We are spending today preserving yesterday, so you can enjoy it tomorrow.
This weekend sees the return of the Polish tank engine.
Whilst not a loco to win any beauty contests it is a favourite with both visitors and crews alike.
It’s due to run on both Saturday and Sunday.
Looking forward to tracking it on the rail cams when I get the chance.
Today is the first day of the 2026 running season.
As well as the main service we have Thomas running as well.
Hopefully a good year ahead.
Well here we are approaching mid January, a traditionally quiet running month for the railway. Though as per usual there’s a lot going on through the month behind the scenes.
A diesel gala lies ahead of us in March with a class 66 amongst the running locomotives. This is something to look forward to. Diesel enthusiasts are generally keen an knowledgeable group.
The other day I received an email, now that fact in itself is not unusual, but this one was from a past regular visitor to Orton Mere on gala days. It’s always nice to receive communication from old visitors, many of their comments remind me of how long it’s been since I ran Orton Mere. Time progresses at a steady pace and I was in my 50’s when I joined the railway and last November I marked my 70th birthday.
He commented on how time has flown by and referred to some past events, I must dig out some of my pictures of the past at the railway, and put a few on here., we shall have to see.
Somebody once said that you don’t have a future if you don’t remember the past. So with that in mind let’s look forward to services in 2026, looking forward to not only special event days but also normal running days. Have a great time when you next visit the railway and tink positive about the coming year.
Well here we are with a shiny new year stretched out in front of us, ready for volunteers, services and visitors.
It’s anybody guess as to what 2026 will be like and the challenges we will face and the rewards we will have.
So onwards and upwards withe the first public services being the winter warmers.
If you’re a volunteer have fun and enjoy your time at the railway..
Well it’s that time of year again. One day left of the Santa Specials on Christmas Eve.
I would like to wish all readers of the blog a Merry Christmas and a happy new year for 2026.
Robert “Arkwright”
Well today sees the start of the Santa services. An extremely important and busy time for the railway.
I always liked the Santa services, passengers seemed in a better mood and plenty of volunteers to run things as well.
I always tried to open Orton Mere on Santa days if the weather was nice. Although the Santa trains did not stop we would often be quite busy with passing trade. The normal mix of cyclists, runners and dog walkers plus those down especially to see the Santa trains did pass through.
Hopefully we will have good weather this year, and lots of passengers. As usual details of times etc. can be found on the railways web site.
So if your travelling on any of the services have a great time and enjoy the day.
Well here we are chugging through October and in the eyes of many visitors winding down towards a Christmas rest.
Nothing of course could be further from the truth. Christmas is one of the busiest times of the year for the railway. You have to work on a Santa running day to appreciate how special they are. In the past I would open Orton Mere station even though strains did not stop there, and we would be busy with passers by, either out for a stroll with or without children and/or the pet dog.
On those days nothing was rushed, I have spent many an hour chatting on the platform with customers whilst clutching a hot mug of coffee just passing the time.. Days like that are hard to beat.
I miss Christmas on the railway.
This weekend is our rail200 weekend, a great weekend ahead with visiting steam locomotives and many services.
If you are visiting us this weekend I hope you have a great time. You can pay on the day if you wish. Have a look on our web site for all the information you will need.
Well that’s August out of the way. A busy month with lots of activity around the railway.
It’s months like this when we can forget the activity that goes on behind the scenes. In the sheds and along the line doing work that enables the railway to run safely.
Mention must also be made of those working in the office both paid and volunteer. Now we are into September with events still to come, then on towards the Santa services.
The railway never sleeps, it may appear to have the occasional doze but it never sleeps.
So well done for a busy August and here’s to a busy autumn and full Santa trains.
Every person is important be they paid staff, volunteer etc. It’s often been said that the railways best asset is its volunteers. That is very true irrespective of the job they do.
These days I am housebound and unable to get to the railway. I desperately miss chatting to both the volunteers and visitors, and I enjoy those who pop onto the Wansford YouTube web cam I am on there every running day answering questions and giving service information out. Please feel free to pop on.
This weekend sees the return of the travelling post office.
In the past this has always been very popular with visitors. On both Saturday and Sunday it’s doing two runs to the equipment at Sutton Cross to give demonstrations of mail exchanges.
Let’s hope it will be a regular occurrence. At one stage it did a non-stop run from Orton Mere to Yarwell and did a mail exchange at Sutton Cross. That would be nice to see again.
Hopefully the weather will be favourable on both days.