Lined up at the impressive new station/stabling building at Kirk Terminus, gleaming in the afternoon sun, were the two booked Class 52 diesels in Green and (Golden Ochre/Desert Sand/Yellow) - delete as preferred. Parked at the opposite end of the yard, as if preparing for a medieval joust, were steam locos 'Trevithick' and 'Isambard Kingdom Brunel'.

We were ahead of the agreed arrival time, so it was on with the orange vests and search for the way in. As if by divine intervention, a breathless young lad on a bicycle arrived straight from school to open the gate for us and in we followed to check-in with our hosts Peter and Helen. Little did we realise at the time but the young lad was also the volunteer guard and a keen train and track buff (any money you like that he will, one day, be travelling with the BLS if his extensive volunteering roster permits!).

Introductions over, the site was opened and Peter welcomed visitors, two at a time, to the engine shed to see the maroon [marooned?] Class 52 (awaiting a new engine) and a steam loco boiler under repair. Helen took control, welcoming participants to the new terminus building, handing out fact sheets about the locos and giving a briefing on the two-train operation. Boarding 'Western Independence' on the southern road we set off, passing a row of stored steam locomotives, before veering right down the incline to join the main public loop just to the east of Piccadilly station. A stub of track was spotted to the right of the train disappearing off into dense foliage; part of a planned extension loop.

Passing the northern siding lines converging from the left and descending further, the Chapel Road avoiding line was taken, bypassing the very rusty platform line (much muttering here), before climbing again to complete the circuit into Piccadilly station platform. Clearing the incline junction, we propelled up the incline to halt outside the terminus building with a clear line of sight to photo the stored steam locos. Vehicles were then boarded in the terminus middle road to explore the northern extremities. Green 'Western Explorer' took the train through the tunnel shed along the northern extension up to the OOU points onto the main loop. Reversal was made back to the terminus northern road where stabled red steam loco 'Peter the Private' had been manually heaved onto the turntable to make room for us.

Next a walk through the tunnel road to see the non-passenger track and the other side of the sheds. The tunnel loop lines, unavailable for riding, were occupied on one side by bric-a-brac donated to the railway, faintly reminiscent of 'The Generation Game'. (For our younger generation, a 1970s TV programme in which contestants tried to memorise passing items on a conveyor belt and then repeat them back to win them - cuddly toy anyone?) Immovable wagons were on other side - they were too!

Returning to the train, departure was imminent when through the green fence appeared the GS (making 24 participants), not on the Eastleigh visit and arriving at the indicative start time. With rapid boarding completed, it was back through the tunnel heading for the southern track of the north sidings (the loco testing line; not yet connected to the main loop). Proceeding to the end of track, the plan is to install a diamond crossing here for the top end of the extension loop. A further reversal took us into the loco shed and workshop to the retaining wall. Returning to the terminus to alight, Helen arranged another run down the top siding for the GS who needed this in daylight and dry weather (don't ask!). A kind offer maybe not so appreciated by the volunteers who had just locked in the protecting fencing then had to undo it (but the GS was certainly grateful)!

Having ridden over all the agreed track, the Chapel Road platform road and a couple of terminus yard connections were still required (for sound operational reasons). With the Westerns switched off, and fully expecting this to be the end of our riding visit, it was a pleasant surprise when Helen came over and asked if we would like to take the scooter out to do the odd bits of track. Next instant, Peter appeared carrying a hand propelled, single seat vehicle (gricycle?). [left: Your suggestions for suitable captions please!] Confirming that we had freedom to roam, the only request was if you take the scooter down the bank be very careful and bring it back up.Playtime ensued with an Italian style queue forming to board the scooter in the terminus yard. Then, and no doubt wondering what on earth was happening, Carol, still with us from Eastleigh, gracefully exited with: 'I think I know what you do now, but not really why?' Anybody able to answer is probably a potential Nobel Prize winner, so it was a quick 'Hope you enjoyed the day and thanks for coming'. Returning from a much needed PNB and fully expecting to discover less of a melee for the scooter and smiles all round, it suddenly became one of those 'Oh no, where is everybody?' panic moments. Short answer: the Rt Hon BLS Member for Rhyl, having scootered the yard area, was over the hill and just arriving at Chapel Road as we stumbled through the undergrowth to catch up. This time a pair of disorderly huddles formed at each end of the loop as the scooter was hand-operated, with banking assistance in some cases, through the elusive and rusty platform road to the point blades each end. Platform road 'scootered', the next question was: Has everybody done their 'missing link' in the top yard? 'No!' came a scowling chorus, so it was back up the hill for the remaining stalwarts to complete any missing connections and the headshunt. As a milestone day for the GS, (earlier in the day he had been awarded the Freedom from the City of Bristol) who had missed our previous public loop run, he fully deserved the honour of piloting the scooter across the short link back into the shed. Here we expressed our thanks and bid our goodbyes to our very accommodating hosts.

Postscript: The Royal Victoria Railway operating and funding conditions mean that the volunteers are stretched to the absolute limit. To accommodate our private visit, the railway was uniquely open to us on a Friday (the one day a week the volunteers have off) and staffed well beyond normal operating day levels, requiring people to take time off work etc. For that, we thank Helen, Peter and all the team for their enthusiasm, friendliness, knowledge and patience in making our visit a success. If you get the chance go and visit them, ride the public trains or try a steam footplate experience, you will not be disappointed. Their only request is 'If you want to come again, please avoid Fridays!' (Sorry, FS…) There is a railway/nature themed walk in the area; search for 'Hamble Rail Trail' on the internet.

Post-postscript: Some members walking to Netley station after were delighted to see standard gauge rails still in situ where the road crosses over the former hospital branch by the overbridge beforehand!