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.
Maidstone Road, with Les among the operating team, will be
at the BRS exhibition at Pinewood Hall, Pinewood Centre, Old Wokingham Road,
Wokingham, Berks RG40 3AQ on Sunday 3 November 2024 10.30-16.30. We look
forward to seeing you there.It is intended that Maidstone Road will then be regularly
set up and operated at the BRS clubroom. Operating dates following the
exhibition will be notified on the BRS website (bracknellrailwaysociety.co.uk)
and visitors will be welcome.
