Coming In 2017 - "Giant Miniature Weekend"...

Hi all. This evening we had our second planning meeting for the 2017 Miniature Steam Rally that we're holding once again at the wonderful Statfold Barn Railway. This year the event has been dubbed the "Giant Miniature Weekend", in view of the sensational volume and variety of engines put forward for show by our valued exhibitors...

I must admit this is a bit of a 'selfish plug' of a post but one that needs to be done at the start of each Winter. The meeting this evening was most enjoyable but also quite serious, mapping out the various plans for next years do. In 2016, Statfold welcomed 74 miniatures to its Tamworth base from across the country and for the next one its looking like there will be 90 or more! Thinking of those engines certainly takes me back to the first year of planning the first MTEW back at Market Bosworth over the Winter of 2012 and practically begging people to join us. These days, thankfully, people are often willing to come along and that is fantastic. For those that wish to visit us next year please note that the weekend has moved back 2 weeks for the first time in 5 years. This has been due to both searching for warmer weather (we're sick of frost!) and for operational reasons at the SBR. Below are a few images from the event this year which we hope may entice a few more visitors...

"Saturday Line Up in 2016" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

Unlike this years event (when we were just testing the water) the fabulous Statfold Barn Roundhouse will be open, allowing passengers on the steam trains to break their journey and admire the rest of this marvellous collection...

"Fiji and the Miniatures" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

As well as the many miniature traction engines and steam lorries, there will be five SBR engines in steam with the rest viewable, as I said, at the Roundhouse. We will be offering the chance once again to take a short footplate ride on one of the steam locomotives from the High Level platform at Statfold Jnc (Platform 3). These proved very popular this year and will return again in 2017...

"No19 Offers Footplate Rides" (Pic - K.Eyre)

In the various sheds in and around Statfold Jnc there will be a variety of displays on offer including Meccano, Toy Steam, Model Engineering etc. Returning in 2017 will be the popular addition of the 16mm live steam layout...

"Coal Fired 16mm Bagnall" (Pic - K.Eyre)

For our younger visitors there will be colouring handouts of SBR engines, a bouncy castle, penalty shootout and much more. This is truly a family event for all ages to enjoy. We also hope that events like this will continue to encourage youngsters to join the steam hobby as preservation as a whole is of course dependant on volunteers...

"Isibutu Passes The 6" Savage Firefly" (Pic - M.Ranieri)

Anyway, that's enough from me for now. You can visit the SBR website by clicking here and I am of course always available to answer questions or queries about the event. Many thanks for reading all and I hope to see some of you at the event in May...