Author: strathavenminiaturerailway

ALMOST TIME – WE ARE READY

Only 24 hrs until we start our new running season for 2023.
Our 74th year of the Wee Train running in Strathaven Park

Trains will be running from NOON tomorrow and the same on Sunday.

Also this weekend, we will be putting on an exhibition at the Low Waters Museum, Hamilton – on Saturday 10am to 16.30 and on Sunday Noon to 16.30. There will be a display of train related items in one of the rooms, plus a portable track outside in the courtyard giving real train rides !

All at the Wee Train really hope to see YOU this weekend

With only eleven days to the start of the New Season we have been steam testing and checking over both of our locomotives Margaret and Eva.
Both successfully passed inspection ready to start the new season on the 1st of April.

Weather permitting we will have at least one of these locomotives out over the weekend along with Strathaven Castle or Abberton.
Looking forward to seeing both our regular and new customers at the park this year.

Card machine and cash taken , still only ONE POUND per passenger

From all of us at The Wee Train

We are getting things together for you all

Not long now till the Wee Train will be back running in the park
We are coming to the end of our winter servicing and maintenance programme which seems to be a longer process each year.
The carriages and locomotives are all maintained and the track inspected , now only Margaret and Eva require a steam test and then we are ready for the new season starting on the 1st of April 2023 at 12.00.

We will also be returning to Low Parks Museum in Hamilton on 1st and 2nd of April to display and provide rides on a portable track over these two days.

As tickets will still be only £1.00 per passenger we really look forward to seeing you at the Park supporting the railway.

See you soon – from all of us at the Wee Train.

Some of the work that has been carried out at the Park

GUY FAWKES 5th of November

One week to go until Remember Remember the 5th of November
We will be running trains in the park, weather permitting with at least one steam locomotive, hauling passengers, running from approximately 17:30 -21:00

Come and experience the railway in the dark illuminated by fairy lights and coloured floodlights around the track, while the bonfire and Fireworks display is taking place up the hill in the park.

The bonfire and fireworks display is run and organised by the local Roundtable with the bonfire being lit around 19.00hrs – see their website for information

Rides on the trains for this evening will be by donation bucket at our entrance gate in the park.

Thank you from all of us at the Wee Train

OCTOBER WEEK RUNNING DAYS

We have managed to muster a few hardy volunteers and can now run the trains on SUNDAY 16th and WEDNESDAY 19th of October from 12 until 4pm. we will makes plans for next weekend later in the week if the weather forecasts and volunteer numbers allow us to run.

Hopefully see some of you there on these extra days

From all of us at the Wee Train

NEW RAISED TRACK OPENING

On Saturday the 8th of October we had an Open Day for all the clubs in Scotland and the North of England to come and visit us at Strathaven park and for them to run their Wee trains.
We also had an official opening ceremony for our new raised track extension which now flows around the park following our existing ground track.
After four years track is completed at last (two years covid restrictions did not help).

We can now use this track for all our members to run their own or club locomotives around. This track will not be used for public passenger hauling.

We have so many people to thank for supporting this project along with many of the club members who contributed their time and effort to complete this latest project.

From all of us at The WEE train

Oh what fun we had !

Special Delivery Today

Earlier this weeek we took delivery of three new dual purpose carriages at the park .
These four foot long 5″ gauge carriages can be used on both the ground or raised track-see pictures attached.
They are supplied by Abbots Model Engineering.

We are looking forward to using these new carriages in the near future with our club locomotives.

Just a reminder that we are now closed at weekends until Easter 2023.
However we will hopefully see you all during the bonfire night celebrations in strathaven park in November and we may be able to run a few extra days during the October school holiday, weather permitting.

We’ll keep you posted

Where has the year gone?
We are now fast approaching our last weekend of the season , the Glasgow September weekend running over Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th and Monday 26th, weather permitting from lunchtime through to 16.30 on each day.

It is hoped that we may also manage a couple of days during the October school holiday week
Our last day of running will be on the 5th of November for Guy Fawkes night running from late afternoon until 8.30 pm or thereabouts, all weather dependent.

From all of us at the Wee Train

Thank you to all the members and the suppliers of material or services over the last two years that have supported the railway with our project to extend the raised track .

We are almost finished, the track has finally been secured in place with resin and threaded rod anchors, just a few final little tweaks and we will be ready to run.
Over the next week or two new edging will be fitted around the new section of track and grey chips will fill in the space between the pillars.

We are about to hold our annual Open Track Weekend on the 8th and 9th of October, where we intend inviting the key suppliers of material and services as we officially open the new track.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE who has assisted with this mammoth task which was made all the harder by having to deal with Covid restrictions.

From all of us at the Wee Train