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This page is dedicated to those rare gentlemen of the road - the drivers of farm vehicles who, aware of the queue building up behind them, actually pull in from time to time to let them pass.... (No, I didn't have a very good journey down to Lea Line)

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A significant event in the narrow gauge calendar is the annual open day at Alan Keef Ltd., at Lea Line near Ross-on-Wye. I'd been intending to go for several years, but never quite managed. This year, there was the added incentive of some interesting events on the route of the Bromyard - Leominster line. There was a good weather forecast too!

Keef's are pretty well known these days for their work with narrow gauge railways, supplying a variety of new and rebuilt locos and equipment to industrial and pleasure lines at home and abroad. This was reflected in the amazing variety of interesting things present, ranging from the dismantled 3ft gauge 0-6-2T, West Clare Rly no. 5, to a brand new 15" gauge diesel, yet to be painted, for the Difflin Lake Railway (again, in Ireland). 

The main attraction for steam fans was the presence, in steam and in action on the passenger train (one four-wheeled open coach!), of three locos - Bagnall "Woto" (WB2133 of 1924), and two DeWintons - "Chaloner", built in 1877, and "Taffy", built by Keef in 1994 to the same basic recipe...

Perhaps a couple of hours passed by here - great fun! - before I succumbed to an excellent pork and stuffing bap, necessary fuel for the short journey to Bromyard and further interesting things. Keef's are to be commended for making this event possible, and for passing the proceeds - just over £1800 - to the local school and church.

Links:

• Alan Keef Ltd

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