Rusty

   Another special visitor to the Thornham Bay Light Railway from the Skarloey Railway on the Isle of Sodor, this time it's Rusty the Diesel who has offered to help work the line.

Rusty particularly enjoyed working the docks at King's Landing.

Island of Sodor comes to Thornham

   I don't think it will any surprise if I say I am a fan of Thomas the Tank Engine. I have both the engines from the Skarloey railway that Bachmann have so far produced, and will be picking up Rusty when that is released and I have a project to get some rolling stock built and painted for the same railway. But recently I discovered that Bachmann not only did the narrow gauge engines in the US but also the main line and other non-railway related famous names, i.e. Bertie, Harold and Trevor.
   Bertie and Harold, especially, have stuck in my mind for their parts in the stories, so knowing I could get appropriately sized versions was amazing.

Bachmann Bertie next to the Hornby Thomas

Special Visitor Gala

   Following the success of the last Sodor railways guest engine gala day, the Skarloey Railway has sent over, not one, but two of it's engines to spend the day working the Thornham Light Railway. Skarloey has come back for a second visit and bought the railway's number two, Rheneas with him.

   The two engines spent the day pulling tourist trains full of enthusiastic guests and stopping for photos together.

Both engines enjoyed their day out and the enthusiasts have given rave reviews, so the management is already looking to book more guests for the future.

Special visitors

      Work, and life, continue as normal on the Thornham bag light railway but this week has seen some special happen. The controller of the narrow gauge sent a letter to the thin controller on the Isle of Sodor to ask for some help attracting visitors to his line and he was surprised when a letter came back saying the Sodor railways would do better than that.

      On the main line from London came Thomas, the Sodor Number 1, with his two coaches, Annie and Clarabel, and with a low rider attached at the back, on which was the Skarloey railway's number 1, Skarloey himself.

      After a number of photo-calls (I am hoping to add more in the future) the pair left to run their respective tourist trains and to be seen around the railway.

        The event seems to have been a success for both railways and talks are in place for future events like this to run in the future.