We started the season with a busy April Open Day – lots of happy visitors and the railway looking its scenic best with the cherry blossom out at the station, and bluebells and primroses alongside the line.Steam loco O4 No.6284 came back to visit us again in time for our May Open Day – here it is, simmering away in the station waiting for passengers to arrive.O4 No.6284 rounding the engine shed curve on its return to the station.We’re often lucky to have different locos visit us at Thorpe, but this year for the first time, a Thorpe resident loco was the visitor! The Rio Grande was invited to take part in the American-themed gala at Perrygrove Railway in the Forest of Dean, and some of the volunteers went along to help out too. The Rio had a great run along the steep track at Perrygrove, pulling both passenger and freight trains, and it was a lovely opportunity to meet up with railway friends old and new, including the Rio’s owner!When the Rio returned from its visit to Perrygrove, it was accompanied by steam loco Soony, just in time for our June Open Day. Here two of Thorpe’s regular steam drivers are having a familiarisation run, before we opened for visitors.Soony with a full train of passengers steams round the pond loop on June’s Open Day. Soony has now left Thorpe, for the next stop on its UK tour – it’s off to our friends at Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway http://www.cclr.co.ukThe sun shone again for our July Open Day, with the Rio Grande pulling trains full of happy passengersThe removal of the redundant inner fence means we have opportunity for some different photo angles – like this one of the Rio coming round the engine shed loop on its return to the station on our July Open Day. The bridge works are coming on well, as can be seen by the reduced number of containers in the works compound behind the railway.Some of our visitors to our June and July Open Days were intrigued to find they were sharing their picnic site with lots of tiny froglets! They have now left the pond to start their terrestrial lives, and seem to like hiding in the long grass on these hot sunny days.
