All steamed up at Exbury

It’s full steam ahead at Exbury Gardens as engines of all shapes and sizes show themselves off during the annual two days of ‘Steam in the Gardens’.
From full size traction engines to miniature road vehicles, the Gardens, on the banks of the Beaulieu River in Hampshire, will be alive to the sound and evocative smell of steam on Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd October 2011.

Enthusiasts will find model layouts in the engine shed while Exbury’s own steam engines, Mariloo, Rosemary and Naomi, will be on duty to take visitors from Exbury Central through the Summer Lane garden and into the north-east part of the main Garden. Special double and triple-headings of engines are planned at intervals over the weekend.

There’ll be a ‘Cavalcade of Steam’ as the gently steaming engines line up in front of the impressive backdrop of Exbury House, home to the de Rothschild family. Cavalcades are scheduled to take place at 12 noon and 3pm on both Saturday and Sunday.

“This is the ninth year of Steam in the Gardens,” said Ian Wilson, Exbury Railway Foreman. “Old Glory” magazine have called this event a “hidden treasure”, and the combination of steam and historic setting and autumn colours means that visitors will enjoy a wonderful day out. There will be steam engines of all sorts here over the weekend, lots of demonstrations and plenty for people to see and do.”

Steam in the Gardens takes place on the weekend of October 1st and 2nd from 10am to 5pm, when the autumn colours (a little early this year) will be nearing their peak.  Admission is free to everyone who buys a ticket for entry to the Gardens, (Adults £9; seniors / concessions £8.50; children £2) and railway tickets are £3.50 per person (under 3’s free). Family tickets are available.
The Gardens are open daily until Sunday November 6th 2011, 10am-5pm last admission. For more information, please visit www.exbury.co.uk