Full steam ahead at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo
Wednesday 11 August 2010
Put the working week behind you and let off some steam at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, with the much-anticipated return of the Steam Weekend.
After a three year hiatus, the Steam Weekend is back by popular demand and will be held at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo from Saturday 14 August until Sunday 15 August to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Zoo’s steam railway.
The Zoo will be marking the occasion with a visit from a rather special engine…Melior, the sister engine to Whipsnade’s own Excelsior, has been drafted in from Kent especially for the festivities.
ZSL’s two resident engines, Excelsior and Superior, will be ready for visitors to climb aboard as they pull the Jumbo Express on an exciting journey around ZSL Whipsnade Zoo. Chugging past amazing animals including elephants, rhinos and camels, a zoo expert will also be on hand to share fun facts and inside info.
ZSL’s steam train driver and engineer Kevin Edwins is really looking forward to the weekend: “We’re thrilled about the Steam Festival coming back to ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, and seeing Melior here is a huge bonus.
At the moment we’re very busy here at the station making sure the engines will be looking their very best, and we can’t wait to show them off!”
Alongside Melior, there will be an exciting collection of ten vintage vehicles, including steam traction engines, lorries and tractors, on display, which visitors will be able to see around the Zoo.
