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Following the arrival of our loco build frames the footplate and running boards are also being fabricated by Pegg’s of Aldeburgh. The pony wheels are currently being cast by Thurton Foundries, with the driving wheels to follow as soon as construction of the pattern has been completed in Reydon. We do like to keep t hings local when we can! It would be nice to get the rolling chassis constructed before the end of the year…
Just in at the shop and available online: a delightful set of 8 Xmas cards depicting suitably snowy scenes from the track bed of the Southwold Railway – 2 each of 4 different views. Very festive – and only £6.00 a set.
 Michael Kennedy in 'tourist guide' mode. The view from inside the carriage on the Cavan & Leitrim Railway at Dromod. Michael Kennedy (standing) has, almost single-handedly, provided sanctuary for destitute cars, buses, aircraft, hearses, and locos and rolling stock of both 2′ and 3′ gauge. He was fascinated by our plans to reinstate part of the SR near Wenhaston and happily shared his vast experience with us, providing many potentially useful contacts.
Funds are low at present, but Michael hopes ultimately to be able to restore the line as far as Mohill – 5¾ distant. When the Dromod bypass was built two years ago he managed to persuade the constructors to instal a narrow gauge tunnel under the road in readiness for future extensions! Heartfelt thanks to Michael and his helpers for making us really welcome – we felt like old friends within 10 minutes!
For more photos of the trip visit our Photos page. The Cavan & Leitrim will have their own website up-and-running in the very near future, which you can access via our Links page.
While we await the final tweaking of our Wenhaston project plans it’s good to know that we are generating a lot of interest in what we are trying to do. Apart from a growing potential labour force for when it comes to the actual job of preparations for re-laying of track, we have actually been contacted by the owner of a 3′ gauge Simplex 0-4-0 diesel Motor Rail loco! He has most generously offered it to the Trust – free of charge – for use in our reinstatement. We hope to let you know more on this and other developments once the planning application has been submitted and, ultimately approved!
 Genuine SR way bill One of our members has donated a stock of genuine Southwold Railway way bills for sale in the shop to help our funds. Unusual things such as ice and watercress would be listed (in quantities of not less than 2 tons) along with the wagon number and delivery destination. We also have 2 new fridge magnet designs in – one of which features our new BLYTH logo. Why not visit the Shop page for full details?
 Keep young and old alike occupied during the holidays with our new Southwold Railway Activity Fun Pack: games and puzzles, colouring (with crayons or coloured pencils included), an engine to construct, a jigsaw, a full colour postcard, and train counters and die to play an enjoyable board game too! What more could you ask for?
 Level crossing lamp from Wenhaston station Found in a ditch by the road at Wenhaston Station site, this original Southwold Railway gate lamp provided warnings on the only public level crossing along the line. All four convex lamp glasses (2 red – 2 clear) are in beautiful condition, which is more than can be said for the metal lamp itself! To see pictures featuring the gate go to pages 8 and 9 of the February 2005 issue on our Newsletters page.
Anyone got any ideas how to go about removing over half a century’s encrustations?
 Looking west towards Halesworth at Laurel Farm We are making real progress with the scheme to reinstate over one mile of track on the original trackbed near Laurel Farm (originally Beaumur), Wenhaston. There seems to be enthusiasm for the idea in Wenhaston village, with the planning department and Suffolk County Council also being very encouraging. We have also been talking to Suffolk Wildlife Trust who, we hope, will be actively involved in the wildlife aspects of the project that we wish to encourage. The planning application is nearing completion – watch this space to see when it has been submitted!
 - The Whistle is proudly displayed by Oliver Densham and Stewart Green
Oliver Densham and Stewart Green of the Southwold Railway Trust with an old train whistle donated to the 2-4-0 Club Locomotive Project by local Trust member John London. It will eventually sit on the cab roof. Trust Chairman John Bennett said that the Trust was delighted to receive it and was thrilled with the response since the launch of the 2-4-0 Club earlier this month since when a number of donations have been made. “I can almost hear the whistle!” he said.
 - Close up photo of the steam whistle
Sponsors can donate a component related to £240 shares. John Bennett also said “If anyone knows of any rolling stock which is or could be converted to three foot gauge (the unusual gauge of the Southwold Railway) we would be very pleased to hear from them”. The photo is taken in the Southwold Railway Shop (27 High Street, Southwold) which contains a full size replica of a Southwold railway coach.
 The 2-4-0 loco frames ready to be unveiled at the 2-4-0 Club Launch Railway Rabbit Stew and Trackside Fruit Crumble were served to ninety guests who attended the official launch of the 2-4-0 Club at the Engine Shed on 16th March. John Bennett, Chairman of the Trust thanked Club members for their support and invited others to join and support the project. Many did so. Finally, he invited Bernard Hill, to unveil the frames.
 The frames of the new locomotive as they have just been asssembled and painted The Southwold Railway Trust is building a fully working replica of the Sharp Stewart 1879 2-4-0 tank locomotive called “BLYTH” – No 3 – one of the two locomotives of this type which ran on the Southwold Railway throughout its fifty year history. Here are the “frames”, the chassis of the locomotive, delivered to the Southwold Engine Shed on 4th March.
The Two-Four-O Club has been set up to offer partners and sponsors the opportunity of buying £240 shares in the engine and, in so doing, sponsor a particular component such as a boiler tube, or wheel. The locomotive will be constructed in a Southwold workshop equipped with lifting gear and generously made available to the Trust by local builders Duncan & Son. The Loco Fund currently stands at £25,000 of the £120,000 needed. J.T.Pegg & Son, the metalworkers of Aldeburgh, has provided the frames, the structural base for the locomotive, Other components will follow.
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hings local when we can! It would be nice to get the rolling chassis constructed before the end of the year…
