On Saturday the 14th June, Yorkshire members headed to the small city of Ripon for the Southgate Light Railway Open Day. The sun was starting to make its appearance, but would the yellow weather warning for thunderstorms ruin a perfect day for a steam up?
Many members were keen to get started (Fearing what was to come from the heavens) so it wasn’t long for the first locos to start making it around the line. This years open day saw the new front extension loop being very popular, helped by the addition of sprung points to make navigating the line in the right direction a bit easier. As always with sprung points, the hardest to reach one would play up a bit throughout the day but not enough to cause any major issues.
We’d got to the middle of the day and other than a couple of spots of rain, it was still very warm and dry. ‘Food is out’ was proclaimed to all and soon only a diesel service was in action as we all tucked in to our food. Still with an eye on the sky mind, but still hardly a cloud to see.
Desert enjoyed, it was back to a steam hauled service for many, again making great use of the 1:50 bank to the front loop. The line runs around the outside of the main seating area, just below eye level when seated. Making viewing the passing services a very enjoyable pastime while being gently warmed by the summer sun.
A Vale of Rheidol tank engine took to the rails as well, which would really test the loading gauge of the line. Being carefully watched, it made it’s way around finding two tight spots due to the rear overhang. One was easily resolved by careful trimming of a stone. The other bridge railing would require more attention at a later date, but some hand of god assistance would allow it to make several laps before being stabled back in the steam up area once again.
Soon the garden was emptying of stock boxes and well-fed members. A very enjoyable day had been had. As for the thunderstorm…what thunderstorm, we never got it.
