These prospective passengers have waited a long time for
their train – 11 years in fact.
Les Darbyshire’s well-remembered Maidstone road layout made
its last of more than 100 exhibition appearances at expoEM at Bracknell in May
2013 when Les himself drove the ceremonial last train into the fiddle yard.
Since then, the layout has been stored at Les’ house with an uncertain future.
The good news is that Les has passed the layout into the care of Bracknell
Railway Society (BRS) along with his fine collection of stock appropriate to a
Colonel Stephens railway. Very little work was needed to return the layout to
an operating state.
It is intended that Maidstone Road will then be regularly
set up and operated at the BRS clubroom. Operating dates following the 2024
exhibition will be notified on the BRS website (bracknellrailwaysociety.co.uk)
and visitors will be welcome.
For some pictures of Maidstone Road’s outing to Camrail 2011, click here.
