Basingstoke Transport Festival - Thank you

On Sunday 8th May (The hottest day of the year so far), we attended the Basingstoke Transport Festival as guests of the Thornycroft Society. Who have put this event on every year for the past 24 years (in partnership with Basingstoke and Deane council). The Basingstoke Transport Festival is a large free transport show/ rally showing all kinds of rare, vintage and unusual road vehicles, at the War Memorial Park in Basingstoke. Supported by many stall holders selling new and used; tools, car parts, models, toys, gardenware, clothing, and the odd sweet and food stall to keep you going.

This year after a Thornycroft Society member saw our layout at the Basingstoke Model railway show, he suggested and asked whether we would like to attend their event as a way for visitors to gain a better understanding of what the factory looked like "back in the day", after all it had a huge impact on the town and its ex-employees, some of whom were at the festival. The Society also put on a small exhibition of old photographs and diagrams of the vehicles produced by the firm and images of the factory - Some we had not seen before. Of course, also on show was a selection of restored Thornycroft lorries.

So, we spent the day chatting to some of the ex-employees and relatives, although they were not old enough to be around in the period of our model (1930's), there were a few who were there from the 50's and 60's who could remember some of the railway line and the buildings. Providing stories and reminiscing about the factory, vehicles and what the buildings were used for. I think all gave our model the stamp of approval, and providing us with a little more insight into what went on.

It was also well received by the general public who passed by - probably not expecting to see a model railway layout on display at a transport festival, but many could relate to it's location and perhaps gain knowledge of the history around Basingstoke, Including the young children who enjoyed it so much, they had to be dragged away by their parents!

Not your normal model railway show, but certainly a great day out. Thanks to all those who passed by and said "hi".

Picture montage showing the Thornycroft society tent and our stand (during some rare quiet time).

Our layout was powered off grid by a Volvo lorry battery (supplied by a kind member of the club) - quite fitting for a transport show!

Ed