Castle Posted December 1, 2018 Share Posted December 1, 2018 Castle Tours 2019 - Bigger, Better, Longer Hi All, This year’s Castle Tours outing is a whole weekend extravaganza so hold on to your hats! The plan is to do a two day event - making it worthwhile for those who have some distance to travel hopefully. The dates are Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th of May. Here’s how I see it happening: Saturday 25th May - Modellers Tour of Didcot Railway Centre My usual ‘all the trimmings’ extended and behind the scenes tour of the entirety of Didcot Railway Centre. This will include the unrestored carriage and wagon stock, the carriage works, then locomotive works and anything else you need to look at, measure, photograph and so on. The GWS collection is your oyster! The plan is for you to get there just after the centre opens, get your rides, shopping and food sorted out. We will meet up at the main entrance at 12:30hrs and we will then tour the centre under the direction of myself and some of my fellow volunteers from the No. 4079 restoration project. We usually go through until about 16:30hrs or so. Normal steam day entrance fees apply. Parking is best done by grabbing a place opposite Didcot Parkway Railway Station which is cheaper and more convenient than the Network Rail alternative. Sunday 26th May - Fawley Hill Railway You’ve seen it on television, now see it for yourself! Fawley is the remarkable collection of the late, great Sir William McAlpine. It Includes one of the greatest railwayana collections ever assembled by one man and one of the most amazing garden railways you could possibly imagine. Locomotive No. 31 has been owned by the McAlpines since her construction by Hudswell Clarke in 1913. It was used to build among other projects, the original Wembley Stadium and the Empire Exhibition and was retired in 1960 as the last loco in use by the McAlpine firm. Instead of being sent for scrap, Sir William had it delivered to Fawley and built a railway around it. Also resident is a class 03 Diesel No. D2120 (03 120) which is of the lowered cab variety for use on the Burry Port & Gwendraeth Valley Line and was constructed at Swindon in 1959. There is also a pair of Planet type diesel shunters very similar to the latest kit release by Narrow Planet too! The railway they run on its travels through the McAlpine Estate and there are dozens of architectural treasures as well as a wide range of exotic animals that run wild through the grounds. The piece de resistance is the climb back to the station which is the steepest adhesion worked railway incline in the UK at an almost torturous 1:13. The sound of No. 31 working up the incline at full regulator is once heard, never forgotten. Just like at Didcot, you are free to take as many rides as you like. The doors open at 11:00hrs, the first couple of trips usually being 03 powered. The last trip up the hill by steam is usually about 16:00hrs and a couple of diesel trips will follow before the toys go away for another day... A £10 donation to pay for fuel and maintenance on the railway is requested from a visitor to Fawley. Free parking is available in large quantities. The places for this trip are strictly limited to 50 and as Andy Y and his cameraman have already taken 2 (yep - it’s going to be a BRM DVD too!) and our signalbox tourguide Stationmaster Mike has to be catered for as well, that leaves 46... Please remember that Fawley is a private site and the home of Lady Judy. As such it is only accessible via a pre arranged visit such as this. Over to you good people! All the best, Castle 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted December 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2018 Yes please! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted December 1, 2018 Author Share Posted December 1, 2018 How many places Rich? All the best, Castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Fatadder Posted December 1, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 1, 2018 How many places Rich? All the best, Castle Will say just me for now, I was thinking about bringing the 5 year old this year but given the limited places will wait and see if there is any space left nearer the time. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted December 1, 2018 Author Share Posted December 1, 2018 Ok Rich - you got it mate! All the best, Castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Davexoc Posted December 1, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 1, 2018 Would like two places for this please.... Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted December 1, 2018 Author Share Posted December 1, 2018 You got it Dave! All the best, Castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
County of Yorkshire Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 One not to miss; one place for me please! Cheers. CoY Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 Of course good Sir! Just like Pike - “you are on zee list...” All the best, Castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium ullypug Posted December 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2018 Yes please. Just me. Thanks Andrew Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 Ok Andrew - no worries! See you there, All the best, Castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy M Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Drew, This sounds like one of your extravaganzas not to be missed! One ticket for me please. Kind regards, Andy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 You’ve got it Andy! All the best, Castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 81C Posted December 2, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hi Drew 2 for me as usual for both dates. Thank you Bob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gz3xzf Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Drew Please pencil me in, I will not know for sure until nearer the time, but I couldn't pass up the chance of a look at Fawley Hill. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 (edited) Hi Bob and Bryan You got it guys! All the best, Castle Edited December 2, 2018 by Castle Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Harrison Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 One for me please. By hook or by crook I will make it to this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Stationmaster Posted December 2, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 2, 2018 One question Castle which might interest folk - will the museum and upstairs model exhibits be open at Fawley? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Ian Morgan Posted December 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2018 Please can I book a ticket? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clearwater Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Alas we will be on holiday... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium cornelius Posted December 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2018 One for Fawley Hill please! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Icknieldrobin Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Drew Can you put me down for two for Fawley Hill Sunday please. Cheers Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 3rd Rail Exile Posted December 2, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2018 One for me please! 3rd Rail Exile Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mulgabill Posted December 2, 2018 Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hi Drew Please put me down for 2, before it's too late. Many thanks TONY Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Castle Posted December 2, 2018 Author Share Posted December 2, 2018 Hi All, James - one place good sir! Stationmaster - yes it will. Perhaps some of Little Didcot might be on show as well on William Street Loco Shed too? Ian, Cornelius, Ickneldobin, 3rd Rail Exile and Mulgabill - you’ve got it! Clearwater - sorry to hear that mate! All the best, Castle 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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