Colne Valley Railway News

St Peter's church, Sible Hedingham had a Christmas tree festival on Saturday 26th November and a tree was decorated on behalf of the Railway. Thanks to Gay and Nick for doing this

We have had quite an active few days which included some members of the Hedingham Sidecars Owners Club spend a couple of nights camping on site as part of their Winter Warmer weekend. I don't know the exact number, but there must have been around 30 bikes, old and new and attendees came from from as far away as Belgium. Saturday morning we ran a Santa Special for a group of Brownies/Guides who met Santa on the diesel train. Saturday evening we had our Christmas dinner and awards evening at The White Hart, Great Yeldham, 34 members and family attended and enjoyed a lovely evening.

The oak trees on the platform were long overdue for trimming , the signalmen couldn't see past them and you had to beware of falling acorns. So, four fellers got to work and spent a few hours pruning - what a difference

The tank of Barclay 0-4-0ST 2199 Victory was placed back on today. Now it is really beginning to look like a working steam engine, not long now hopefully. Proud owners Dick and Tony Goulding are seen here with Victory on 5th November 2011

A very successful evening of fun and games was held on Saturday 29th October 2011. The Wizard Wanderer diesel train (manned by a skeleton crew) and the miniature and garden railways carried witches and wizards and all their friends. Ghostly story telling proved very popular as did the drawing competition being run as part of the Big Draw Campaign.

Late August saw the arrival of 1919 built Hawthorne Leslie 0-6-0ST Isabel. This engine is on loan to the Colne Valley Railway from the Epping Ongar Railway. Our volunteers are now working hard to get her into a working condition, having been delivered minus several essential components. It is hoped Isabel might be ready to work our Santa Specials. In the meantime, lots of cleaning and some painting has been done and she is beginning to look happier.

The Essex Tourism Awards were held at the Radisson Blu, Stansted on 12th October. The CVR was one of the three contenders for Best Small Visitor Attraction. After winning the title in 2010 we were runners up this year to Bridge End Garden, Saffron Walden - Congratulations to them.