Above: Stuart takes off the 2007 headboard and attaches the 2008 headboard to the electric locomotive "John L Stokes" whilst to the right Stuart has the honour of driving the first electric train on the inner track.
Below: The first official steam train of 2008 approaches and goes through the official tape on what was a beautiful sunny day, for a change lets hope for plenty more in 2008.

Two steam locomotives in action  in the late afternoon sunshine as the train services draw to a close.

Sunday 3rd February 2008 Steam and electric operation for the Farmer's Market Special on one of those days when the weather did its best to chill everyone to the bone. A strong wind with a temperature not rising much above 45 degrees Fahrenheit (7c) was not the type of day to be operating trains in an open public park. Never the less the members and passengers still braved the elements encouraged by warm mugs of tea, coffee, chocolate, soup and even OXO with a bit of English mustard added. I will not admit to who had the mustard in their OXO, well it was cold being in the park from 9.30 am until 4.30 pm! The photographs above show to the left Keith with the first train of the day and to the right David and one of junior members preparing Remus for the 1 pm steam operation. At least there was some warmth from the steam engine.

Friday 15th February 2008 The updating of this website has been delayed for a couple of weeks now due to a failure of the Windows XP programme. The computer was first purchased in 2002, a mother card and other bits and pieces changed or added since meant a major rebuild a few weeks ago but still things went wrong. So its back to restarting it all again. Unfortunately the computer has Publisher 2003 in it and does not accept Publisher 2000 work. The lap top I am using at the moment has Publisher 2000 but the last time I tried to download the website the photographs did not transfer too well to the server so this latest work will have to be saved and then transferred to another computer. It might work if not back to the drawing board.
There was me thinking I had problems, we are still experiencing problems at taking delivery of the new coach with wheel chair access. Unfortunately it appears that the telephone lines were faulty to Knightley Light Railways, so anyone else trying to get through recently may have also drawn a blank. Now we have made contact we have been told that the Land Rover used for delivery work has a tank of petrol instead of diesel in it! Add to that delivery will cost approx another £300 we are deciding to collect the coach ourselves, a coach that was promised for the 2007 Summer Festival Event last July. We are keeping fingers crossed that it will make it for the 2008 event.

The coach is now ready for collection or delivery looking resplendent since it has been upholstered and painted.
We will announce plans to have an official handing over ceremony once the coach has been collected, tested and insured for passenger service. 

Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adults. In 1969 when I first entered the voluntary sector no one would have imagined what laws we have today to make our hobbies and interests so much more interesting. First there was Health and Safety regulations in 2000 that caused such an argument at the museum I was then at. Now we have new regulations coming out that will effect anyone who has an involvement with youngsters up to the age of 18 and more recently any person over the age of 18 with learning difficulties or as is termed vulnerable adults. First we had CRS (?) and then CRB checks, now add to all of this ISA registration. Its an absolute minefield of knowing what is what, but at least the fog of confusion was cleared yesterday (14th February just what you needed to do on Valentines Day) at an excellent meeting held by the Doncaster CVS (Council for Voluntary Services). One of the speakers was a Graham Kavanagh a Policy Adviser for the ISA. He stated that most if not all volunteers will have to be registered with ISA from now on. Failure to do so will entail volunteers and societies being prosecuted if the they do not register where they are involved with children and vulnerable adults. I am sure we are now becoming aware of the recent situations on several preserved railways over their "Fat Controllers" for the Thomas the Tank Engine Events. This is only the tip of the iceberg and I would advise anyone to visit the ISA website http://www.isa-gov.org This new scheme will also effect not only volunteers but employees and employers such as nurses, bus drivers including Santa Claus and all those cuddly bears, Mickey Mouse and many more who are to be found at gala and fund raising events