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.uk
