A Good Friday in Sherwood Forest

Miniature Railways - Colin Peake's Photographs

21st March 2008

Good Friday dawned bright and clear in Nottinghamshire, but very cold and windy!

We made the short journey to the Sherwood Forest Farm Park to ride the Sherwood Forest Railway on the first day of the 2008 season. This year sees several changes in the operation of the railway following the completion of the loop at Weldale station at the far end of the line and the acquisition of the rolling stock from the former Brocklands railway (aka 'Pixie Land'). For the first time three coach trains were operated in turn by Smokey Joe and Pet and all trains ran loco-first thanks to the new loop.

Work on the newly acquired ex-Longleat/Brocklands Minirail built coaches is ongoing, but for the first time in perhaps 30 years three of these distinctive coaches were in operation together. I believe that there may be another coach to this design out there somewhere, possibly sold at the auction of the Axe & Lyme railway scheme in the 1970s. A picture exists of a similar coach with higher armrests, taken at Longleat in the 1960s. This doesn't appear to be any of the three vehicles on the SFR. If anyone knows of the whereabouts of this coach, or it's fate, could they please get in touch via the 'Contact Me' option on the frontpage of this site.

All in all another great day out, thanks to the Colley family for their hospitality once again.

11.00 at the shed as locos are prepared for the first day of the season. 640x480	Pet and Smokey Joe raising steam and getting a good polish. 640x480	The two ex-Brocklands coaches have had a lick of paint and general tidy up. 640x480
Pioneer, ex-Brocklands, stands in the station. 640x480	Under the bonnet Pioneer is an 'interesting' loco... 640x480	Pioneer prepares to take the goods stock down the line. 640x480
Smokey Joe arrives at Weldale with the first train of the season. 640x480	Pet arrives at Loxley with a full train. 640x480	Pet waits at Loxley for her next duty. 640x480
Smokey Joe climbs the bank into Loxley station. 640x480	I couldn't decide between the shots so here's the second one! 640x480	Smokey Joe and Pet at Loxley station. 640x480
From the other side of the valley we spy Smokey Joe. 640x480	Pet runs around the last working of the day at Weldale. 640x480	The last train posed at Weldale, I was the only passenger! 640x480