"As I mentioned earlier, mother and I had afternoon tea in the Balmoral, it was very leisurely and not at all rushed, but the journey itself took about 2 and a half hours to travel to York, I caught the 17.31 from Waverley, Platform 1, and arrived just after 8 in the evening. Did you know that the clock on the tower of the Balmoral is kept 2minutes ahead of real time?" Ducky now asked, as he now lifted what was left of the Captain's heart and handed to Jimmy for analysis.
"No," was all Jimmy could say was, "But why?"
"Because everyone is always late for trains so if they keep the clock two minutes fast then it gives the traveller two minutes grace, very psychological."
"Wow, maybe everyone should do that."
"That Mr Palmer would defeat the purpose. But I digress, I decided to stay in the rather grand Royal York Hotel, it was adjacent to the main line and was situated in quiet gardens and it over looked York Minster, a fine example of a Gothic Cathedral, and it is the second largest in Northern Europe. The hotel was also very close, within walking distance, to the National Railway Museum."
"Did you do anything that evening?"
"No, I was feeling tired, so had dinner in the hotel and went to bed and read. The next morning refreshed, and having had a full English fry up, I made my way to the Railway Museum. It was a wonderful experience. My namesake, as you know, was designed by Sir Nigel Gresley. In 1938 it broke the world speed record for steam locomotives, a record that has never been beaten. She plied the east coast line, which I may add is a delightful journey, hugging the coastline, overlooking the North Sea. As it was summer and a glorious evening, the journey was particularly enjoyable."
"Would you recommend the train then to get from London to Edinburgh, Dr Mallard?"
"I would most definitely. It is now days so clean and fast, and of course centre of Capital to capital."
"So, then what did you do?" Jimmy asked, as he watched Ducky now extract what was again left of the Captain's liver, and offered him a dish.
"Oh, I had found this charming ale house, Ye Old Starre. It was licenced in 1644, and is York's oldest pub, it has a warren of small rooms and a small beer garden, with a half-dozen real ales on tap. It was used as a morgue by the Roundheads during the Civil War, not that I dallied long each day I may add. York is a wonderful city full of centuries of history. It was the capital of Britannia Inferior, the Emporar Severus proclaimed it thus. And it is a little known fact Thomas the Rhymer, a Laird and Prophet once said, and may I quote, York was, London is and Edinbruch 'ill be, the biggest and bonniest o' a' three."
"Fascinating," was all Jimmy could mutter, "But please continue."
"It would be, as if York was the capital of Britannia, and as you know London is, but it is sinking, it would be a wonderful thing if Edinburgh was to become so," as Ducky now stopped working and looked thoughtfully into space.
"Are you well Dr Mallard," Jimmy now asked in a concerned voice.
"Quite my boy, but most of York's Roman archaeology is hidden beneath the medieval city in particular the Roman fortress, it is under York Minster. After the Romans left, many centuries passed before the Vikings plundered the city. Jorvik they called it. Jorvik Viking Centre, is not billed as a museum but as an "experience"; and may I say it I does smell, they have replicated the old village, and in places it smells of hot boiled piss, but that could be the pigsties," as Dr Mallard now held his nose.
"Was it back to Edinburgh then, or was your mother going to meet you in York?"
"No, I returned in the late afternoon of the Friday, mother was snoring contently, but we were to have a long journey in the next couple of days. But we had or should I say mother had again booked us into the Savoy in London for the night, and we were going to take in a London Show. So since we would be flying the next morning early, I too retired," Ducky concluded.