- Details
- Created on Saturday, 18 May 2019 10:10
- Written by Stephen Tickell
Magnettes & Steam 6th May 2019
This year Magnettes & Steam wasn't the first event of the season, moving from Easter Saturday to May Bank Holiday, but it nevertheless attracted a good turnout of Magnettes to Norchard station on the Dean Forest Railway in Gloucestershire. The former branch line runs for about 4 miles from Lydney to Parkend through beautiful forest scenery.
I made an early start from Surrey to reach the station about 10.30, but a number of owners had arrived on the Sunday, enjoying an evening pub meal arranged by David and Sandra Griffiths, who had almost certainly travelled the furthest (although they have family in the area).
As usual there was a good mix of Magnette 'regulars' and new recruits including John Gill and his wife making the short journey from Newport. It was also nice to see Ian Williams and his car, at only its second Register outing since he completed a painstaking restoration over several years, all in a small garage at home. Most of us took the round trip on the train to cover the line in both directions, and sampled the cakes in the station cafe. The weather turned out better than forecast, being fairly cool but dry, and the whole day was a great success as well as introducing us to yet another preserved railway which has much to recommend it.
text and photos by Stephen Tickell