SNBR 21st Birthay event: 16th and 17th June 2007

by Peter Jackson

To celebrate 21 years since the very first passenger train was operated, the SNBR held a special celebration gala on the 16th and 17th June 2007. As with any event of this type, something are destined to go wrong.

Firstly the largest layout planned for the carriage shed, broke a transformer a few weeks before the event got underway, luckily the Erith club were able to supply two replacement layouts instead.

The visiting engine Horton, had boiler problems the Sunday before the gala, but luckily we were able to take Tinkerbell for her 3rd visit to the SNBR, and yet again she proved a fantastic engine on the track.

Holycombe were planning to visit for both days of the event, but an AGM on the Saturday did mean they could only visit on the Sunday, luckily Richard Seager turned up out of the blue on Saturday with Charles the hunslett.

Owd Rosie’s team were devastated at not being able to complete the re-tube of Owd Rosie in time for the gala, but she was placed on display in the carriage shed, and was specially cleaned to the highest level for her display, including a description board. Mallards boiler also didn’t get finished in time for the event, but Romulus minus her name plaques was in service on the Saturday. The old girl minus her tank tops which were not completed in time, managed to do a few runs before some teething trouble hit, and a pin on her valve gear failed, making the engine un-usable for the remaining time of the gala.

Tulyar, did however manage to make the gala, after her engine rebuild and we found the yard shuttle was the perfect running in route for the engine, being lightly loaded 2 1/2 coaches and ½ coach of luggage at low speed. Tulyar also pulled the 2 coach Mayor special, after the Mayor of Swanley councillor John Underwood opened the event at 11am on the Saturday. Tulyar also had a head board specially made for the event celebrating her 20 years of hard service “Deltic 20 years, 20,000 miles”. The train was expertly driven by our first member (and our oldest member) Chris Johnson, who without his leadership and drive the railway would never have been finished in the first place.

Mayor opens the event!

After Tulyar safely returned the Mayor to the station, a special plaque was unveiled in the Ticket office, detailing the history of the railway. The Mayor was surprised to discover that not only the long supporter and Ex- Mayor of Swanley Geoff Blaxall was on the plaque but also to commemorate the 21st Birthday, so was he.

Mayor reveils this plaque!

With the event now fully opened, the Mayor boarded the Tulyar hauled shuttle to the carriage shed, where he spend a long time looking at the model layouts and even having a go on the “drive a diesel” on the workshop siding. As alluded above, the 7 model layouts and a trade stand and engine display was in the carriage shed for the weekend. The yard shuttle supplied the transit between the carriage shed and Lakeside station all this for a cost of 20p per person. With over 400 visitors over the two days (despite the rain on Saturday) this little service was well liked, and hopefully might be repeated on another day. The Model layouts were supplied by local model railway clubs with two layouts being supplied by our very own members. Over the weekend, one of the most enjoyable attractions was the drive a diesel on the workshop siding, which saw many a person driving either the SNCF (Saturday) or Hymek (Sunday) along the side of the carriage shed. Again this was all included on the 20p yard shuttle fare. It was enjoyable to see Dad’s queuing up for a go and fulfilling their own childhood dream of driving an engine, as well as watching their sons and daughters doing the same.
Mayor with one of our members layouts (Demo road)!

Out on the mainline, a varied and hectic service including the yard shuttle was giving the signal man a very hard time. With up to 3 passenger trains, a freight train and the shuttle all vying for attention not forgetting the need to open the crossing gates every so often, the Lakeside signal box was one of the most hectic places to be.

Down at New Barn Halt, some temporary Semaphore signals were in use for the event, just to add a small change, with a signal protecting the platform, and a signal giving the right away from the platform.

On the main line a varied collection of engines were pulling a variety of people around the circuit, the visiting Tinkerbell and Sir Goss pulling a memorable “Lakeside Express” for the camera’s that adorned the route on Saturday,
Tinkerbell and Sir Goss on the Lakeside Special

both engines whistling up as they left Lakeside certainly got a cheer from the passengers. Meanwhile on the Saturday, Charles another visiting engine like Tinkerbell was working hard on the main line, with the crew reporting how impressed they were of our vacuum brakes. Also working hard on the mainline was the Hymek on Saturday and the SNCF on the Sunday, with Tegen working on the mainline both days. On Sunday a visiting vertical boiler engine arrived from the excellent Holycombe steam museum (if you haven’t been go and look at the website – see the links). Which was at home pulling our full passenger trains?

The Vertical boiler engine on the engine line, with the Foden Steam lorry in the back ground
Out in the park and on top of the fair ground, kiddies bikes, paddling pool, café, boating lake and playground we had a visiting (miniature!) showman’s traction engine (maid of Kent) on the Saturday, which was absolutely beautiful, and on the Sunday a full size Foden Steam lorry (Katie). Both were well admired over the event, and their respective owners will be helping in getting more steam vehicles for another event next year!!!

The Showmans engine