STEAM ON THE IRONSTONE for GALA DAY
The autumnal nights might be drawing in but the museums volunteers have been busy preparing for our last public open day of our operating season to be held at the Museum on Sunday 20th October 2019 .
For our Gala Open Day we are planning to steam the two resident Andrew Barclay saddletanks SIR THOMAS ROYDEN and 1931. Whilst one loco will be used to provide visitor brakevan rides along our demonstration line to the Oakham Canal the other will see use on quarry trip workings including shunting iron ore wagons in our mock ironstone quarry along with a restored quarry diesel loco.
Earlier this year former Colsterworth Ironstone Quarry restored diesel no.1382 returned to the museum and it is hoped to pair this locomotive for the first time with a newly repainted Appleby Frodingham Iron and Steel hopper wagon. The eighty year old wagon is one of only two survivors which carried the iron ore from Colsterworth Ironstone Quarry in block trains to Scunthorpe Steelworks.
The Gala Open Day on Sunday 20th October runs from 10am to 4pm and light refreshments will be available. Locos and exhibitions may be viewed in the Simon Layfield Exhibition Centre and there is a free car park. Your last chance to see us operating this year and we look forward to welcoming you to Rocks by Rail – the Living Ironstone Museum.