The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway once wound its way from Haughley Junction on the Great Eastern main line to the small village of Laxfield. With 10 stations along its 19 miles the 'Middy' was full of charm and character, but like many light railways saw very little traffic, and just 44 years after opening, British Railways closed the line in the summer of 1952. Exactly 60 years on, and the born again Mid-Suffolk Light Railway is going from strength to strength as they hosted their first Steam Gala.

Three locos were in steam over the weekend, seeing action on both freight and passenger trains. The M&GN Society's recently restored Hudswell Clarke No. 1700 Wissington arrived a few days before (with the paint just about dry!) and hauled its first ever passenger trains at the event. The loco has the auspicious title of being the last working steam loco in East Anglia, and will be staying at the Middy for the remainder of the year. Visiting just for the weekend was smartly turned out Peckett 0-4-0ST Hornpipe. Finally, the engine with the snappy name, Falmouth Docks & Engineering Company No. 3 (or just 'Number 3'). The Hawthorn Leslie built 0-4-0ST has been the line's resident loco for the past couple of years, but was due to move on after the gala weekend.

The station at Brockford captures superbly the atmosphere and charm of the Middy. You can enjoy a bit to eat and a cup of tea (or a Beer from the grounded coach body that is the Real Ale Bar), and watch a Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 draw into the station with a couple of wooden bodied coaches, just like it used to be – magic.

The Mid-Norfolk Railway's second Steam Gala took an Eastern theme with two immaculately turned out apple green visitors. Recently overhauled B1 61306 Mayflower was joined by well traveled N2 1744.

Usually based at the Great Central Railway, BR 2MT 78019 called in at the Mid-Norfolk Railway on its way back from a period of operation on the South Devon Railway. The pictures below were taken during the loco's first day in service. I believe that it is quite possible that 78019 is the first BR standard to have worked the line. (Unless anyone else knows differently?)

Entitled the 'Fab Four', the plan was to line up all four LNER Pacific designs for the first time in the preservation era. However the protracted overhaul of A3 4472 Flying Scotsman meant that this couldn't be achieved. However, the sight of two fully streamlined garter blue A4s was more than enough to draw a large crowd at the specially organised Russ Hillier photo charter. The A4s were joined by a host of other LNER designs to make Barrow Hill's 'Fab Four' event a memorable one. Locos in steam: Y7 1310, N2 1744, A4 4464 Bittern, A1 60163 Tornado, K4 61994 The Great Marquess, J94 68030, J72 69023 and Sir Berkeley. Locos on static display: C1 251, D11 506 Butler-Henderson, A4 4468 Mallard, V2 4771 Green Arrow, J17 8217, 60532 Blue Peter, 1F 41708, Black 5 45110 and Yugoslavian 'Yank tank' 30075.