Rocks By Rail - The Oxfordshire Ironstone Quarries Remembered Gala
Sunday, September 17th
Rocks By Rail recalls the quarrying activity of the Oxfordshire Ironstone Company in this special event.
For many decades the East Midlands was home to open cast ironstone quarrying on a large scale. The countryside was littered with quarries and their associated railway systems, each one being a hive of activity ultimately feeding a steelworks. The 1960s and 70s saw a reduction in demand for domestic ore, and one by one the quarries closed.
Of the many ironstone companies operating in the Midlands, the Oxfordshire Ironstone Company (OIC) was the second largest, being second only the the vast operations at Corby operated by Stewarts & Lloyds.
This gala aims to showcase and demostrate exhibits from the days of the OIC, including no less than three diesel Sentinel locomotives - Jean, Betty, and Graham.
The quarry demonstration area, Cottesmore East Pit, will provide visitors with chance to see the action of an authentic ironstone quarry recreated by museum voluteers and our fleet of locomotives. Quarry machines will be in operation simulating the loading of wagons. The wagons will be shunted to form a train, and then the 'full' wagons will be exchanged for a new train of 'empties'. And of course, there will be the ever popular 'runs up the bank' with trains of hopper or tippler wagons being hauled up the 1/60 gradient - see our locos working at their hardest and best!
Also in operation will be The Rutlander Train, providing passenger brake van rides - Pay once and ride all day!
Visitors can also view our fleet of historic ironstone locomotives in the recently opened Simon Layfield Exhibition Centre which now houses the greater part of the museums collection. The Woolsthorpe Workshop is also open for visitors to see progress of ongoing locomotive restoration.
The Sundew Cafe will be open to provide visitors with hot and cold beverages and snacks.
Price: Adult £8, Senior Citizen £7, Child (3-14 years) £5
Rocks By Rail
Ashwell Road (Cottesmore iron ore mine siding)
Cottesmore
LE15 78X
The event runs from 10:30am to 4:00pm
