The annual Kirklees Light Railway gala weekend has rolled around again, this year's theme is milestones, with the 60-year old 'River Mite' and 50-year old 'Northern Rock' visiting from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
The Ratty was also represented in miniature by Daniel Winter's 'Denton Road', an O9 combination of elements from several railways. but with a strong Ratty theme to to the stock.
20 years ago I was building freelance O9 stock from bits of plastic kits and eventually evolving to scratchbuilding prototypical equipment. Daniel has embraced 3D printing to produce those components that are required over again, such as R&ER enclosed stock, but still scratchbuilds other items, including the Rivers Irt and Mite seen here with the proposed Greenly 0-8-4T single Fairlie.
There's even an Atlantic, which has prompted me to consider getting my long-stalled project out again (well, that and a visit to Rhyl during the summer...)
Not everything is unique to the layout - the Chivers Finelines open coach makes an appearance, one of the few commercial O9 items that represents true miniature railway practice. A reminder that if you wish to order one, they are only available directly from Chivers Finelines.
This was the first occasion that I have seen and had the chance to ride behind 'Northern Rock', a very impressive machine indeed, so much so that I had two rides up the hill behind her, I usually try and get an uphill ride behind all visiting locos but having ridden behind 'River Mite' before I made an exception, opting for a downhill run instead.
If you're reading this as soon as I post it, there is still a chance to see it all on Sunday 13th September!
Colin
