Buxton Pavilion Gardens Railway

In a nutshell

Gauge:         12¼"

Length:        320 yards

Opened:       1972 - 10¼"
                      1998 - 12¼"

Location:    

View Narrow Gauge Railways in a larger map  

Web:      http://www.paviliongardens.co.uk/miniature-train

Email:    paviliongardens@highpeak.gov.uk 

 

Date of visit:     6 August 2013

Key Facts

• When the railway first opened in 1972 it was 10¼" gauge.  
• The first loco was made by Shepperton Metal Products and called Borough of Buxton
• During the winter of 1998, the line was regauged to 12¼" and supplied with Alan Keef rolling stock.    
• The railway is circular, with a tunnel which also acts as a stock shed. It runs beside a stream which it bridges in two places
• The railway runs at weekends and during school holidays but not when the weather is inclement (advisable to phone the gardens beforehand to check)
• Two circuits of the line costs £1.00 (2013 prices)

Route

 

My Impressions

The Pavilion Gardens at Buxton are what I consider to be a traditional town park - with a boating lake, a river, formal gardens, children's playground plenty of grass and, of course, a miniature railway.

One of our first priorities was to find something to eat. There is a coffee bar but we felt the need for something more substantial and opted for lunch in the restaurant which is housed in the Pavilion.  The food was very tasty and reasonably priced, and given its popularity, we assumed our experience was not uncommon.

I then went to explore the park. The railway is centrally located and, as it was during the school holidays, seemed to be regularly patronised.

 The station platform is readily accessible and the Alan Keef coaches are simple but comfortable.

 The steam outline diesel hydraulic 0-6-0 loco looks the part and happily pulls its train with little effort. It is named after the designer of the park, Edward Milner, who landscaped the gardens in 1871.

After leaving the station, the rain crosses a stream and skirts a small ornamental lake.

The train then enters the tunnel, which doubles as a shelter for the rolling stock.

On emerging from the tunnel ..........

 ..... the train crosses a bridge across the end of the lake and a stream .......

 ......... to then cross a patch of grass and return to the station.

 It was certainly a pleasure to relax in such a well maintained park which is situated in the heart of the town. It's clearly a popular attraction for locals and for visitors - the added bonus being a fountain which acts as a source for the spa water. I saw one elderly but sprightly gentleman refilling several plastic bottles with spa water - presumably to save the expense of buying it in the supermarket.

I assume that the railway is more or less self-financing. The track was well maintained and the rolling stock in excellent condition. It is to be hoped that this sort of visitor attraction remains viable. Certainly the children and their parents or grandparents were very appreciative of it.

Video

[In preparation] 

Fairbourne Railway

In a nutshell

Gauge: 12¼"

Length:  2 miles

Opened: 1895 (as 2' gauge tramway) converted to 15" gauge in 1916. Closed in 1940. Reopened in 1947. Re-gauged to 12¼" in 1986.

Location:   

Fairbourne Railway,
Beach Road,
Fairbourne,
Gwynedd,
LL38 2EX.
Tel: +44 (0) 1341 250 362
Fax: +44 (0) 1341 250 240

View Larger Map

Web:  http://www.fairbournerailway.com/index.htm

 

Date of visit:   24 July 2012

Key Facts

• Originally built as a 2' gauge horsedrawn tramway to convey building materials and then passengers
• It was converted to a 15" miniature railway in 1916 by Wenman (Wynne) Joseph  Bassett-Lowke, a pioneer of early miniature railways. This railway became a test-bed for some of his ideas along with the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (See also - 15" gauge railway chronology).
• Some locomotives are half-size replicas of narrow gauge originals (eg Lynton & Barnstaple - Yeo; Darjeeling & Himalaya Class B - Sherpa; NWNGR - Beddglelert; WHR - Russell)
•  There is a passenger ferry linking the end of the railway with Barmouth on the other side of the estuary.
• The railway has had a troubled history and is presently facing problems owing to the death of one of its owners.

 

Route

My Impressions

The station buildings in Fairbourne are well organised and the café provides a very satisfying cup of coffee. There is a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with staff pleasant and welcoming. There is even a G Scale model railway with free entry.

 There were two trains running the services on the day we visited, one hauled by L&B replica Yeo

and the other hauled by the D&HR Class B replica, Sherpa.

The journey along by the sea wall and into the sand-dunes is a delight - including a tunnel through the dunes - with spectacular views up the Mawddach estuary to Cader Idris and the Cambrian Coast main line railway bridge across the river.

Apologies for quality - still shot from video

At the end of the line is another café and the possibility of taking the passenger ferry across the estuary to Barmouth where there are plenty of places to eat and all the usual amenities of a small seaside resort.

Although there is a return-loop at the esturary end of the railway, this was not being used on the day we visited. The locos were running round their trains and running bunker-first back up the line.

The locos and stock are well turned-out and there is an air of professionalism and pride among the staff whom we encountered on our visit.

If you have not yet visited the railway, I would strongly urge you to do so and lend your support. There is some uncertainty as to the future the railway and it would be a great shame to lose this fascinating and historically significant miniature railway.

Video