Fresh from its 1940s event last month, the ‘Middy’ has revealed its programme of events for this month.

Suffolk‘s only standard gauge heritage railway will be running steam trains, featuring Victorian four-wheel coaches, plus additional attractions on Sundays.

Sunday 9 June – Steam Railway and The Big ‘O’ Gauge Model Railway Show

For the first time, the Middy will be staging an exclusively ‘O’ gauge model railway show on one of its Steam Railway Days.

It will welcome some of the best O gauge modellers, exhibiting examples of their building and layout skills. Visitors will be able to view a range of layouts, displays, demonstrations and traders, which will show how viable this scale is for use at home. Exhibitors will be available to answer questions and give advice.

16 June 2024 – Steam Railway & Railway Art Exhibition Day: Middy Memories by Malcolm Root

On Fathers’ Day, the Middy will host the second exhibition of railway art by Malcolm Root, Vice Chair of the Guild of Railway Artists.

Malcolm’s most recognisable work is probably ‘Middy Memories’, depicting the branch engine J15 65447 at Laxfield at the end of the line.

He will be available to answer questions about his techniques, work and his skill in bringing railway scenes to life. Malcolm has been a successful railway artist for over 40 years.

Plus the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group will run its shuttle service from Stowmarket station to the Middy station, with buses leaving Stowmarket for Brockford at 10:00, 11:00, 12:30 and 15:00, and the last return service leaving Brockford for Stowmarket at 16:30.

Sunday 23 June – Steam Railway Day and East Anglian Practical Classics visit

The East Anglian Practical Classics Motor Club returns to the Middy, promising to fill the station’s concourse with vintage vehicles.

The Railway points out that the cars will be “probably less of the “Corr look at that”, and more of the “I had one of those”, but delightful nonetheless. A show of pride in the horseless carriage.”

Sunday 30 June – Steam Railway and Vintage Bus Day

On the last Sunday of June, the Middy will hold its second Vintage Bus Day, featuring many of the vehicles that starred in last year’s event.

Several of the buses will take passengers on rides around the nearby countryside, and the Eastern Counties Bus Preservation Group will run a shuttle service from Stowmarket station during the day, departing Stowmarket at 10:00, 11:00, 12.:30 and 15:00 and returning from Brockford at 14:30.

Always available …

At all these events, the Middy Steam trains run all day, with visitors allowed to ride as often as they like. The Museum, tea room, Restoration Shed and real ale Middy Bar will also be open.