First visit to Lea Line
Keef's Open Day
14 September 2002
A significant event in the narrow
gauge calendar is the annual open
day at Alan Keef Ltd., at Lea Line
near Ross-on-Wye. I'd been
intending to go for several years,
but never quite managed. This year,
there was the added incentive of some
interesting events on the route of the
Bromyard - Leominster line. There was a
good weather forecast too!
Keef's are pretty well known these days for their work with
narrow gauge railways, supplying a variety of new and rebuilt
locos and equipment to industrial and pleasure lines at home and
abroad. This was reflected in the amazing variety of interesting
things present, ranging from the dismantled 3ft gauge 0-6-2T,
West Clare Rly no. 5, to a brand new 15" gauge diesel, yet to be
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
painted, for the Difflin Lake Railway
(again, in Ireland).
The main attraction for steam fans
was the presence, in steam and in
action on the passenger train (one
four-wheeled open coach!), of three locos -
Bagnall "Woto" (WB2133 of 1924), and two
DeWintons - "Chaloner", built in 1877, and
"Taffy", built by Keef in 1994 to the same basic recipe...
Perhaps a couple of hours passed by here - great fun! - before I
succumbed to an excellent pork and stuffing bap, necessary fuel
for the short journey to Bromyard and further interesting things.
Keef's are to be commended for making this event possible, and
for passing the proceeds - just over £1800 - to the local school
and church.
Link:
Alan Keef Ltd
