The next big weekend for many railroads and hobby clubs is Father’s Day, June 17 in the U.S.A., Canada and the UK. Our friends down under hold their Father’s Day Sept. 2 this year!

We’re compiling a list of Father’s Day events. If you know of one, please send it in today!

Thanks,
Neil

This may take a moment to load, as we’re collecting news from around the world…

Our listing of ‘All Things Railroad’ – Events that are on this weekend!

Subscribe to the Railway Weekender: Just use the signup form in the righthand column to sign up for our weekly newsletter. We just switched to HTML format, have a look HERE.  We will email it to  you weekly, usually on Thursdays.

View the Railway Weekender: This Weekend – See Below! | Next Weekend

GOLDEN, COLORADO—Colorado railroads helped unearth many fossils as railroad tracks were laid. Construction crews often exposed these unusual and fascinating bones as they were digging and laying railroad ties. Trains were then used to transport these ‘stone bones’ to museums around Colorado and
throughout the U.S.

Ride and discover the Dinosaur Express Train on May 19 at the Colorado Railroad Museum from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

Make “Fresh Tracks through Prehistory” as children sift through sand in search of fossils, keep dinosaur prizes as a memento of their dig, pan for gold, paint dinosaur tracks and enjoy other dino-related activities.

Be greeted by multiple 12-foot-long Stegosaurus’, whose distinctive tail spikes make it one of the most recognizable dinosaurs. Meet the huge 45-foot-long sea monster, Tylosaurus, face-to-face.

Follow the dinosaur tracks around the Museum’s 15-acre railyard and listen to the adventurous stories of these prehistoric reptiles during our dinosaur story time.

Dinosaur Express Train is in collaboration with the Morrison Natural History Museum, Dinosaur Ridge and Triebold Paleontology.

Admission is $5 for children (under 2 free), $15 for adults, $30 for a family and $10 for seniors over 60.

Thanks to our sponsors: 9News, KOSI 101 and 5280 Magazine.

For more information, visit ColoradoRailroadMuseum.org or call 303-279-4591.

ELY, NV—As if dinner aboard an historic train ride weren’t enough, Nevada Northern Railway adds geology to the mix, with Consulting Geologists Roger Bowers and Bill Wilson; kicking off the Railway’s first dinner train of the season. The Rockin’ & Rollin’ Geology Train leaves the East Ely Depot on Sat., May 19 at 6:30 p.m. This train ride includes dinner and a lighthearted presentation on minerals, copper mining and history of the area, including a bit of railroad history, as well. It is one of the railroad’s most popular dinner trains.

If you’re mesmerized by geodes, fancy rockhounding or are intrigued by the possibilities of finding garnets, copper or, perhaps, gold in the Ely area, then this is the train for you. In fact, nearby Garnet Hill, offers free propsecting for garnets. Of course, even if you’ve never thought of any of these before, this train ride will likely peak your interest and enable you to learn something new in a casual, informal and fun way. One of the highlights of the ride is the finale of a show and tell of ore samples — always drawing “oohs and ahs” from passengers.

The nostalgic ride on an historic train, built in the 1900s, goes through two tunnels, mountains and countryside. The brown bag dinner, included, features a Cornish pasty: a meat and potato pie-crust sandwich, standard fare of old-time miners back in the day. The train ride lasts about two hours and makes a lovely spring evening even more enchanting. Prices are $46 for adults (13+), $25 for children (4-12) and 3 and under are always free. White Pine and Eureka residents receive a $5 per ticket discount. Group rates for parties of just 12 ore nore offer significant discounts.

Seating is limited to just 80 people on this and all dinner trains at the Nevada Northern Railway. As such, early reservations are strongly encouraged to guarantee seating. In addition to new knowlege, fond memories and a full stomach, passengers will each take home a geologist’s peronally prospected and hand-selected souvenir bag of unique stones and minerals.

For more information and to reserve tickets, call the Nevada Northern Railway, National Historic Landmark, at 866-407-8326, locally at 775-289-2085 or visit the website at www.nnry.com. After the Geology Train, the next dinner train of the season is the BBQ Train on Sat., May 26th. This train will be featured during Nevada Northern Railway’s Silver Anniversary Open House Weekend, May 25-28, celebrating the rebirth of passenger steam operations (1987-2012). The weekend features train rides, velocipede and speeder rides, music, food and fun. It is open to the public. Members and military ride free on regular excursions. Memberships start at just $30.

A number of rail vehicles have now arrived for the event, which takes place on 2-10 June, with more historic and record breaking engines expected to descend on York in the coming weeks. However, the Simplex WDLR is certainly one of the most unusual engines to arrive so far and is expected to attract a lot of attention when this rarely seen vehicle goes on public display next month..

The Simplex currently operates on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway however its original purpose was operation on the War Department Light Railways. These were a system of narrow gauge trench railways run by the British War Department in World War I. The railways made an important contribution to the Allied war effort as they were used for the supply of ammunition and stores, the transport of troops and the evacuation of the wounded.

After WWI, the Simplex was rebuilt in 2ft 6ins gauge for service in the sugar industry on the West Indian island of St Kitts. It was later repatriated to England, where it was regauged and refurbished with a diesel engine, and has remained in operation on the on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway ever since.

Anthony Coulls, Senior Curator of Rail Vehicles at the National Railway Museum, said: “The Simplex is just one of a selection of weird and wonderful rail vehicles we will have on display at Railfest 2012. We have everything from traditional looking steam engines like City of Truro and Flying Scotsman, to unusual looking exhibits like the Simplex WDLR, rarely seen track maintenance machines, a sail powered rail vehicle and more.”

The nine day celebration of Britain’s railways will see an enormous space the size of 11 football pitches bustling with an awe-inspiring line up of more than 50 locomotives including record-breaking historic and modern locomotives from the museum’s collection and visiting locomotives from across the UK. A wide variety of railway-related activities, attractions, sights, sounds and smells will add to the exciting atmosphere with the opportunity to get up close to the exhibits.

The festival will bring together over 30 record-breaking locomotives that have made their mark on rail history for being the fastest, strongest, first, last and oldest. Among the confirmed record-breaking attendees is holder of the record for the fastest steam locomotive in the world at 126mph, Mallard, the newest mainline steam locomotive in operation, Tornado, and the most powerful industrial tank engine to run in the UK, Mardy Monster. The first locomotive to reach 100mph, Flying Scotsman, is also set to attend the event. The locomotive is currently undergoing major restoration work and will be on display to the public during Railfest with further work being carried out on Flying Scotsman after the event. Railfest 2012 will welcome the largest gathering of railway record breakers ever brought together in one place.

With key support from the leading rail magazine titles; RAIL, Steam Railway and Model Rail, the festival is expected to draw railway fans from far and wide.

The action-packed event will invite visitors to get-up even closer to the exhibits and locomotives by climbing into the driver’s cab, taking a ride behind working engines of all sizes and speaking to inspiring railway characters. Hundreds of stalls, refreshment areas and live music will also add to the bustling and exciting atmosphere.

A number of special events will take place across the nine days including poetry by Ian McMillan and drawings by cartoonist Tony Husband. Card trickster Ollie Mealing will be working his magic with the Limited Edition Railfest Top Trumps cards which will be available to purchase at the event. Artists David Charlesworth GRA and John Wigston GRA will also be capturing the atmosphere of Railfest on canvas and through detailed pencil sketches.

Two exclusive photography events also take place during Railfest giving railway fans a unique opportunity to get clear shots of their favourite attending locomotives without the hustle and bustle of the crowds. Tickets for the photography sessions are sold separately to the daytime event with only a limited number of places available.

Tickets can be bought by visiting nrm.org.uk/railfest2012 or by calling 0870 870 4840.* Those wishing to attend the event are encouraged to buy their tickets in advance to fast-track their entry and avoid the queues. Ticket prices start at £8 for children aged 2-15 years and £13 for an adult. Family tickets and group offers are available. Railfest will be hosted in an outdoor area at the museum with entry to the rest of the museum remaining free to visitors during the 9 day event. For all the latest updates and announcements, visit nrm.org.uk/railfest2012 or sign-up to receive the museum’s email newsletter.

The Great Central Railway’s evocative wartime weekend returns with an
invitation for families to remember when ‘they didn’t have it so good’.
The event will run for three days from the 8th to the 10th of June 2012,
including for the first time a chance for families to experience the
warring forties. On Friday 8th June children will have the opportunity to
meet The King! King George VI will meet and greet children at Quorn
station before introducing them to a host of 1940s activities and a trip
back in time.

The railway is laying on holiday entertainment 1940s style, including Dancing
lessons, Punch and Judy shows, donkey rides and the chance to be part of a
1940s fashion show. There is also the chance to experience life as an
evacuee.

Thousands of re-enactors will bring the stations and trains to life wearing period clothes, giving twenty first century visitors the closest experience to
time travel they can get. Period music and singers will be appearing
throughout the weekend along with cameo scenes invoking the warring
forties.

On Saturday and Sunday, there will be flypasts of vintage aircraft, visits
from VIPs like Winston Churchill and displays of period vehicles.
Christine Brown, the wartime weekend event organiser said “The weekend
will give visitors the real chance to experience what life was like in
wartime Britain. The memories of a generation will be kept alive in the
music and displays but we should never forget those who paid the
ultimate price for freedom. We are opening the event with a family day
this year so that children can experience the 1940s in a fun interactive
way”

A busy timetable of steam hauled passenger trains will operate during the
event giving visitors the chance to experience everything on offer. Each
station is themed and at the French station ‘Le Birstall’ the new cafe will
showcase live music and stage shows. At Quorn and Woodhouse there will
be a memorabilia market alongside a real ale tent and hot food on sale all
day.

A full list of fares (including family tickets) train times and additional attractions are available on the GCR website – www.gcrailway.co.uk

The ex-London & North Eastern Railway Class B1 4-6-0 steam locomotive “Mayflower” is to attend the Mid Norfolk Railway’s second Annual Steam Gala.

The MNR Gala is to be held on the weekend of Friday 13th to Sunday 15th July 2012.

MNR is currently negotiating at least one other visiting steam locomotive.

B1 locomotives were frequently found hauling service trains across East Anglia.
Their designer was the LNER’s Chief Engineer, Edward Thompson.

Photo[s] by:- George Saville.

Further details of the MNR may be found on our website www.mnr.org.uk.

MNR’s fleet includes locomotives 50019 [Ramillies] and 73210; plus several carriages and a “3-CIG” unit No 1497; they will recreate that “Southern” atmosphere.

50019 with the ‘Intercity’ Blue/Grey coaching set will operate a semi fast style service, as eg went to Salisbury from Waterloo, not always stopping at intermediate stations. [to hear a Class 50 throbbing through Surbiton cutting, as I went to and from work in the 1980’s, was very enthralling, and a very impressive noise-said Leslie Dale MNR PRO]

3-CIG powered by 73210 will provide the ‘all stations’ stopping train, as eg between Southampton and Weymouth; please use this train to get off at intermediate stations.

MNR’s Event Fares apply. Adult Return £10, Senior £9, Family £26, Day Rover £18,
Member Day Rover £12, 2 day Rover £30. Children at half full adult fares.

Breakfast or Afternoon Tea will be served on our Mk3 dining coach, which is part of the Intercity set, on both days – see the timetable for the services on which these are available.

Further details of the MNR may be found on our website www.mnr.org.uk.

The Northwest Railway Museum pays tribute to America’s service men and women and their families this Memorial Day with a special weekday train run on Monday, May 28th. This is in addition to the railroad’s usual weekend train schedule. To commemorate the holiday, the museum will offer $5 roundtrip train fare Saturday, Sunday and Monday, to anyone with a valid current military ID card. The Museum offers scenic train excursions aboard its antique train, through the Cascade foothills of the Upper Snoqualmie Valley, including a ride to the top of Snoqualmie Falls.

Trains depart every 90 minutes beginning at 11:01 AM from the Snoqualmie Depot at 38625 SE King Street and at 11:31 AM from the North Bend Depot at 205 McClellan Street. Regular roundtrip fares: $10 children ages 2-12, $15 adults, and $12 age 62 and up! For more information call the Northwest Railway Museum at 425-888-3030 or visit www.trainmuseum.org.

Visitors to the museum experience the excitement of a working railroad while learning about the important role railroads played in shaping the character of the Pacific Northwest. The Snoqualmie Depot, exhibits and Depot Bookstore are open to the public 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.