Lakeside Railway Set for Record Summer as Visitor Numbers Rise

1.04.56pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 17th Aug 2004

Chris Huhne and David Chidgey Celebrate Another Record Summer

One of Hampshire's most popular school holiday attractions is set for a record number of visitors this summer thanks to the popularity of its working miniature steam engines.

Eastleigh MP David Chidgey and Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne, pictured here with manager Max Millard and locomotive driver and assistant Barry Friend and Christopher Friend, celebrated the success of the Lakeside railway by sending off the oldest locomotive on the line, 72 year old 'The Monarch'.

Mr Chidgey and Mr Huhne were briefed on the success of the railway, and were told that the visitor attraction is expecting a record summer of rising visitor numbers.

'Eastleigh has always had a soft spot for steam engines ever since the days when the big mainline locomotives were built and maintained in the town, and it is good to see the tradition being maintained even on a miniature scale' said Mr Huhne.