Category: Travel

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It Ain’t Half Hot, Mum

To put it mildly the last two days have been a bit hot!

Monday got up to38c and Tuesday got to 40.8c here at blog HQ!

Far too hot for me a mere retired delicate flower.

Because of fire risk and crew safety last weekend saw the railway run a diesel service with the Peak on Saturday and the Swedish railcar on Sunday. Most people chose to stay at home and try and keep cool as much as possible.

This weekend will again be diesel only with the Class 14 out on Saturday and The Peak out on Sunday.

Looking at the television there are many discussions on global warming etc and the effect on future weather. Personally I think it’s beyond dispute that things are getting warmer. How this will affect peoples leisure and work activities is open to debate. This will also have an effect on tourist attractions amongst them heritage railways. What that effect will be is of course unknown at the moment. Without doubt interesting years ahead.

I am sure that those running the national train network will be having many thoughts on the subject as well.

Trying to plan for the mainly unknown will not be easy.

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Locomotives at The Nene Valley Railway.

One of the most asked questions is what locomotives are there at the railway.

Well here is a selection, and my thanks to Chris Walker for the images

92 Squadron
The Class 14
The Green Sentinel
The Maroon Sentinel
The Polish Tank Engine
The Swedish Railcar
The Blue Circle
The Pacer
The Peak 45041
Thomas

When you visit the railway if you do not see a specific locomotive then feel free to ask the staff as to its current status.

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The First Day of Summer.

Well today is the first day of summer and we have started off with wall to wall sunshine and a nice temperature of just over 27.5c at peak.

So what’s ahead for the railway over the summer? Well I guess the honest answer is that nobody knows. We have some super events announced and in the pipeline. I am sure that, weather permitting we will have a great summer.

If you’re reading this as a working member of the railway then enjoy the summer and above all have fun. If you’re not a member then please if you can come along and visit.

It has often been said that the railways greatest asset are it’s working members. So please come along and say hello to them, look round the stations and ride the trains. Or in other words have a great day out.

Please take a look at our website at nvr.org.uk and see what tempts you.

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Here we go……

Writing this before we begin four days of services celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of the Queen.

We have steam services all four days with 92 Squadron the first three and the locomotive Bahamas on Sunday.

I think this is a weekend where I will miss not being at Orton Mere, time like this were fun with nice visitors and plenty of business for the railway,.

Enjoy the Jubilee.

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Getting ready for the weekend.

Thursday to Sunday sees the Queens Platinum Jubilee, and like everywhere else we are celebrating this special occasion.
We have numerous events over the four days culminating with the locomotive Bahamas visiting us and pulling the three services on Sunday.

No doubt this will be popular, when the locomotive was with us before it generated a lot of positive interest.

So whatever you’re doing this Jubilee weekend have a great time, and if you’re visiting the railway look at all we have on offer a visit is so much more than just a train ride.

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Wansford Miniature Railway

Wansford Miniature Railway

Our Jubilee Trains will be running on Thursday 2nd and Friday 3rd June from 10 to 3pm.

Rides only £1 each, our shop will also be open selling Union Jack Hand flags, a big selection of Trackside Models, OO Gauge wagons, books, DVD and much more.

Bring the kids along for a ride on a Miniature a Jubilee Train

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Replacing the sleepers, Help required.

As a local Registered Charity (No. 263617) we need a little HELP to keep us running at our desired speed after a rough couple of years.

Can you spare a day or two to help our One Man Band Employed Track Manager & his Merry Team of 5 to 10 Strong Team of willing volunteers to change 500 sleepers on our tracks?

We have set aside 3 weeks in our running schedule to get this work completed, so if you are a local business and can spare a few willing people who are fit and able please message us and we look forward to welcoming you to Nene Valley Railway. Refreshments and facilities will be provided.

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The four days of Easter

Easter can be a funny time of year, it’s success or otherwise is very dependent on the weather. Many say it always seems colder on Easter weekends.

Anyway, this year was different, we had four nice days weather wise and on all four days 92 Squadron provided hauling of all services.

92 Squadron at Wansford station. © Chris Walker

It does no harm to be running a large locomotive on busy weekends. 92 Squadron did us proud. All services were almost to or on time.

For me personally it seemed quite strange not to be at a station, but circumstances dictate otherwise. So as with other running days we manned the Webcam and chat and we were busy there instead with people after anything from a chat to specific information.

The trains were busy and the visitors happy judging from the feedback we got on the cam. Nice to see smiling faces as the train passes.

Credit must be given to all the working members who were working over the weekend, the railway was shown at it’s best.

I could of course post some pictures of previous Easter holidays complete with a mixture of the following, rain, sleet or snow but that would not be fair. We had a super weekend on the railway and hopefully it will be the first of many in the future.