Wednesday 13th June, The Folk Train

 

Folk Train from Chester to Plumley, return.

A couple of times each year ‘we’ are asked to perform on the Folk Train, an ordinary scheduled train journey – but with added entertainment…..if you could call it entertainment.

‘We’ are the world-famous (in Timperley) Nelson-Peach trio, which consists of Rick and Les Nelson and Richard Peach, plus me in a hanging-on beer-drinking ne’er do well kind of way. The combination works surprisingly well, Nelson-Peach do all the clever musically twiddly bits….whilst I drink beer and make a lot of noise. I’m quite happy with the arrangement – especially if I don’t have to drive anywhere.

Anyway, this evening we were performing on the line from Chester to Plumley, about a 40 minute train journey each way, plus a performance in the pub at Plumley.

We travelled to Chester by car, it was more convenient than using the train, the train times just didn’t work for us. Our Folk Train was due to leave Chester at 19.07 and we arrived in good time, it would have been a bit of a bugger if we had been late for our own concert.

 Nelson-Peach +1, waiting at Chester Railway Station

Once on the train we made ourselves at home, commandeering a couple of tables for our musical armoury, before blasting away with some bouncy dance tunes and loud songs. You can’t sing quietly on a train, there’s just too much ambient noise.

 Rick & Les making ‘em have it

Richard and me in action

As the train progressed towards Plumley it was boarded by ordinary passengers plus others who knew about the Folk Trains and wanted to come along for the fun. These events are free for the audience – apart from the train fare.

Arriving at Plumley at around 7.50pm it was just a 2-3 minute walk over to the Golden Pheasant (JW Lees) where we sang and played for around 1.5 hours. Oh, and we were fed and watered – nice butties and very excellent JW Lees Great Budworth Bitter. Lynsey, who knows a thing or two about good beer was hoping to join us at the pub but unfortunately (not so) baby Isabel chose the evening to be poorly, effectively kiboshing her plans. Sorry you missed the beer Lynsey – you’d have liked it. I hope Isabel’s back on form today. Anyway, every cloud has a silver lining, you didn’t have to hear me sing.

Rick & Les in pub mode

 

Richard, with me trying to look as if I know what I’m doing

Oh dear, another beer-drinking song

The full team in action

Yvonne, my favouritist singer, came to see us

We were back on the train at just after 10pm along with our mobile audience from Lymm and Northwich Folk Clubs, plus some ‘normal’ passengers. More songs and more bouncy music took us back to Chester. I’m not sure what the unsuspecting passengers thought – I think some enjoyed it, there were tapping feet, clapping hands…..and they didn’t throw anything at us. Always a good sign.

 Our train back to Chester

Rick, our designated driver for the evening, delivered me home at just before midnight. I was quite pooped, performing on Folk Trains is great fun but it’s hard work. A shower, a cuppa, then zzzzzzzzzzzz.

A successful evening.