to pester me. So when I discovered the railway club's mem­


for a turn around the track. Nowadays, it's the turn of my daughter, Rubv


E As a child, I recall pleading with my parents bership was dwindling, I thought what better


time to write a feature about this much-loved attraction. With spring finally upon us and Easter just


around the corner, there really Is no better fam­ ily outing than a day at the miniature railway and surrounding park at Edisford Bridge. For just 50p, children of all ages can travel


twice around the track, before hopping off to enjoy an ice cream, paddle in the River Ribble,


have a turn on the play area or even feed the ducks. As I've already said, on a fine day, it's hard to


find such a great, and cheap, family day out in the Ribble Valley.


_ And at this time of year, it's full steam ahead


for the club's railway enthusiasts, who are aiready preparing the track for another season, which they hope to kick off on Good Friday weather permitting.


since 1979, Ribble Valley Live Steamers' model railway really is a locai institution.


Engineering Society, which was set up in the 1950s, iost its site at Witton Park and decided to


It was formed after the Blackburn Model


relocate to more rurai pastures. In its heyday, RVLS boasted more than


100 members. Nowadays that membership has fallen to less than 30 consisting of, in the


main, retired engineers, aiongside other steam enthusiasts.


j;since1989. . Having said that, the club does have some


^ , As engineering has declined it has become harder to attract members," explained Peter Bleasdale, who has been a member of RVLS


younger members, who are in their teens, and It IS this variation in membership that the club


is actively encouraging in order to safeguard its existence.


"The locomotives we run are exactiy like the


fuil-size versions in every detail. We light a fire inside, just like in the big ones, the only differ­ ence is ours are in miniature," said Peter. Explaining that his passion for model engines


added. Most of our members will build a model from scratch, which can take anything up to 10 years to complete, while others buy their models second hand or in kit form."


f electric Hornby trains, he


And for prospective members, who do not have their own locomotive or are not confident


budding one, the ciub allows new members to operate a club locomotive.


Run in partnership with Ribble Valley Bor­


ough Council, the main aims of this non-profit making club is to provide a site for its members to run their locomotives, while at the same time


ottering a great amenity for the local commu­ nity.


A track like we have is not something that


you can build in your ov/n garden, unless you've got a huge garden that is. So the site provides


somewhere for members to run their own lo­ comotives." explained the club's new chairman Peter Hothersall. "Members have tried to nurture the site by


planting trees to create a more interesting lay out and the track was actually extended in 1991," added fellow member Peter Bleasdale. The track is open to the public every Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. from Good


Friday right through to September, weather depending, and outside this time is open to •enthusiasts keen to run their locomotives. All the club's funding comes from revenue


made by the rides and members' fees. "Any funds are ploughed back into maintain­


ing the track and site. We cut the grass our­ selves and maintain all the fencing," chairman Peter added.


A real family affair, the enthusiasts' wives


also get involved and can often be seen keeping their felias in cups of tea. The club will be holding an open day on Sat­


urday, June 25th, when other clubs will descend on Edisford with their own locomotives. ■ RVLS members will also be exhibiting some


of their static models at a model exhibition at Barley Village Hall over the May Bank Holiday


weekend starting at noon on Saturday, April 30th. "If you're anything like us and have got fed


up of playing with your own children's toy train sets and fancy playing with a bigger toy, come and check us out," Peter Hothersall challenged. ■ For more information about becoming a


member of RVLS contact chairman Peter on. 01200 425404.


Up and running at the Clitheroe beauty spot


ver since I can remember there has been a miniature railway at Edisford Bridge in Clitheroe.


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