Celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh has names the Isle of Wight Steam Railway as one of the best of its kind in the UK.
Writing for telegraph.co.uk, Titchmarsh explained his love of steam railways and how this dates back to his time as a boy in Ilklkey when the steam engines would envelop him in their “wonderful-smelling smoke”.
Many years later and Titchmarsh harbours just as much love for steam engines as ever, with the Isle of Wight being among his favourite places to see such machines.
Speaking of the best examples of steam railways, the presenter identified the Isle of Wight Steam Railway as having “some of the finest carriages in existence.” This, he added, is a rarity as many steam railways “fall down a little when it comes to their rolling stock.”
Titchmarsh’s accreditation could well signal a rush of fellow steam-train aficionados rushing out to book Isle of Wight hotels so they can experience the feeling for themselves.
Elsewhere, Titchmarsh named Hampshire’s Watercress Line as being among the most welcoming, whilst the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway carries passengers along the track made famous by the iconic 1970 adaptation of ‘The Railway Children’, i4u.com reports.
“I love train travel more than any other form of transport,” Titchmarsh said. “I still get a thrill from sitting inside a railway carriage pulled by a steam train.”