BRIGHTON TOY AND MODEL MUSEUM - GREAT VINTAGE MODEL RAILWAY SHOW

Saturday 30th November 2019

LOCATION:
Brighton Toy & Model Museum,
52-55 Trafalgar Street, Brighton
West Sussex   BN1 4EB

OPENING TIMES:  10:30am - 5:00pm
ADMISSION:    Adults £10.00    Children £5.00    Family £20.00

This is one of the rare occasional functions when the Museum operates their large vintage O gauge railway layout, when many of the Museums rare locomotives and rolling stock can be seen running. Trains operate between 11.00 and 1.00 and again 2.30 to 4.40. The museum was founded in 1991 and in addition to the main central railway layout, model aircraft and vintage slot machines, there are dolls, bears, dollhouse furniture, lead figures, diecast vehicles, beautifully engineered working scale models, an excellent reference collection of Meccano, and lots and lots of trains (including two more interlinked 00-gauge model railway layouts). The Museum is located directly underneath the forecourt of Brighton Mainline railway station so is easily accessible from public transport with the bus station right outside too. 


List of Layouts Attending:
The Museum's extensive vintage O Gauge layout, mainly 1930's, Bassett-Lowke, Hornby, Marklin plus the cream of coaches and rolling stock. Best described as a millionaires layout of it's period.

List of demonstrations:
As many as five train formation can be seen running, composed of relevant locomotives and rolling stock. Children will be able to operate the smaller OO Gauge layout by push-button.
List of other displays:
The museum comprises of a magnificent collection of vintage trains and toys of vintage tots, A recent addition being a spectacular selection of rare dolls house furniture and Meccano.
How to get there:
The Museum is directly underneath the forecourt of Brighton Mainline railway station and therefore easily accessed by both train and many bus routes.  

LUDLOW MEDIEVAL CHRISTMAS FAYRE RAILTOUR -- SATURDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2019

This tour will leave Slough early in the morning, steam hauled by LNER A4 Class Pacific locomotive No.60009 Union of South Africa. We will follow the Great Western main line to Reading, where we will stop to pick up passengers. We continue to pick up via Didcot and Swindon to Bristol Parkway, where we will then pass through the Severn Tunnel and enter Wales, and continuing onwards to the outskirts of Newport. Here we turn northwards, crossing the River Usk, and join the Welsh Marches route to Shrewsbury. There will be time in either Ludlow or Shrewsbury to visit the Christmas festivities.

There is some truly beautiful scenery as we travel through Herefordshire and into Shropshire, passing through Leominster before we reach Ludlow, where passengers can chose to alight for the Medieval Christmas Fayre. The Fayre is set in the grounds of the Medieval Castle at Ludlow, and offers craft stalls, food and drink halls and festive entertainment. Mingle with medieval jesters and enjoy live music as you browse over 100 stalls selling quality wares, handmade gifts and seasonal products. You’re bound to find the perfect presents – and unique treats for yourself too! When you’ve worked up an appetite, why not tickle your taste buds with the tempting food and drink stalls? With a full timetable of entertainment including music, comedy, fighting knights, theatre and puppets, the Fayre is fantastic fun for all ages! We continue via Craven Arms and Church Stretton to Shrewsbury where the ‘listed’ Severn Bridge Junction Signal Box is the largest remaining mechanical signal box in the world. There will be time to explore this interesting city with its old quarter of over 660 listed buildings, famed by Charles Darwen, who was born here in 1809. Attractions in the town include pleasant walks along the river Severn, the Castle, its Tudor buildings and many shops and restaurants.

Whilst we have been exploring the city, our steam locomotive will have been serviced and turned ready for the return journey. Our train leaves Shrewsbury late afternoon, returning by the same route to Ludlow and stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers. Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board. Please let us know your child’s age when booking.

Mulled wine and mince pies will be served to the first and standard class passengers on board.

Train Timings

Updated approximate timings shown

Station	Outward	Return
Slough	06:32	22:01
Reading	07:01	21:34
Didcot	07:21	21:09
Swindon	08:18	20:06
Bristol Parkway	09:15	19:25
Ludlow	12:00	16:49
Shrewsbury	12:42	15:55

CLASS A4 STEAM RAIL TOUR - THE CHRISTMAS CHESHIREMAN

Saturday 16th November 2019

An interesting trip by vintage steam train to the historic city of Chester, an unusual destination from Bristol. Travel via the Severn Tunnel, the South Wales Main Line, the scenic Welsh Marches route, and the Shrewsbury to Chester line. There will be over three hours in Chester, with the Christmas Market to enjoy. The train will be steam hauled throughout by Class A4 locomotive No.60009 Union of South Africa.

Update - Ahh, sorry only just found this out, appears that Union of South Africa was not available to run this tour, and as a result it was replaced by a pair of Black Fives, so still Steam hauled. Thanks to the posters on The Bristol Railway Archive forum for putting me straight. They even had a video of it on it's outward journey. https://youtu.be/sZYoDi8HPpE

Scheduled to leave Bristol Temple Meads at around 07:00 The steam locomotive will be working hard as we climb Filton Bank to Filton Abbey Wood, where we stop to pick up more passengers. Then head westwards along the South Wales Main Line, passing through the Severn Tunnel into Wales, and continuing to the outskirts of Newport. Here we turn northwards, crossing the River Usk, and join the Welsh Marches route. Further stops are planned at Cwmbran and Abergavenny for more passengers to join the train before we begin the challenging climb of the Llavihangel bank. Our steam locomotive will be in full cry all the way to the summit! We pass many sites where there were once railway stations along this route and the longest section without a station today is between Abergavenny and Hereford, where we stop for our steam locomotive to take on water. There is some truly beautiful scenery as we travel through Herefordshire and into Shropshire, passing towns such as Leominster, Ludlow, Craven Arms and Church Stretton.

Continuing on to Shrewsbury where the ‘listed’ Severn Bridge Junction Signal Box is the largest remaining mechanical signal box in the world (pictured below). We take the Chester Line from Shrewsbury and stop at Chirk for our steam locomotive to again take on water. We pass through Ruabon and Wrexham before arriving at our destination, the beautiful Roman City of Chester. There will be over three hours to explore the walled city and the Chester Christmas Market, with over 70 traditional wooden chalets situated in the heart of Chester, all wrapped around a sparkling Christmas tree. 

Severn Bridge Signal Box 180 Levers

There will be an abundance of festive treats and gifts on offer, including quality local and regional products, crafts, clothing, accessories, jewellery, unique gifts and stocking fillers which are sure to make the perfect present! Don’t forget to sample the delicious hot food and drink, including tasty mulled wine and hot chocolate; the perfect way to keep warm whilst enjoying the market. Other places of interest include the Castle, the Cathedral, and the picturesque racecourse, located between the city walls and the River Dee, where ‘Winter Wonderland’ will be in full swing.

Whilst we have been exploring the city, our steam locomotive will have been serviced and turned at Chester ready for the return journey. The train leaves Chester at around 17:00 returning by the same route and stopping at the same stations as on the outward journey, to set down passengers. Look out for Father Christmas and his Elves who will be visiting the train during the day and handing out presents to all children on board.

Train Timings

Updated approximate timings shown

Station	Outward	Return
Bristol Temple Meads	07:04	22:03
Filton Abbey Wood	07:18	21:48
Cwmbran	08:52	20:19
Abergavenny	09:15	19:38
Chester	13:05	16:13