Normally two covered compartment coaches run but as one was OOU two runs were needed to take us. Loco No3, a steam outline 0-6-0 apparently built on site in 1999, made a slow clockwise run of the 15" gauge, 600yd circuit. It passes close to the roller coasters, log flumes and, intriguingly, a single track monorail! Just after Discovery Bay Halt is the only other track on the line, a shed spur. Naturally this had been requested by our organiser, Bill Davis, but the point 'turned out' not to have moved in 10 years! The shed was full of non-rail items anyway.

After everyone had ridden and achieved overlap we thanked the driver who, like everyone else at all the locations this weekend, went out of his way to accommodate us! It was a lovely sunny morning and with our next location within easy walking distance, most chose this (healthy) option! Willen Lake Miniature Railway (WLMR) is a 7¼" gauge 600yd ground level balloon loop from Willen 'Holt'. (Per station building, but 'Halt' on the nameboards, and not a single otter in sight!) A maroon liveried diesel hydraulic loco appeared from the shed (there is also a near identical petrol version). The stock, to our surprise, wasn't in secure storage like the locos, but stacked on top of each other on wooden pallets placed on the ground close to the shed and covered by a tarpaulin. This seemed risky in a town public park, but apparently there have been no problems apart from the odd inquisitive teenager who might peel back the tarpaulin to have a look! People power was needed to assemble the train and we started from the shed approach by propelling into each of the three shed roads to the doors, pulling forward over the level crossing to the station each time to avoid fouling the footpath/cycleway.

The original (pre-2006) line went straight ahead at the level crossing. A short distance is in situ before it disappears into the undergrowth but is in too poor a condition to be done. Meanwhile the normal public run was taken which curves sharply left and continues paralleling the lake and, at a distance, the original alignment. This was sacrificed to make way for 'Go Ape!' a rock/rope climbing facility now on the landward side. The line then takes a wide return loop and passes under the elevated A509 twice, before returning to the station. Another member of the WLMR team was on leaf-clearing duties, walking ahead with a broom on this section. [Note this railway runs less than its advertised hours.]

The 6th and final port of call for the weekend was Northampton Society of Model Engineers (NSME), at Delapre Park. There is a dual 5"/7¼" ground level line with a 650yd balloon type circuit public run, with a similar length 3½"/5 elevated line. Your reporter arrived early for complimentary hot drinks in the clubhouse and the chance to see their members setting up. Splitting into two groups, one started on the ground level line and the other on the elevated, before swapping over. We began at 14.30 from the lengthy loco/stock transfer line set in concrete beyond the steaming bays.

Haulage for the lines in/around Delepre station a was an interesting replica of a German Imperial Army Deutz Benzollack 'C XIV' chain driven petrol loco, used during WWI close to enemy lines. It covered all the steaming bays and to the interesting sector point for the three road shed. Sadly at this 'point' the loco's chain gave up but 0-6-0 DH Merlin came to the rescue with commendable speed. This took us on an exploration of the station run-round roads, including the section between the 'arrival' and 'departure' parts of the station normally done by ECS only. All were traversed to/onto the turntable. Following this 100% coverage, it was time for a 'normal' circuit stopping about halfway round before the tunnel to set back towards a new two road shed that was suitably added by hand to our BLS trackplan on the day.



As is commonly the case, the 3½"/5" elevated track is just a simple circuit inside the ground level line. Two locos were provided, 2-4-2 steam loco 'Jenna' with a cowcatcher, and Colas 66849 with a sound chip. Haulage was duly achieved with both, as well as the requisite overlap. It was then back to the clubhouse for more drinks with sandwiches and cakes laid on by the NSME catering team. The hospitality was very welcome and a great way to round off a great weekend. It only remains to place on record our (and my) appreciation to all of the staff and volunteers at all six locations for their efforts and for making us so welcome. Thanks also to Bill Davis for his work putting it all together ("It's been like keeping 6 plates spinning in the air at once!"). For your reporter it was the easiest of journeys home, a pleasant stroll into Northampton town centre and onto a 'fast' bus home!