Full steam ahead for new loco ‘Jenny’ with Mornflake support

Railway enthusiasts have welcomed a new addition to their team after enjoying a bumper summer season at the Peacock Railway, Willaston, Cheshire.

South Cheshire Model Engineering Society which runs the attraction has welcomed more than 1,000 visitors this summer after extending opening hours to Wednesdays during August and attracting sponsorship from breakfast manufacturer Mornflake.

The family business supported the purchase of a new Gauge 1 locomotive which is now in action after several months of restoration and an orange paint job displaying Mornflake branding.

The steam loco, named Jenny, is now running on the society’s new table-top railway that people can get close up to and be involved with, especially children.

A spokesman said: “It’s been a great season so far with much bigger attendances helped by a growing social media following and our very successful Wednesday run days which have helped attract grandparents and children.

“As they’ve queued, we’ve chatted and found many travelling from quite a distance such as one family from Halifax.

“Weekends have been very busy and it’s been good to see families enjoying rides and taking the opportunity for a picnic on sunny days.

“We’re very keen to encourage engineers of the future and the table top Gauge 1 railway, now with steam locomotive Jenny, is helping to inspire them, thanks to Mornflake.”

Jenny is being looked after by junior members as the Society. She was built in July 2001 at the Doncaster works of Roundhouse Engineering and has a running career up and down the country.

He added:  “Support such as this from Mornflake is important as we are not a commercial organisation.

“Ticket sales are ploughed back into running the railway as a community asset and covering upgrades to facilities such as the new toilets we will build over the winter, ready for next season.”

 The track, based behind the Peacock pub on Crewe Road, was officially opened in 1993 by the Mayor of Crewe and Nantwich and has been hugely popular ever since.

It offers rides around a 5-inch railway track which is almost a quarter of a mile in length. Two laps cost just £1.

The Peacock Railway is one of several organisations supported by Mornflake in its 350^th anniversary year.

In July the company welcomed HRH The Princess Royal to open a new ‘Oat Milling Centre of Excellence’ at its Gresty Road headquarters in Crewe.

Managing director James Lea said: “We’re delighted Jenny has made her debut and is inspiring young engineers of the future.  Crewe’s history is built on engineering excellence and locomotive manufacturing. It’s great that the Society is keeping this heritage alive.”

For more on the Peacock Railway and upcoming attractions including a new Halloween event see southcheshiremes.co.uk/events