Amerton Gala 2022
Small South Staffs Steamers
© Geoff’s Rail Diaries 2022
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
26 June 2022
the original Kerr Stuart design. Lastly, there’s 105-year- old visitor Diana - a single side-tank (a Kerr Stuart ‘Sirdar’) amongst half-a-dozen saddle tanks. Unlike the locomotives, which appeared to be on best behaviour, the weather wasn’t quite so cooperative - it’s windy (no video today) but sunny, with passing clouds timing themselves to coincide with passing trains. We can’t stay forever, but before we head for home, one of us will feel the need to visit the farm shop for goodies to take home with us. We like Amerton… Link: Amerton Railway
An afternoon at Amerton should be appropriately alliterative - and good fun too! With seven steam locomotives in action (and a Motor-Rail chugging about in the sidings), there should be plenty to see. There are two freights, running anti-clockwise, and a clockwise passenger train. They pass at the main Amerton station and at Chartley loop, and the service is just about as intensive as it can be, given the need to change locomotives occasionally. I should be more specific: 2022 marks the 125th birthday of Isabel, centrepiece of the Amerton fleet. Of the others, visiting Peter Pan and resident Lorna Doone are 100 this year. That’s one Bagnall and two Kerr Stuart ‘Wrens’; also visiting are Bagnall Woto (a mere 98!) and Wren Roger (104). Resident Jennie is just 15 years old, a ‘new-build’ Wren to
Amerton departure: Peter Pan and Lorna Doone A pair of Bagnalls - Woto and Isabel Grassland! Diana at Chartley loop Woto approaches Chartley. Are there any rails? Ah yes - there they are! Woto embarks on another round trip ... and meets the Motor-Rail Motor-Rail - a reminder of industrial days gone by Here's Isabel with a freight Roger and Jennie take their turn on the passenger All clear! Diana on the other frieght Roger and Jennie are passing the pool Roger and Jennie head back towards Amerton Lorna Doon and Peter Pan on the freight Woto crosses Amerton Brook Amerton (Waterhouses) signal box Goodbye to Amerton (until the next time?)