I have always been an old rail fan as well, Trackend, as have a lot of the guys that I volunteer with at the museum.
That Abbey and the church were from the Norfolk Broads tour. We got a special deal for it through the AF recreation center. I was one of those rare sunny days there, which was a bonus!
Yes, occasionally, I got to get up in the cockpit for long flights in the C-130, if the crew was cool. That's where I snapped the shot of the C-130 and the Swordfish. It was one of the rare times I was allowed to bring a camera for part of our op. It was a big mobilization, 3 C-130s. One of our "third herd" outings. That's the 3rd mobility group, of which I was temporarily assigned, but enough times it became my second home.