Every so often, I get the urge for a day out. Something to do with working from home I suppose, combined with a month that includes no work trips (this changes big time next month). Waking up on Saturday and being unable to see the bottom of the garden for fog, didn't help.
Some photos on social media of the 16mm trains at the Battlefield Line "Winter Warmers" gala looked good, and a quick check on Google maps showed it to be only 50 minutes drive away. How have I never been there?
Sunday dawned bright and clear, I hopped in the car, hoping for some steamy goodness. I wasn't alone, as by the Market Bosworth car park was full. Heading back out to find an alternative, a helpful steward moved a barrier to make an extra space for me.
Outside there was a GWR 1320 class hissing away, and an Austerity further down the line.
The show part took place in the good shed, so I wandered in to the warm and imediatly found plenty of friends to chat to. And the warm smell of sausage batches.
The 16mm layout "Llantaliog" was providing more steam entertainment, and proving how much fun you can have in 10' by 8' in 32mm gauge.
Outside, there were more bigger chuffers running.
The sausage batch and chips was excellent, but there was a marked lack of cake. Still, a jolly few hours was had, and I'll certainly be back again in the future. Not least because there is a cafe at Shakerstone station appearently.And the fish'n'chip trains later in the year sound fun too.