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Pete Waterman at Beer Heights Light Railway at Pecorama.
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Pete Waterman officially unveiled Pecorama's new locomotive.
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Crowds of people watched the new locomotive's launch.
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New
line and loco unveiled at PecoNew attractions
at Beer Heights Words and pictures by
Pete Le Riche TELEVISION celebrities Pete Waterman and Bob Symes
were in Beer last weekend joining in the celebrations for the 30th anniversary
of the Beer Heights Light Railway at Pecorama.
An estimated crowd of more
than 1,000 attended during the two days, to see Mr Symes open the new branch line
and Mr Waterman name the new locomotive.
Pecorama’s spokesman Mark
Ridgers said: “We had a very good attendance, and even the weather was kind
to us.
“Pete Waterman had an enjoyable day. He arrived at 11am and
couldn’t wait to get out on the track. He was knocked out; he thought it
was wonderful.
“He made a marvellous speech to lots of people and
unveiled the new loco’s name.” Mr Waterman is known to be a railway
enthusiast and has his own model railway company.
The new engine, the ninth
at the attraction, was named Claudine after Pecorama founder Sidney Pritchard’s
wife.
Mr Ridgers said: “It goes well with one of the other engines
called Mr P, which was how Sidney Pritchard was affectionately known.”
On
Saturday, Bob Symes opened the railway’s branch line to its new station at
Wildway Park.
“He made a short speech and we were carried out on the
new shuttle while a marvellous Highland piper, Fergus Holmes, serenaded us.
“He
was brilliant,” Mr Ridgers said.
Visitors enjoyed a variety of other
attractions during the weekend, including folk dancers, musicians, cream teas,
a juggler and a children’s entertainer. Reporter Pete Le Riche met TV celebrity Pete Waterman
during his Sunday visit to Beer Heights.
READ
THE INTERVIEW, PLUS SEE MORE PICTURES FROM THE EVENT!
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