The Thorne Brownies being taken around the park on their visit 1st July 2008. Click here to see a full set of photographs of  the visit by the Rainbows and Brownies on June 30th and July 1st.

Sunday 6th July 2008  The rain was back in vengeance typical of this wash out of a summer so far this year. Thorne was a deserted place even the Farmers Market traders were struggling and they at least have covers for their stall. On the railway we are not so lucky as we have no covered carriages. What with everyone else sheltering in Thorne from the rain and possibly watching the tennis out attempts to run a train service was by abandoned at  11.30 am and then again at 2.30 pm after the re-opening of the engine shed at 1.00 pm .

Please note due to continuing bad weather the Farmers Market has moved indoors to the Old People's Centre in Church Street in Thorne

Sunday 13th July 2008     At last the sun shone for this the first of the railway operating days and the "Music in the Park". The railway members were kept very busy all day keeping the train service operating with a record number of passengers carried so far on a Sunday Operating Day. During the afternoon three steam locomotives operated the service until about 4.30 pm.

Above: Possibly making its last appearance at the park unless one of members purchases this locomotive which is for sale by our member Mike Brown. The locomotive has full boiler certificate for 24 months, for further information please telephone Mike after 6 pm on 01302 786555 also visit our new For Sale and Wanted Page.

Below: Normally the Sundays in July and August sees the Brass Band performing on the stage, but this year it was not possible to book these band on every Sunday, so Thorne Moorends Community Radio stepped in from 1 pm--4 pm with a selection of music to entertain the visitors, Between 2 pm--3 pm the Jane McDonald School of Dance gave a display in front of the parks Band Stand. The are booked to appear at the Summer Festival Event on the Saturday 26th and Sunday  27th July.   

Gordon Sharpe the station manager for Thorne Moorends Community Radio plays the music using the stations portable PA system set up on the bandstand. For more photographs of the event and information about the plans to start broadcasting in 2009 click here to visit the stations website. 

Tuesday 15th July 2008  The Tuesday evening working party saw the last of the boards to edge the track go into place. There is still some work to do including re-ballasting of the tracks, but for us it has been a much longer term project than we originally anticipated due to two wet summers.  The project was sponsored by Bramall Construction. Paul our treasurer would like to thank the members who turned out and worked very hard to complete the work this evening.

Monday 21st July 2008.  With less than one week to go the weather has eased back  a little, the lumpy showery clouds that have plagued us for most of the summer so far have flattened  out as pressure rises. No promises for that this will last all week as by Friday or Saturday there are signs that the shower clouds may be back. Hopefully the temperature will rise, yesterday's operating day (20th) had a chill in the wind as the last of the showers skirted Thorne. Fortunately the weather stayed dry for most of the day and the first of the Brass Band Concerts were held in the park. 

The Frickley/South Elmsall Band was the first of the brass bands to appear for the start of this years band concerts. On the left the members of the band arriving as the deck chairs start to fill up with the visitors. 

On the railway a mixture of locomotives helped maintain the service in the afternoon. Our members Jack and Alex Salter brought over their two locomotives to help provide a variety of locomotives in service.

David drives the steam locomotive Remus with his passengers with the temperature in the mid-80's f (25c). Too hot for James our member taking a break in the shade between his driving duties. Even hotter was the chip pan fire display one of the many attractions at the 2008 Summer Festival click here for more photographs.
Again thanks to the excellent weather, the number of passengers carried exceeded the previous years figures. The entertainments on both stages were the best ever including the return of the Irish Dancers.
Click here for more photographs of the event.