The Mid-Suffolk Light Railway, commonly known as “The Middy”, is to provide the chance to get away from all the excitement of tomorrow’s Coronation of King Charles III by opening on Sunday, 7th and Monday, 8th May for a complete change of pace at a rural railway of the early 20th century.

Instead of a golden coach and all the pageantry of the big day, there will be steam trains, Victorian carriages, and staff with ever-helpful volunteer staff.

Not to be totally overshadowed by the Royal event, the Mid-Suffolk expects to be running two locos in steam, as well as its award-winning Shredded Wheat shunter Shreddie and its Wickham railmotor. There will be plenty to watch, but definitely no tiaras.

Taking on passenger train duties during the weekend will be the railway’s resident locomotives, the over 100 years old Cockerill 0-4-0 well tank tram and the comparative youngster, 80-year-old Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0 saddle tank Wissington.

The Cockerill 0-4-0 well tank tram is a rarity in the UK as it was built in Belgium. In most conventional British engines, the boiler is mounted vertically instead of horizontally, which means it raises steam a lot quicker than the railway’s other engines, in less than an hour compared to three or four. Besides a well tank, most of its water is carried under the footplate and frames rather than over the boiler or in a tender.

For their journeys on the line, passengers can enjoy steam train rides in genuine Victorian four-wheel carriages. Other attractions are a Museum, Restoration Shed, cafe, souvenir shop, and the Middy’s real ale bar will be to toast the weekend.

The Mid-Suffolk is located at Brockford Station at Wetheringsett near Stowmarket in Suffolk It has a full programme of open days following the Coronation weekend, and is open every Sunday and Bank Holiday from 28th May to 3rd September, starting with “Middy in the 40s” on 28th and 29th May, which is the railway’s tribute to those who served to preserve our freedom both at home and overseas in the dark years between 1939 and 1945.

Full details and ticket information can be found online at www.mslr.org.uk.