Two visiting engines will be the focus of the Mid-Suffolk Light Railway’s showpiece event of the year next weekend.

The heritage railway, based at Brockford Station in Wetheringsett, is holding its Light Railway Gala for only the second time after the event’s success in 2012.

A key feature of such events at preserved lines across the country is a special timetable and engines visiting from other railways.

And on September 13 and 14 the MSLR, affectionately known as the Middy, will be running at full capacity.

Trains will be shuttling up and down the museum’s demonstration line from 10am on the Saturday and 10.30am on the Sunday until around 5.30pm on both days.

The two visiting engines are almost identical designs built by Stafford-based company W.G. Bagnall for work on industrial railways.

The pair arrived at Brockford Station yesterday on low-loaders having travelled along the A14 and A12. They are normally based at the Northampton and Lamport Railway in Northamptonshire and the East Anglian Railway Museum near Colchester.

They will be operating with the MSLR’s resident locomotive Wissington on both days of the gala, which will be served by a complimentary bus service from Stowmarket railway station for those travelling by public transport.

On Saturday 13 the Middy will be launching its fundraising appeal for its own locomotive, giving people the chance to ‘buy’ a part of the engine as a donation towards the restoration.

The following day there will be a special model railway exhibition running alongside the gala with money raised going towards the restoration.

Both days will feature a variety of other attractions, such as miniature ride-on railways.

Prices for the gala are £12 for adults, £6 for children, £10 for concessions and £30 for a family of two adults and two children. Visit www.mslr.org.uk for full details.

Did you see the two engines travelling to the Middy? Did you get any photos of the pair on their low loaders? Send them to newsroom@archant.co.uk