Having hosted our friends from the Vale of White Horse Railway in December, Russell and Auric paid a return visit to Oxfordshire in January, for a South Oxfordshire Area Group "Mince Pie" steam-up. This was, in fact, the first time that the MVR has successfully fielded two live steam locos at a garden meeting, so it was a proud moment for the MVR. Unfortunately, Auric blotted her copybook with several derailments; on close examination, we concluded that her wheelsets are, in fact, slightly under-gauge. Although her wheelsets are supposed to be regaugeable, the fixing screws appear to have become seized over the years; hopefully a little WD40 will enable the issue to be resolved!
You will see from the photographs that we also used the event to re-launch wagon Q1 into service, her painting now completed. The VWHR also unveiled several newly-acquired vehicles at the event, including an Accucraft Isle of Man half-brake coach and a rake of Welshpool & Llanfair wagons in bauxite livery.