Steve

Narrow Gauge Layouts at Mid Suffolk Light Railway

Today the Norfolk & Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers were exhibiting their narrow gauge layouts at the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway. How could I resist.

The standard gauge Mid-Suffolk Light Railway was built in the 1900s with the aim of opening up this part of Suffolk and give access to the local market towns. The preserved line retains a real rural charm and I must admit it’s one of my favourite preserved standard gauge lines.

This is the original station building from Wilby station. Nothing more than a tin hut!
The interior is beautifully restored.
The MSLR has some very attractive stock including this early early Midland Railway 4-wheel brake van.
This is a two compartment brake third built for the GER in 1875 and retired from use in 1910.
The guards end is so elegant. Beautifully restored after spending 80 years in a field.
Spacious guards compartment.
Rostered loco was this Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST built in 1910 which I failed to get a decent photo of….
Footplate view.
I did a better job of photographing the works plate.
One of the Middy volunteers must be a railway modeller!
The line hosts this attractive Belgian shunting loco.
Who could resist this Type 17 Wickham railmotor restored in LNER livery.
The workshops were open.
They were surprisingly neat and tidy.
Looking good.
In the yard, this lovely little Dennis lorry.

The Norfolk & Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers put on a good show with (if I counted correctly) 11 layouts and a demonstration. They were distributed around the site in a marque, the station building, a grounded coach body and a goods van. The coach body and goods van seemed appropriate but it was a sunny day and the modellers must have been very hot. They kept the trains running though!

Here are the layouts that I’ve not photographed before.

Sampson Vale by Graham & Caroline Watling in HOe
It’s an end to end layout and this bridge links the two ends.
The other end of the line. Lovely scenic modelling.
Noels Walk by Bill Knight in 1:16 scale.
I am always impressed with the quality and character of Bill’s models made from stripwood and card.
This is a 1:12 model on 32mm gauge track. The real wood looks great.
Ingoldsby Yard by Chris Seago in O9. An ingelnook shunting puzzle (if you hadn’t guessed).
The stock is built with such quality and each item is different.
I really like Chris’s ‘go go’ tractors too.
Norfolk & Suffolk Estate Railway by Stuart Hughes in O9
Nice Lister and Heywood style locos.
Homemade, laser cut stock. I wish I could model with that level of detail.

On their website the MSLR have some local walks. It was a lovely day so I thought I’d try one.

Really nice walk, with quaint cottages…
… a phone box with stained glass windows (!)…
… and I even saw a deer.
This is ‘Brockford Railway Sidings’ where you can stay in a recreation of Mendlesham station.
Or you can stay in a carriage.
You can even stay in a goods van or brake van.
This is their recreation of Wilby Station. Obviously modern but it captures something of the original.

Many thanks to the N&SNG modellers and everyone at the Middy for putting on such a great day 🙂

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