It’s a WHOLE YEAR since I visited Statfold Barn Railway! But finally I’m updating you about the fabulous event I attended. So yes on the weekend of 12/13 June 2021 Statfold Barn Railway had a big weekend to celebrate Trangkil’s 50th birthday. I had never been to Statfold Barn Railway before but they had a very special engine visiting – a Prince in fact. So seeing as Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways Prince was in attendance, I went down to do a bit of filming.
Statfold Barn Railway
Statfold Barn Railway is set at Statfold Barn in Tamworth. The railway was established by Graham and Carol Lee and is now home to over 30 narrow gauge engines. There’s three different railway tracks to be found at Statfold – the usual narrow gauge which is the longest track (complete with a loop at the far field), a piece of standard gauge track and a smaller garden railway… seriously it’s a narrow gauge track which goes around the garden. Imagine!
In addition to this, there’s a fantastic little museum of narrow gauge engines at the Roundhouse . Dare I say, much better than the National Railway Museum for me! It’s full of narrow gauge engines and the upstairs section has a number of ex-slate quarry engines there including King of the Scarlets an ex-Dinorwic quarry hunslet. The engine has been kept in the same condition as it left the quarry in the 1960s. It’s a wonderful sight to see.
Trangkil 50th Birthday Celebration Weekend
The event I went to was a big birthday bash for Trangkil who was turning 50. All in all I believe there were 14 engines in steam that weekend including Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways‘ Garratt “K1” and George England engine “Prince”. This is of course why I was there – to help out with filming Prince. It was such a fantastic event! I had never been there before but the place is incredible! You couldn’t turn around without seeing another steam engine coming towards you! Definitely worth a visit!
If you want to see just how brilliant it was then check out my YouTube video…
Regular Events
Having followed Statfold Barn Railway for the last year one thing I have noticed is that there’s always something going on. I would highly recommend checking out their Events Programme. If I was local to Tamworth you can guarantee I’d be attending a lot more of them. Due to the setting, Statfold Barn Railway offers more than just trains… for example in August is a Party in the Park which is a musical festival.
