twigs into logs for the timber yard, bark and all, so the loader has the genuine article to shift.3 of 3 details
The Swan
Next door to Joshville’s car park, the Swan is an Ind Coope pub beside the timber yard, where a lorry of logs waits at the kerb.
Look closer
Two men come out of the saloon bar arm in arm, one waving his hat in the air, as though the Swan has served them well.
In fine spiritsOutside the Swan a man in a long yellow coat waves his hat in the air beside his pal, while the decorator carries on painting up his ladder.1 of 2 details
Briefcase in handA man in a long brown coat, briefcase in hand, pauses at the kerb beside a woman in a long skirt, perhaps on his way to catch a train.2 of 2 details
Washing dayIt’s washing day in the corner of the yard: white sheets hang on the line, with a pair of long-necked white birds keeping watch close by.1 of 3 details
A breather by the bricksA workman in dungarees and a flat cap takes a breather beside his heap of red bricks, his pick propped against the pile.2 of 3 details
Timber for the yardTwo great logs, chained down tight, have arrived on the green lorry at the kerb, bound for the timber yard along the road.3 of 3 details
Chickens in the pig penTwo chickens peck about the red earth of the pig pen, quite at home among the pigs, while a man in a yellow hat crouches by the trough.1 of 3 details
A transatlantic speed limitAt the end of this very British stone bridge stands an American-style SPEED LIMIT 55 sign, a transatlantic touch to smile at.2 of 3 details
Washing on the lineBeyond the water tower the washing is out on the line in a cottage garden, a good drying day by the look of it.3 of 3 details
A lamb under his armThe farmer crosses the yard with a white lamb tucked under one arm and his stick in the other, perhaps taking a stray back to its mother.1 of 3 details
Waiting for the milk lorryA crowd of grey milk churns waits by the wall for collection, as they once did at farm gates all over the country.2 of 3 details
Looking over the gateA pale horse leans over the gate to see what the tractor is up to, while a white horse and a palomino graze behind the wall.3 of 3 details
Pigs between the linesA field of red earth between the railway lines, fenced off for his pigs, with two corrugated arks for shelter and a chicken holding its own among them.1 of 2 details
Taking a breatherA man with ginger hair has settled back against a sawn log by the fence, taking a breather while the trains go by.2 of 2 details
Weathered by handGrandad weathered the girder bridge by hand, running rust and grime down every panel until it looks as though it has stood through years of rain.1 of 2 details
Cows by the streamFour Friesian cows wander along the bank under the girder bridge, while one has taken herself off into the shade beneath the green bridge.2 of 2 details
Rust down every panelStreaks of rust run down every panel of the girder bridge, weathered by his own hand so it looks as if it has stood in the rain for years.1 of 3 details
A quiet spot for fishingDown among the rocks below the bridge, an angler in a yellow hat has found a quiet spot and cast his long rod over the stream.2 of 3 details
Cool in the shadeCows have wandered down to the stream to stand in the cool shade under the girder bridge, well away from the trains overhead.3 of 3 details
The bridge with the river underneath
The main line crosses the river on a weathered plate-girder bridge and two green lattice bridges, beside a tunnel guarded by a semaphore signal. Cows stand in the shade by the water.
Look closer
Down among the rocks below the bridge, an angler in a yellow hat has found a quiet spot and cast his long rod over the stream.
Clear road aheadThe signal arm is up and the lamp shows green, so the blue diesel can ease out of the tunnel and on over the girder bridge.1 of 1 detail
The stone trainStone from the quarry rolls over the lattice bridge behind a Yeoman diesel, its ‘y’ emblem matching the YEOMAN lettering on every wagon.1 of 1 detail
The stream he builtThe stream bed is his own work: gravel, pebbles and larger stones laid under the girder bridge, running away into the shadows beneath the far bridge.1 of 2 details
A quiet spot to fishAn angler in a yellow hat has found a quiet spot on the rocks, rod held out over the stream, while the cows amble along the bank.2 of 2 details
Weathered by handEvery panel of the girder bridge is streaked with rust, weathered by hand so it looks as if it has stood in the rain for years.1 of 2 details
Line clearThe signal by the tunnel mouth has its arm raised, so the next train can run across the bridge and straight on into the dark.2 of 2 details
Just marriedThe bride in her long veil and the groom in black have just stepped out of the porch into a happy crowd of guests and children.1 of 4 details
Joy and sorrowJust a few yards from the wedding, two wreaths rest by a grave beneath a dark cross: Grandad placed life’s happiest and saddest days side by side.2 of 4 details
Along the laneA pony and trap clip-clops along the lane with three passengers aboard, passing the open-top cars parked by the churchyard.3 of 4 details
Autumn in the cuttingBelow the churchyard he built a rocky cutting, painting the rocks in greys, greens and browns and planting the slopes with autumn reds and golds.4 of 4 details
The village church
A wedding party gathers at the church porch while a horse and cart passes along the lane. A few yards away, two wreaths lie on a grave.
Look closer
The bride in her long veil and the groom in black have just stepped out of the porch into a happy crowd of guests and children.
Shepherd and his dogA shepherd for the sheep above the tunnel: a man in a yellow coat with his crook, his dog at his side.1 of 2 details
One sheep looks backWhile the rest of the flock gets on with grazing, one sheep has looked up and is staring straight back at you.2 of 2 details
Washing on the lineWashing hung out to dry behind the cottage, in blue, white, yellow and red: a homely touch he added above the sheep paddock.1 of 2 details
Out for a rideA brown pony draws a yellow trap along the country lane, its passengers out for a gentle ride past the parked cars.2 of 2 details