Saltburn Miniature Railway

In a nutshell

Gauge:         `15" (381mm)

Length:         5/8 mile (1 km)

Opened:     1947

Location:    

Saltburn Miniature Railway,
Saltburn-by-the-Sea,
UK

Web:        http://www.saltburn-miniature-railway.org.uk/

Email:      info@saltburn-miniature-railway.org.uk 
Tel:           01287 622712
  

Date of visit:     23 July 2017

Key Facts

• The railway was first set up in 1947 by Mr. H. Dunn and was then only 300 Yards long.
• In 1949 the railway obtained  4-4-4 tank loco "Blacolvesley", which was built in 1909 by Bassett-Lowke and is the oldest workable internal combustion locomotive in the world. It is now in private ownership and resides at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.
• In 1953, the railway was modified to allow for the running of two trains, with a passing siding.
• By 1983, the railway was more or less derelict and was acquired by the Saltburn Miniature Railway Association, a group of volunteers
• During 2000 - 2003, the railway was rebuilt in its present form.
• The railway currently has three steam outline diesel powered locos (4-6-2 DE Prince Charles, 0-4-0T DH George Outhwaite, 4-6-2 DH Saltburn 150) and a live steam loco, 4-4-2 Blacklock R
• The railway runs at weekends throughout the year, opening at 1.00pm

 

Route

My Impressions

After a quick tour of the town and a ride on the Cliff Lift, I walked the length of the railway, taking various video shots and photos.

On  the siding leading to the engine sheds, they were swapping over locos. 4-6-2 DH Saltburn 150 was being replaced by 4-6-2 DE Prince Charles.

 This provided me with an opportunity to see Saltburn 150, before she retired to the shed.

The furthermost terminus of the railway is Forest Halt, where there is a platform and run-round loop.

I walked back up the line to the main terminus, Cat Nab, which is very close to the sea front, behind a large car park.

I bought my modestly priced return ticket and boarded the train. Before long it set off.

After rounding a 90 degree bend, the line ran parallel with Skelton Beck, passing the engine sheds and carriage sidings, before taking a right hand curve on the banks of the beck.

At Forest Halt, the loco ran round her train ......

.... before proceeding back up the line.

The track, locos and stock appeared to be in tip-top condition and the line seems to be thriving, thanks to the efforts of the volunteer workforce. Although the railway itself does not have a tea room, there are cafes within five minutes' walk at each end of the line serving a good range of refreshments. There is wheelchair access and the staff are on hand to enthusiastically answer questions.

This railway is one of the original miniature railways, most of which adopted the then popular gauge of 15 inches (see 15" gauge railways - a short chronology). Although this railway is quite short in comparison to other 15" gauge railways, it is well worth a visit as is the town of Saltburn which retains its original feel of a Victorian seaside resort.

Video

Lappa Valley Steam Railway

In a nutshell

Gauge:         15"

Length:      1 mile

Opened:      1974 (Original railway opened in 1905)

Location:   

Lappa Valley Steam Railway & Leisure Park

St Newlyn East

Newquay

Cornwall

TR8 5LX

Web:      http://www.lappavalley.co.uk/

Email:    info@lappavalley.co.uk
Tel:        01872 510317 

 

Date of visit:     12 June 2015

 

Key Facts

• The Lappa Valley Steam Railway is built on the trackbed of the Treffry Tramways branch line which ran to East Wheal Rose
• The first tramway from East Wheal Rose operated from 1849 using horse-drawn wagons. 
• In 1874 the tramway was taken over by the Cornwall Minerals Railway and steam locomotives ran on the railway for the first time
• The railway was acquired by the Great Western Railway in 1896, and re-opened in 1905.
• The branch was closed on 4 February 1963 as part of Beeching's 'reorganisation' of British Railways.
• In the early 1970s, the trackbed was acquired by Eric Booth who cleared the thick undergrowth and laid the 15" (381 mm) gauge track between Benny Halt and East Wheal Rose. 
• Zebedee, the line's first steam locomotive, was built by Severn Lamb in early 1974 and the railway opened to the public on 16 June 1974 with four locally built coaches. 
• In 1975 the East Wheal Rose area was landscaped and the boating lake was dug to help drain the land. 
• In 1976, the line acquired some locomotives from Longleat with more carriages also being built at the time. 
• During the 1970s, a 7¼" (184 mm) gauge railway was laid around a smaller lake
• In May 1995 10¼" (260 mm) gauge railway was constructed for half a mile along the next length of the old tramway trackbed.
• In 2014 the Lappa Valley Railway was bought by Keith Southwell who aims to continue the work which Eric Booth started
• The railway presently has two 15" gauge steam locomotives (Severn Lamb 0-6-4T Zebedee and Berwyn Engineering 0-6-0 Muffin), one 15" gauge diesel loco (0-4-0 Arthur), two 10¼" gauge diesel locos (Alan Keef 0-4-0 Eric, Severn Lamb 4-4w Duke of Cornwall) and one 7¼" gauge train (a representation of an APT built by Mardyke Miniature Railway)
• UPDATE: A third 15" gauge steam loco (Exmoor Steam 0-4-2T Ruby) was added to the roster in July 2015
• In addition to the two other railways at East Wheal Rose, there are two lakes (one for boating and the other for wildlife), a crazy golf course, children's play areas, a gift shop, a café, and a series of walks through the valley.

Route

 

My Impressions

When I arrived at the main car park for the Lappa Valley Steam Railway, the sun was occasionally finding its way between the clouds and the weather was reasonably warm.

After buying my ticket in the shop and ticket office, there was time to take a few snaps of the station area before the train arrived.

One of the line's two steam locomotives (0-6-0 Muffin) was sitting outside the main engine shed, waiting to be admired (another steam loco arrived in July, shortly after my visit) .......

..... and the lie's 0-4-0 diesel was sitting on a siding.

Before long (trains run every 40 minutes), the line's other steam loco (0-6-2T Zebedee), hove into view with its impressive train of five bogie coaches.

There was time to admire the diminutive loco.......

.... as she was turned ........

..... before running round the train.

 The mile long journey to the other end of the line at East Wheal Rose took us through mature woodland, .....

...... running for a short distance beside the parallel track from the reverse loop ........

......... before swinging round the boating lake, to pull into the station.

By the time the train had discharged its passengers and the loco taken on board more water, the heavens had opened.

I decided to take the train back to the main station, to fetch my waterproof from the car.

The train negotiated the reverse loop and then rejoined the main line back down to Benny Halt.......

..... where we pulled into the main platform once more.

 On my second journey down the line, the loco experienced some wheel-slip as she climbed the gradient on the approach to East Wheel Rose. The driver coaxed her over the summit ........

 ..... and we arrived once more at the station, where quite a large crowd of slightly damp visitors was waiting to make the journey back back to their cars.

 I took the opportunity to explore the visitor attractions at the site. The 7¼" railway which winds its way around the smaller of the two lakes ........

..... and the 10¼" gauge railway which runs for a further half a mile along the trackbed of the original railway.

 From the cafe, it was possible to get an elevated view of the site. The rain was easing by this time ......

 ...... but I decided I had exhausted the supply of attractions. It would have been different if I had been accompanied by children - there was plenty to keep them entertained and interested. The distant whistle announced the approach of Zebedee with another trainload of visitors ........

....... and so I climbed aboard once more, taking a quick look back over the boating lake as we negotiated the reverse loop.

There was time to shoot the departure of the next Down train, before browsing through the books and nick-knacks in the shop. I decided against having a Cornish Ice Cream, the rain having decided to teem down once more.

I enjoyed my visit to the Lappa Valley Steam Railway, but then I have a particular soft spot for 15" gauge railways since learning about their history (see A brief chronology of minimum gauge railways). There seemed to be plenty of attractions for younger visitors and for those who might want to explore the various nature trails and walks in the area. It was a pity that the weather was so unpredictable - the rain had not been forecast - and it was as much an irritation for the railway staff as for the visitors.

It was certainly well worth the visit - and when the grandchildren appear on the scene ........

Video

Paradise Park - Jungle Express

In a nutshell

Gauge:         15"

Length:      250yd (one ride = two circuits)

Opened:     1976

Location:   

Paradise Park,
16 Trelissick Road,
Hayle,
Cornwall,
TR27 4HB 

Web:      http://www.paradisepark.org.uk/

Email:   info@paradisepark.org.uk
Tel:        01736 751020

 

Date of visit:     12 June 2015

 

Key Facts

• Paradise Park opened in 1973 as a small family business.
• The late Mike Reynolds created the park as a home to his growing collection of birds.
• Paradise Park has become the country's leading centre for the promotion of parrot welfare and is the base for the World Parrot Trust.
• The line has one locomotive, a diesel mechanical Lister, built in 1938.
• It has three open coaches
• The Jungle Express Train operates throughout the summer months (weather permitting). 
• There is an additional charge of £1 per person for a ride twice around the track.

 

Route

My Impressions

Before paying my entrance fee to the Park, I checked that the railway would be running as the website indicated that it was dependent on weather. On entering the park, I went immediately to the railway station (which is not far from the entrance) and awaited the arrival of the train.

Within five minutes or so, the train appeared. The steam locomotive inspired superstructure did not hide the fact that beneath was an interwar Lister locomotive with, by the sound of it, the orginal diesel engine.

The train of three open carriages, did a circuit of the track to warm up and then the driver brought her to a halt in the station area.

I paid my fare of £1.00 and spent a couple of minutes admiring the loco.....

.... before taking my seat immediately behind the loco.

There weren't many visitors to the park that day and so, after another couple boarded, we set off.

The train trundled at a respectable speed through the gardens around the house........

....... passing through a tunnel which doubles as the train shed.

After passing around the rear of the house we passed through the station and then made another circuit.

On reaching the station once more we detrained, and I once more looked over the loco.

The board outside the station indicated that another train would depart in an hour and so I wandered around the park where there is a large collection of birds of various species from all corners of the world.

There seems to be plenty to interest families and children, with a farm area, a play barn and flying displays at intervals during the day.

I indulged in a Cornish pasty in the cafe, which is adjacent to the otter, who seemed to be very active and playing to the crowd. I then made my way back to the station to take some lineside pictures and video of the train in action. Unfortunately, there did not appear to be sufficient passengers to run the train again and so I departed the park.

Video

[In preparation] 

Evesham Vale Light Railway

In a nutshell

Gauge:        15"

Length:      1 mile overall

Opened:     2002

Location:   

View Narrow Gauge Railways in a larger map

Web:      http://www.evlr.co.uk/

Email:    enquiries@evlr.co.uk/

 

Date of visit:     12 April 2014

 

Key Facts

• The railway was built in 2002 and changed ownership in 2012, with most of the stock being transferred to the new owners.
• It is located at the Evesham Country Park and runs from its main station through the park and an orchard to return via a balloon loop.
• The railway possesses two steam locomotives presently in working order - Dougal, a Severn Lamb 0-6-0 and St. Egwin, an Exmoor 0-4-0. Another steam loco, Monty, an Exmoor 0-4-2, is currently being overhauled.
• It also has two diesel locomotives - Sludge, a Lister and Cromwell, a Ruston. 

Route

 

My Impressions

The main station for the railway is adjacent to the car park for the Country Park and looks very smart with two platforms, an overall roof, booking office, turntable and engine sheds. The buildings are painted cream and green to add to the atmosphere.

Our loco, 0-4-0 St Egwin was steaming quietly at the end of the main platform .....

 I made my way down the platform to take my seat in one of the neatly finished enclosed carriages......

..... and had a view of the other platform and an interesting pedal-powered vehicle standing on the intervening siding.

We then started our journey down the line.

After clearing the pointwork of the station ....

.... the loco picked-up speed and climbed towards the summit of the line.

The reverse-loop provided us with views across the Avon Valley ......

.... before we plunged into the tunnel.

When we emerged, we rounded the bend and pulled into Evesham Vale Station ......

.... where there was a five minute stop.

I decided to walk back beside the line to the main station. After watching the train traverse the pointwork for the balloon-loop.

I positioned myself further along the line to watch the passing trains, which run every half-hour.

 As the line is quite steeply graded, there is plenty of opportunity for the driver to give the locos a good work-out and for some satisfying lineside video shots.

A then spent a while watching shunting operations in the main station as St Egwin ran around her train.

And the line's other locos basked in the Spring sunshine.

After watching one more departure, I made my way back to the car park to resume my journey home.

 I found the Evesham Vale Light Railway to be well maintained and run with a great deal of care and attention by its staff. Its proximity to the attractions at the Country Park means that it must get a steady stream of appreciative visitors. Whilst most will be attracted by the opportunity to experience live steam in miniature form, it is also pays homage to the versatility of Heywood's vision in providing an industrious minimum gauge railway (see Minimum Gauge Railways Chronology)

Video