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Woodgreen hosts 16th model railway and steam rally show




WOODGREEN’S 16th model railway exhibition and steam rally was hailed a huge success by organisers.

The popular show, run by villagers Charlie and Lynda Warne, featured six model railway layouts using vintage pre-war Dublo/Wrenn trains in the village hall.

Pete Wilcox from Ringwood sits aloft Albert Too as he pulls alongside John Gardener on his replica Burrell engine (photo: Russell Sach)
Pete Wilcox from Ringwood sits aloft Albert Too as he pulls alongside John Gardener on his replica Burrell engine (photo: Russell Sach)
Rod Southern and Pete Parrish taking Lady Ann on a two-mile route through the New Forest (photo: Russell Sach)
Rod Southern and Pete Parrish taking Lady Ann on a two-mile route through the New Forest (photo: Russell Sach)

Twelve engineers from across the New Forest and south coast also came together to proudly show off their working replica models and tell admirers about their heritage.

The engines are based on original traditional working traction engines from the 18th and early 19th centuries.

Andy Geddes and son Tommy with his unique replica steam powered lorry (photo: Russell Sach)
Andy Geddes and son Tommy with his unique replica steam powered lorry (photo: Russell Sach)
Matthew Fallen, president of the Salisbury & District Model Engineering Society, demonstrates some of the models on display in St Boniface Church (photo:Russell Sach)
Matthew Fallen, president of the Salisbury & District Model Engineering Society, demonstrates some of the models on display in St Boniface Church (photo:Russell Sach)

Charlie and Lynda held the event to share knowledge of the country’s engineering heritage and raise funds for two charities, the Alzheimer’s Society and Spires Smiles, which support children and adults with cleft lips and palates. So far they have collected £1,680.

“It was a brilliant event attended by at least 300 people across the two days,” said Lynda. “People were just so happy to be out and about socialising and being a community again – it was really joyful.”

John Steer from Ringwood brought his two-inch scale model of a Burrell Showman’s Tractor (photo: Russell Sach)
John Steer from Ringwood brought his two-inch scale model of a Burrell Showman’s Tractor (photo: Russell Sach)
Pete Parrish with two-inch scale replica of a Fowler 16nhp single cylinder ploughing machine of 1879 (photo: Russell Sach)
Pete Parrish with two-inch scale replica of a Fowler 16nhp single cylinder ploughing machine of 1879 (photo: Russell Sach)

A steam rally outside involved steam engines chugging around the green at the back of the hall, and two half-size road locomotives travelled through the village on return journeys to Breamore.

These were the Lady Ann, a W. Allchin engine built by Rod Southern in 1975, and Albert Too, a Burrell weighing two tonnes built by Pete and Bridget Wilcox from Ringwood.

Pete Wilcox from Ringwood with his self-built half-sized road locomotive Albert Too and John Gardener (left) on his three-inch scaled replica of a Burrell engine (photo: Russell Sach)
Pete Wilcox from Ringwood with his self-built half-sized road locomotive Albert Too and John Gardener (left) on his three-inch scaled replica of a Burrell engine (photo: Russell Sach)

Static miniature fairground and agricultural steam engines took up pride of place in St Boniface Church, and visitors were able to inspect working models of beam engines and early industrial metal presses created by the Salisbury and District Model Engineering Society.

Parishioners of St Boniface Church begin their outdoor service with a hail of whistles from the steam engines (photo: Russell Sach)
Parishioners of St Boniface Church begin their outdoor service with a hail of whistles from the steam engines (photo: Russell Sach)

Stalls run by local businesses, including Bees and Botanicals and Bella Rosa Soap, also featured, along with crafts, activities and refreshments including home-made cakes.

Each exhibitor at the show was treated to a ploughman’s lunch.



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