Steam Gala Event coming up in September 22nd & 23rd 2018
at The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft
The Second Steam Gala Event is getting nearer and many of the visiting heritage attractions have already been booked in not to mention a Beer Tent visit their Facebook page for more details copy and paste the details below. Go to Sandtoft Steam Rally on Facebook You can also telephone Jordan Andrew on 07841699377 for more details of entries or to book sales stalls etc. (Views taken in 2017)
Evening illuminations for the Beer Tent area at the 2017 event. Trolleybuses and scaled engines line up for photographs and finally fairground organ music plus live music attending the event last year.
For the 2018 Steam Gala Event it is planned that the electric locomotive "Mufuta" will be operating on a temporary track. Mufuta was specifically built for the miniature railway at Sandtoft and operated in regular service at the museum between 1996--2000 whilst to the right the steam locomotive "Remus" photographed in 1995 operated on the railway from 1985--2000 until the railway closed. The locomotive is standing on the one bit of track that survives concreted into the crossing for the entrance to the central arena and vehicle display area. It had been hoped the locomotive might be operational for the day but some outstanding work to the boiler might mean the locomotive will be on static display. To the right we have Jack Salters portable layout attending the 2017 event. For 2018 another portable track is being arranged.
A visit to the Stockhole Farm Miniature Railway 27th August 2018
A visit to the Stockholes Farm Miniature Railway was fitted in between events at the Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft to have a chat to a couple of my friends there who were involved with me at Sandtoft and Thorne to sort out more information about the Steam event at the museum a chance to take some photographs of the railway whilst there. .
The line up buses for the Reading Weekend to commerate the 50 years since the closure of the Reading Trolleybus system 3 November 1968
Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway Rewind back to 2009
Looking back in time to the year 2009 on the miniature railway when a variety of locomotives and events were organised for the railway.
Teddy Bears Picnic May 27th 2009
Above left the steam locomotive that is now in storage for another project and under restoration makes its way around the inner track with a one of the bears keeping a watch out ahead. Right above the coach that was to be named Margaret after the former Mayor of Thorne and Moorends who raised funds to purchase the coach that enabled visitors to ride more comfortably and with wheelchair facilities is about to leave the station. This coach has been sold on to another railway.
Steam and electric traction making a display run around the tracks in the park. In the middle the electric locomotive John L Stokes with the headboard on for the event. The locomotive has now been repainted in different colours. A cropped view of the headboard I specially made for this event when I was a member of the society. Please note that these photographs taken back in 2009 no way reflect the current operation of the railway. To see their latest photographs please visit their website Click here that also contains a link to their Facebook page that has the latest news on operating days times and other information.
A visit to the Crich Tramway 6th August 2018
Horse tram, steam tram and electric trams to be found at the Crich Tramway Village in Derbyshire enables you to see the history of the trams in Great Britain with some examples from America and other parts of the world. Today the trams are back on the streets of Britain (they never left Blackpool!) with many new trams and expanding systems. On the right we see the Glasgow tram having the trolley turned at the far terminus.
What might have been a fleet of new trams for Leeds but thanks to politics the redevelopment of the system was cancelled. To the right we have Ruston locomotive doing a spot of training duties. Well worth a visit for more details please go to their https://www.tramway.co.uk/
A mix of photographs here of Blackpool Boat Tram, the track Maintenance unit and the LCC Tram London County Council no. 1 came into service in 1932 as above Far right the tram now in the workshops having major restoration work undertaken.
Some interesting items for you to say where they came from and by all means e-mail and let me know what they are. E-mail Bob Ashton.
Still providing a good service on my local line
Built between 1980 and 1987. Intended as a short-term solution to a shortage of rolling stock (with a lifespan of no more than 20 years), as of 2018 many Pacer railbuses are still in use. Above left a view looking down from the footbridge at Stainforth station whilst the train that took me and my wife into Doncaster stands in Platform 1 at Doncaster station on the 10th August 2018.
