Established 1983

23 January 2009 A selection of photographs have just been discovered today in a draw. The photographs are of an event that took place at Sandtoft early in 1998. The  Action for Employment (A4E) won the Regional Award in the Heritage Category for the Dulux Community Projects of 1998. The prize was paint for the ex-Huddersfield Tram Shelter that they had restored on the museum site.

On the left we have our member Ken Hulks (in green jacket) handing over the plaque to the A4E manager. On the right our member David Stubbins (in the red jacket) holds one of the many tins of paint that Dulux presented. The Dulux dog was one of five in the UK that Dulux called upon for events like this.   

Further photographs were taken, the photograph of the Dulux Dog was taken in front of the remains of the 1922 Sheffield Tram that was once used as a chicken run. The electric locomotive Mufuta hauled the SMR coach number one for the occasion. Gordon driving became a member of the SMR but his new career took him away to another area and he remained a member for only two years. When our member David Stubbins sees this page I feel sure he will be able to email some names and perhaps some more details of this unique event.

January 15th 2009 Another year has arrived this being the eighth when our members have not operated a railway at Sandtoft. However our members were far from inactive at the beginning of this month, being involved with the "First Train of 2009" at the Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway.
During 2008 some very informal discussions had taken place to see if we could be involved with rebuilding a railway at Sandtoft. However the terms and conditions were not favourable. Another location within the Sandtoft area where we are presently storing the rail is still on offer. This location which is only a very short distance from the former tracks at Sandtoft is not ideal for public access on a regular basis.

Our member David Stubbins has helped at Thorne since May 2000. David has adopted the steam locomotive Remus ever since he got involved with us in 1997, so it is no surprise to find him helping with the preparation of Remus for "The First Steam Train of 2009" at Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway on the 4th January 2009. Matthew Fox once a member of the SMRgroup now helps David with Remus and the other operations at Thorne is now one of the qualified drivers of the locomotive. Matthew is seen to the right driving Remus which was getting some help from the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Societies electric locomotive "John L Stokes". The rear coach on the set is known as SMR1 this was one of the first coaches on the tracks at Sandtoft. This coach which is on loan to the D&DMESL (Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society Ltd) is one of the most comfortable coaches for passenger use other than the Dual-Purpose Coach which is in storage gathering dust in the D&DMESL shed due to an ongoing legal situation.  The railway at Thorne is operating again next on the 1st February 2009 click here for more details.   

The steam locomotives "Remus" and "Koppel" are due for some major work to be carried out on them. In the case of "Koppel" (with the spark arrestor) this is on going. "Remus" has worked hard during the 2008 season and opened up the 2009 steam service at Thorne. The electric locomotive "Mufuta" that was constructed in 1995 is having a major rewire having a major rewire and should be back on the tracks in the Spring of 2009. "Koppel" was purchased in 2002 for the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society Ltd from the builder our member Harold Dyson. Harold also built "Remus".     

Its some forty years since The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft came into being. I am attempting to pictorially cover those forty years both on this web-site and some by using Microsoft Live. I have very recently obtained a veho FilmScan35 II from the QVC TV shopping Channel. It is a very easy device to use, already I have scanned many slides mainly of trolleybuses in Rotherham and Doncaster. However I still have tackle the many hundreds of colour slides I took of Sandtoft since 1967. I will persevere and new 40 Years at Sandtoft page and images on Microsoft Live will be gradually built up in the next few weeks. Please note there is delay with this page at the moment Sorry! 

On Sunday 12th July 2009 the locomotive reappeared from the depths of a garden shed to be tried out in service on the tracks of the Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway operated by the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society. The locomotive originally built to reopen and implement a full service at Sandtoft in 1994 had for some 13 months been out of service awaiting a rewire. The locomotive will be available for shunting service for the Summer Festival Event this coming 25th & 26th of July  2009. It is also planned to display the locomotive in the Model Marquee during the day. The locomotive was hauling our members, passenger service is planned for the following Sunday

On Sunday 19th July 2009 Mufuta returned to passenger service after being withdrawn for over 13 months. After its tests on the track last week the body went to my house and the chassis to Keith's for some further mechanical adjustments. The locomotive then was put together again and with some final touches to the paintwork by James of the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society the locomotive was ready to haul its first passenger train.
A new SMR badge has been printed off for the cab differing by having the centre and the outer part in red.
It is hoped that the locomotive will be in service for the rest of the 2009 season at Thorne. This will depend upon how it behaves. Since it was built in 1994 it has always tried its hardest to sheer pins, cogs and the chain drives has always had a reputation for jumping off both at Sandtoft and Thorne. Keith has made more adjustments so hopefully this problem has been solved, If not we have another cunning device in reserve.   

Koppel returns to service after four years of restoration. Left the locomotive is being unloaded Friday 24th July 2009. With tape across the tracks held by two young ladies from the Wild West encampment at the 2009 Thorne Summer Festival Event. Luke gives a wave as the locomotive hauls its first passengers. Visit the Microsoft Live Photo Album to see more photographs of it being returned to Thorne and its first day in public service.