Once again Bob Blackstock organised a great run from Severn View Services, across the Severn Bridge, past Tintern Abbey (where several of the participant stopped for coffee) through the Wye Valley, to our destination, Norchard Station on the Dean Forest Railway. The weather was grey and overcast and a bit cool, different to the day before when we had a lot of sun, typical when you drive a sports car! We had a small shower of rain prior to setting off from home, so I kept the roof up on the MGF until we reached Severn View and the skies brightened and the roof came down.
16 Mgs and one modern Honda Jazz (the MG had an electrical problem so was left behind) took the route from Severn View and 6 MGs from the other starting point of Starbucks Car Park Ross-On-Wye. We all arrived at Norchard around midday and headed for the Cafeteria for some hot food and beverages or those with picnics sat on the benches on the lower platform.
A round trip on the train takes around around 1 hour 30 minutes and runs south from Norchard to Lydney Town and onto Lydney Junction, then returns to Norchard before travelling north to Whitecroft and Parkend stations. The train then returns to Norchard.
It should have been a steam day but due to the lack of rain over the last few weeks, the line side grass and bracken were tinder dry and they could not risk sparks from the steam train setting light to the undergrowth. So a diesel engine was bought into service for the day.
The station had a Shop and Museum as well as the Cafeteria, plus one of the old coaches had been converted into a bookshop and model railway shop.
The MGs all parked together in a separate area of the large car park and drew some admiring glances as people drove by. The photos below show the MGs at Severn View and also at Norchard station, along with some sights of the station train yard.
