3 jULY , was our first visit of the year to one of our favorite railways, the Steeple Grange.
Since our last visit the line has now been extended across the industrial estate road .
We also took a walk up the rest of the trackbed , which will require a large amount of filling in to create a embankment to avoid what would be a final climb of about 1 in 17.
Working loco's on the day were .
14 the former " Lady Marjorie " 1975 Clayton 4w BE
zm32 "Horwich " 1957 Ruston Hornsby 4w DM.
Since our last visit the line has now been extended across the industrial estate road .
We also took a walk up the rest of the trackbed , which will require a large amount of filling in to create a embankment to avoid what would be a final climb of about 1 in 17.
Working loco's on the day were .
14 the former " Lady Marjorie " 1975 Clayton 4w BE
zm32 "Horwich " 1957 Ruston Hornsby 4w DM.
9 july, we spent an enjoyable day down at Butterley for the annual exibition.
Andrew finaly managed to buy a loco with his birthday money and we came away with a Mamod !
No 16 "Billy" and this one realy does run , honest !
She was put straight to work and hauled the 3 coaches around the top circuit without a problem.
Modifications include a meths burner, water top up valve, regulator, inline lubricator, side tank overlays, cylinder covers, wooden buffer beams and a Mike Chaney chimney.
She runs lovely, but i still managed to set her on fire during her 2nd run, dont you just love meths engines !
Andrew finaly managed to buy a loco with his birthday money and we came away with a Mamod !
No 16 "Billy" and this one realy does run , honest !
She was put straight to work and hauled the 3 coaches around the top circuit without a problem.
Modifications include a meths burner, water top up valve, regulator, inline lubricator, side tank overlays, cylinder covers, wooden buffer beams and a Mike Chaney chimney.
She runs lovely, but i still managed to set her on fire during her 2nd run, dont you just love meths engines !
On the 10th, was our 1st visit to the Amberley chalk pits railway gala.
We set off early to catch the 07.53 train from Northampton , changing at Watford junction and Clapham junction , arriving at Amberley at 11.20.
A very extensive collection of narrow gauge loco's and stock were on display, with many loco's running demonstration trains alongside the passenger service's.
7 steam and many diesel and battery loco's were seen , with the passenger trains being pulled by Bagnall 040st 2067 " Peter " , Baguley Drewary 3751 and Hunslet 8969 .
An excellent display of narrow gauge layouts were also on show , ranging from 009 to live steam 16mm, plus a passenger carrying miniature railway.
Definitely a event well worth visiting , whenever you can.
We caught the 18.13 train back to Clapham junction, changing trains to Watford junction and then got stuck as our Northampton service had been cancelled with no train crew.
We finally got back to Northampton and after a steady drive home, arrived around 01.00, after being out for over 19 hours, tired but happy. 12th was a afternoon visit to Bob Newton's and we picked up "Willi " in her brand new box and gave her a run on the pipe wagons. Billy was tried, but I must admit, I gave up a bit too early , not allowing her time to settle in. 13th was the 16mm Butterley night and " Billy " had a good run taking a pipe wagon and brake van around the top circuit.
On the 24th , we managed a double visit, the first being the museum of Lincolnshire life , in Lincoln. The museum contains 4 Ruston loco's , 3 of which are narrow gauge , plus a variety of other exhibit's and displays. Our second visit of the day was to the Sherwood forest railway, which is a steam hauled 15" gauge miniture railway, and at £1 a ride is excellent value for money . The tuesday 16mm meeting on the 26th was at Ian Shields Ashfields light rly , and we attended with " Willie " , " Billy " and " Lady Margaret ".
We set off early to catch the 07.53 train from Northampton , changing at Watford junction and Clapham junction , arriving at Amberley at 11.20.
A very extensive collection of narrow gauge loco's and stock were on display, with many loco's running demonstration trains alongside the passenger service's.
7 steam and many diesel and battery loco's were seen , with the passenger trains being pulled by Bagnall 040st 2067 " Peter " , Baguley Drewary 3751 and Hunslet 8969 .
An excellent display of narrow gauge layouts were also on show , ranging from 009 to live steam 16mm, plus a passenger carrying miniature railway.
Definitely a event well worth visiting , whenever you can.
We caught the 18.13 train back to Clapham junction, changing trains to Watford junction and then got stuck as our Northampton service had been cancelled with no train crew.
We finally got back to Northampton and after a steady drive home, arrived around 01.00, after being out for over 19 hours, tired but happy. 12th was a afternoon visit to Bob Newton's and we picked up "Willi " in her brand new box and gave her a run on the pipe wagons. Billy was tried, but I must admit, I gave up a bit too early , not allowing her time to settle in. 13th was the 16mm Butterley night and " Billy " had a good run taking a pipe wagon and brake van around the top circuit.
On the 24th , we managed a double visit, the first being the museum of Lincolnshire life , in Lincoln. The museum contains 4 Ruston loco's , 3 of which are narrow gauge , plus a variety of other exhibit's and displays. Our second visit of the day was to the Sherwood forest railway, which is a steam hauled 15" gauge miniture railway, and at £1 a ride is excellent value for money . The tuesday 16mm meeting on the 26th was at Ian Shields Ashfields light rly , and we attended with " Willie " , " Billy " and " Lady Margaret ".
Wednesday 27th, was a non railway day, and I was up early for a drive to Wolverhampton to catch the coach to Glasgow to watch Wolves beat Celtic 2-0 , the first time we have played Celtic since 1959. To end the month on the 31st, we paid our first visit to the Irchester narrow gauge museum, near Wellingborough , the museum contains a large number of narrow gauge item's including 4 steam loco's and 5 diesels. Well worth a visit and open every sunday, at the time of our visit. the steam loco,s were all out of ticket , but the former Beeston sleeper works Ruston was run up and down the yard.