Rocks by Rail, What's On

[Ian Smeeton]

Little Wicket Railway Premiere their video 6th April 2022

 

 

For those who are navigating their way to us  for the 1st Time, the postcode is LE15 7FF

 

 

A quick Google Maps screengrab to assist.

 

At last, the light at the and of the tunnel has been proved NOT to be a train coming the other way!

 

After tonight's trustees meeting, we have agreed on re-opening the Museum on the 4th July with regular dates through to mid October.

 

Basically, operating days will be 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month (and the fifth Sunday where there is one) with the Museum open to visitors on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays throughout the year.

 

 

It will be good to get back in harness

 

Regards

 

Ian

Edited April 7, 2022 by Ian Smeeton
Map & Postcode

[Ryde-on-time]

Great news, will put some dates in the diary. The other 40 years thread, with photos of how its developed, has certainly piqued my interest

[Ian Smeeton]

Finally,

 

We have the Opening Days for 2021.

 

PUBLIC OPEN DAY SCHEDULE 2021

Sunday  4th July – Museum Open Day – Diesel Driver for a Fiver  Cancelled due to continued Restrictions

 

Sunday 18th July - Museum Open Day - Take a trip on The Rutlander train and Cement Quarry Railway Day Cancelled due to continued Restrictions

 

If he restrictions are lifted as planned on 19th July (Mu Birthday, they better be!!), then the programme will continue......

 

Sunday  1st August – Museum Open Day – Diesel Driver for a Fiver

 

Sunday 15th August – Museum Open Day - Take a trip on the Rutlander train. Anniversary of end of WW2 with special feature on Digging for Victory: Rutlands Ironstone Quarries.

 

August Bank Holiday Sunday August 29th - Museum Open Day - Take a trip on The Rutlander train. Special display marking anniversary of the liberation of Far Eastern Prisoners of War 1945.

 

August Bank Holiday Monday August 30th - Museum Open Day –Take a trip on the Rutlander train and Ironstone Quarry Railway Day. 

 

Sunday  5th September – Museum Open Day – Diesel Driver for a Fiver

 

Sunday September 19th - Museum Open Day -Take a trip on The Rutlander train and Oxfordshire Ironstone Quarry Railway Day

 

Sunday 3rd October – Museum Open Day – Diesel Driver for a Fiver

 

Sunday October 17th - Museum Gala Open Day – Take a trip on The Rutlander train and last day of exhibition on Corby’s Ironstone quarries. 

 

Sunday 24th October Quarry Gala Open Day to finish the season.

 

Please Note that the museum reserves the right to modify its planned events for 2021 having due regard to any government advice on mitigation measures required to minimise public health risks in the UK

 

Regards

 

IAN

 

 

 

Edited June 15, 2021 by Ian Smeeton
Change of Dates

[Ian Smeeton]

In addition to the listed open days in the previous post, the Museum will be open every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 4th July - 17th October.

 

Admission is free on Non-Running Days, but you are more than welcome to leave a donation if you enjoy your visit.

 

Please check the website:

 

 https://www.rocks-by-rail.org/ 

 

for further details.

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Ian Smeeton]

The road to reopening.

 

As part of the Museum’s Covid Recovery Plan all volunteer members of the museum are currently undergoing competency training and assessment for safety critical work on the museum’s railway, in advance of re-opening the museum to visitors.

 

Work is also still on-going on the museum’s demonstration line but has now reached an advanced stage. Work on improvements for disabled visitors is underway again following lockdown with such activities programmed to be completed before re-opening.

 

 

Whilst refurbishment works are still underway the demonstration line exhibits a red flag until track work has been completed.

 

 

Having just finished a written paper on museum rules the volunteers engage in a question and answer session with external assessors before taking part in a practical element of the testing regime.

 

 

All aspects of operation were tested, cleaners, firemen, drivers, guards, the lot, including me! Some questions were harder than others.

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Ian Smeeton]

Huge thanks to RMWeb's own Andy York and BRM's Phil Parker for this:

 

 

They braved the dog and the weather to come and see us at Rocks by Rail for a look around.

 

Why don't you come and see us when we reopen from 4th July. 1st August

 

Regards

 

Ian

Edited June 15, 2021 by Ian Smeeton
Dates corrected.

[Ian Smeeton]

Rocks by Rail re-opening delayed until 1st August.

The latest changes to the relaxation of lockdown rules means that RBR will not reopen as planned until restrictions are fully lifted on 19th July.

 

Our next scheduled Running Day will be 1st August, not as originally planned, 4th July.

 

Hopefully, we will be in a position to open the museum to visitors on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from Tuesday 20th July.

 

Stay Safe

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Dava]

Good news, will the scheduled events from 1 August be happening?

 

https://www.rocks-by-rail.org/events/

 

'I like my rocks by rail'!

 

Dava

[Johann Marsbar]

Thanks for the update, as I was intending to come along on 4th July....

Last time I visited the museum was 1990, so am due another one!

[Ian Smeeton]

3 hours ago, Johann Marsbar said:

Thanks for the update, as I was intending to come along on 4th July....

Last time I visited the museum was 1990, so am due another one!

 

Sorry about the 4th July, but events as scheduled from 1st August should run as planned.

 

Assuming, of course, that the Government lets us out to play (trains)

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Ian Smeeton]

5 hours ago, Dava said:

Good news, will the scheduled events from 1 August be happening?

 

https://www.rocks-by-rail.org/events/

 

'I like my rocks by rail'!

 

Dava

 

I have just put in a request to have the website changed, thanks for flagging that up.

 

All events from 1st August should go ahead, with an extra day on the 24th October to put the season to bed.

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Ian Smeeton]

Just caught up with the July Issue of BRM.

 

Many thanks to Andy & Phil for the article, and another couple of mentions in the mag.

 

The two page photo starting the article dates back quite a few years to the time when the site really was a 'Linear Scrapyard'

 

Things have improved since then, thank goodness.

 

Although it was great to see all those locos lined up, in a lot of cases the chances of most of them being made operational by their owners was low to nil. Although previous management ruffled more than a few feathers, we are in a far better position now.

 

Seeing Phil on the end of  a spanner nearly as big as he was was certainly worth the poic!

 

Great job, guys.

 

Looking forward to our latest reopening date of 1st August

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Ian Smeeton]

In advance of the re-opening on 1st August, here is a quick peek at the 'Corby Ironstone 40 + 1' Anniversary Exhibition

 

ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION OF THE END OF IRONSTONE MINING IN THE EAST MIDLANDS

 

Forty one years ago nearly 100 years of opencast mining for ironstone came to an end when the pits that served the giant steelworks at Corby ceased extraction. The last working day was 3rd January 1980 when three pits at Shotley, Harringworth Lodge and Great Oakley loaded and dispatched their final loads to the steelworks.

 

On that day Driver S Spencer and roperunner C Crane took diesel loco No.52 to Shotley to collect 20 loaded wagons conveying some 504 tons of ironstone bound for the steelworks. 

 

With their work done the giant quarry draglines at the ironstone quarries seemed to dip their heads as their long booms were lowered onto a platform of heaped overburden to take the weight off the supporting wire ropes and the access doors and windows were boarded up.

 

An exhibition to mark the history of the ironstone quarries in the Corby area will open on 1st August 2021 at Rocks by Rail – the Living Ironstone Museum based near Cottesmore, Rutland and run until the end of October 2021. Further details about the volunteer run museum and its 2021 events can be found on www.rocks-by-rail.org

 

 

 Ruston Bucyrus 100RB loading rail wagons at Earlstrees Ironstone Quarry

 

 

 

 

In happier times BSC loco 52 brings in a load of ironstone from the ironstone quarries

Class 14 No 9537, now preserved on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway

 

 

Upon quarry closure a W1400 walking dragline with its jib lowered is put into store near Corby to await an uncertain future.

 

Regards

 

Ian

Edited July 23, 2021 by Ian Smeeton

[sleepyrider]

Just in case anyone's planning to visit tomorrow- I certainly am - their Facebook page says steam shunting demos in the quarry have been added to the attractions

[Johann Marsbar]

Thanks for that info about the steam shunting as I wouldn't have normally looked at their FB page.

Looks as if the weather is going to stay reasonable as well.

[Ian Smeeton]

Looks like a half - decent day, weather-wise for the first operational day for nearly 2 years.

 

Hunt me down if you want a chat, I think I might be on the admissions desk, but not sure yet.

 

 

Star of tomorrows show is this grumbly 57 year old. Betty, 30 tons will be letting prospective handlers get their hands on her for an extra Fiver

 

 

She does gleam rather seductively in the sunshine!

 

 

Twin sister Jean also likes the sunshine

 

 

She takes direction rather well.

 

 

Chinese Puzzle shunt deliberations.

 

I think big Chris is trying to dig a new tunnel

Hope to see some of you tomorrow.

 

Regards

 

Ian

 

 

 

[Ian Smeeton]

Rocks by Rail re-opened today.

 

No fanfare, no ribbon cutting but somewhere around 80 visitors crossed the threshold and every one seemed to enjoy themselves.

 

No pics, either.

 

I was too busy stuck on the admissions desk, but Sir Tommy (no Thomas 'ere, we're posh in Rutland) the tank engine was in fine voice working wagons around the 1:30 incline of the quarry.

 

Rain to start, but it brightened up at lunch time and turned into a rather pleasant afternoon.

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Johann Marsbar]

Some photos from today......

 

 

 

 

 

[sleepyrider]

It was indeed a great day, everyone seemed really pleased to be out again. My favourite part was the quarry shunting, here's some phone footage to give a taste of what was going on.

 

[Ian Smeeton]

Messrs York & Parker did a fine job on the BRM Video. All Gold Members & Digital subscribers can get a view of the whole 47 minutes, but here is a taster for us lesser mortals.

 

 

 

 

Regards

 

Ian

Edited August 1, 2021 by Ian Smeeton
Link

[Ian Smeeton]

It  has been nice to see the good number of visitors t Rocks by Rail over the last 10 days or so since we reopened.

 

This Sunday, Sir Thomas Royden will be in steam, running Brake van rides along our (currently) truncated main line.

 

If you think ballasting is a PITA in 00 Scale, you should come along and try it in 12":1' scale!

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Ian Smeeton]

A good day was had by all today, and I think that I spoke to almost all of them.

The sun shone (that wasn't forecast)

But only some of the time. The weather was still warm & Dry, though.

The Ruston 48 is beginning to take shape with new cab panels.

 

 

And 1382 received a severe buffing up!

 

Won't be long before the 48 looks as good as 1382.

 

Next big day is Bank Holiday Sun & Mon. I am confined to barracks, so it should be safe to visit

 

Regards

 

Ian

 

 

 

Edited August 15, 2021 by Ian Smeeton
Wrong Pic

[Ian Smeeton]

NOTE TO VISITORS ABOUT MUSEUM OPENING THURSDAY 26th AUGUST 

 

The Museum will be open to visitors from 10am on Thursday 26th August but because the museum is hosting an event for invited guests in the early afternoon there will not be a hot food offer available in the café on that day. During the morning the museum’s volunteers will be preparing for an event to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Far Eastern Prisoners of War following the Japanese surrender in August 1945. The commemorative event will commence at 1.30pm and tables will be reserved for guests near the café from approx. 2.30pm. Visitors are welcome to observe the commemorative event.

 

 

FEPOW steam loco SINGAPORE marks the 60th anniversary of liberation on display in London in 2005 

 

Regards

 

Ian

[Ian Smeeton]

More VJ  Events

 

VJ - 76th Anniversary of the Liberation of Far Eastern Prisoners of War

 

On 28th August 1945 British Liberator bombers flew low over the Changi Gaol Prisoner of War Camp in Japanese occupied Singapore. As the thousands of emaciated prisoners looked up leaflets dropped from the aircraft fluttered down bringing official confirmation that Japan had surrendered, the war was over and help was on its way.

 

After three and a half years of captivity it was with great excitement and relief thousands of prisoners stood within the PoW camps and with tears running down their faces sang God Save the King and Land of Hope and Glory. Their legend of endurance was over – they were going home.

 

On August Bank Holiday Sunday 29th August Rocks by Rail – the Living Ironstone Museum is holding a Steam Open Day to mark the 76th Anniversary of the Liberation of Far Eastern Prisoners of War and commemorate the one in four who did not return largely due to the ill treatment, hard labour, inadequate food and total contempt shown by their captors.

 

On special commemorative static display will be the museum’s war memorial steam locomotive “SINGAPORE”, itself a prisoner when captured along with 80,000 allied servicemen at the Fall of Singapore in February 1942. This will be supplemented by a display providing an insight for museum visitors of life as an allied prisoner of the Japanese. Visitors will also have the opportunity of placing a white orchid (Far East conflict flower of Remembrance) on the locomotive beneath the memorial plates – in memoriam.

 

The Museum will be open from 10am to 4pm on this Open Day and normal admission prices will apply at this volunteer run Museum which is located in open countryside just outside the village of Cottesmore in Rutland. For further information and directions please see the museum’s website www. rocks-by-rail.org.uk

 

 

Two former Far Eastern Prisoners of War pose with loco Singapore at the Living Museum  held in St.Jame’s Park London in July 2005 to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of WW2

 

 

Photo 2 : On the 76th anniversary of VJ Day on Sunday 15th August 2021 FEPOW veteran steam locomotive SINGAPORE gets a special clean from museum volunteers.

 

Regards

 

Ian

 

 

 

[Ian Smeeton]

WE WILL REMEMBER THEM 

 

On 28th August 1945 allied Far Eastern Prisoners of War in PoW camps in Singapore finally learned that Japan had surrendered and relief help was on the way…….  

War Memorial steam locomotive SINGAPORE will be on special external display during an Open Day being held on Bank Holiday  Sunday as it marks the anniversary of liberation for Far Eastern Prisoners of War 76 years ago…

 

 

"When you go home, tell them of us and say

For your tomorrow, we gave our today"

 

The Kohima Epitaph

 

I read this out when asked by BBC Radio Leicester, "Why is it important that we commemorate this"

 

The freedoms we have today were won by those who went before

 

We must NEVER forget.

 

Regards Ian