If you want to see a three-year-old boy extremely happy, and engaged, and curious, and excited, and mouth hanging open filled with wonderment… then hook him up with the Romney, Hythe, and Dymchurch Light Railway (15-inch gauge steam train).

Rebekah and I had planned the ride as one of the “must do” events for this week’s vacation with Andrew, Alicia, and Mr. T. What we didn’t know was how wonderfully successful it would be. And it started with a hiccup that almost “derailed” the day.

We – and by “we” I mean “I” – had managed to drive to the wrong location (thanks, GPS… or, “thanks, sat-nav” as the Brits call it). Consequently, even though my Audi rental performs admirably, we arrived at New Romney to see the train pulling out of the station. However, rather than being disappointed for more than around 15-seconds, we now had two hours to check out the railway museum.

They have model trains beyond anyone’s wildest imagination. And buttons to push that allowed us to operate some of the trains. I have never seen a model train layout that even begins to compare with this. Our grandson was in heaven, and the two hours went by so fast.

Then, waiting on Platform 2 in good time, he was able to see the train come in, visit the locomotive, talk with the driver, watch the steam whoosh into the air, and then ride the train all the way to the terminus in Hythe.

I had ample time to drive ahead and meet Rebekah, Andrew, Alicia, and Mr. T. when they arrived, as well as grab this video. Cool stuff and no doubt.

This is what a great vacation is all about. Getting up slowly, enjoying a relaxed breakfast, taking a walk, driving around the beautiful countryside, eventually finding the right train station, watching the grandson have the time of his life, hitting the playground, walking down to the beach before dinner, taking our sweet time over every meal, reading and talking and drinking tea long into the evening.

All this and more.

Then tomorrow we will do another version of the same thing. This time a castle, if all goes according to plan.

It’s all good.

Peace, and warmest greetings from the south coast of the United Kingdom. – DEREK