South Tynedale Light Railway

In a nutshell

Gauge:          2' (610 mm)

Length:         3½ miles (5.6 km)

Opened:        1983

Location:    

Station Rd, 
Alston, 
Cumbria 
CA9 3JB

Web:      http://www.south-tynedale-railway.org.uk/

Email:    enquiries@south-tynedale-railway.org.uk
Tel.:       01434 382828 
 

Date of visit:  24 October 2015 

   

Key Facts

• The railway is built on the trackbed of the original standard gauge Alston Branchline which ran for 13½ miles (21.7 km) from Haltwhistle to Alston.
• The original railway was fully opened in 1852, after the construction of Lambley Viaduct.
• The standard gauge railway closed in May 1976, despite protests and appeals from the local populace and the South Tynedale Railway Preservation Society
• It was reopened in 1983 as a 2' narrow gauge railway between Alston and Gilderdale with an extension opened to Lintley Halt in May 2012
• There are plans to extend the line a further 1¼ miles to Slaggyford.
• Ultimately, it is envisaged that the line will run the entire length of the original railway to Haltwhistle. Much of the trackbed is still intact and grants have been received to rebuild or renovate the bridges along the line and a strip of land beside the mainline station at Haltwhistle has been acquired.
• The railway claims to be the highest narrow gauge railway in England
• It currently posseses two Henschel locomotives, 0-4-0T Helen Kathryn and 0-4-0T Thomas Edmondson; a Hunslet 0-4-2T, Carlisle; a Thomas Green 0-6-2T, Barber, an Orenstein & Koppel 0-6-0T, 740; a Polish built 0-6-0, Naklo; and four diesel locos.
• The line is fully signalled, with a signal box at Alston being resited from Ainderby, on the Redmire branch line
• The South Tyne walking and cycle trail runs alongside the railway, forming a cut-off from the Pennine Way
• There is a bookshop and cafe at Alston Station where tickets, gifts and souvenirs can be purchased
• The railway is open from Spring to Autumn, with Santa Specials being run during December

Route

My Impressions

The first thing which struck me about the town of Alston was how remote it was. No matter which direction from which it is approached, one has to cross several miles of moorland. The town itself is quite quaint, with its steeply sloping cobbled mainstreet, its traditional pubs and idiosyncratic shops.

 Speaking to some of the inhabitants, it seems as if Alston is a place which people often pass through on their way to somewhere else, but it does seem a shame that it is not a more popular destination for visitors - it deserves to be.

We stayed overnight in a guest house overlooking the station and so, after a hearty breakfast and some extremely welcoming hospitality, we made out way down to the station.

The station itself was very well laid-out and well established. The South Tynedale Railway has been operational for over thirty years, so I suppose it ought to be. The first train of the day was being marshalled into the platform by the recently restored Thomas Green 0-6-2T loco, Barber. The 'Gas' tender to which it was attached appeared to house the vacuum pump for the brake gear given the sounds which were emerging from it.

 I am not familiar with Thomas Green's locomotives but this one seemed particularly workmanlinke - its cut-down cab and chimney betraying its origins as a loco working in the confined spaces of the Harrogate Gas Works.

 We bought our tickets and climbed aboard the train, taking up our position on the balcony of the last coach, to enable me to get some photos and video of the track on the journey down the line and the loco in action on our return journey. Before long we pulled away from the station and started off down the line.

Because the line is constructed on the trackbed of the standard gauge line, there is sufficient room for a footpath to run alongside the track for its entire length. A few walkers were braving the weather.

After skirting the banks of the Tyne we were soon in open country .....

...... with views across the moors on both sides of the track.

A brief stop at Kirkhaugh where once more the river ran alongside the track, and then we were once more on our way.

 On reaching Lintley ........

..... our loco ran around its train towing its compressor wagon .......

....... before hooking up to our coach. We were soon off once more Up the line.

Shortly before arriving at Alston, we passed the loco sheds and permanent way department.

 On arriving at the station, Barber ran around the train and took on water ......

...... before hooking up again at the front of the train.

After a quick visit to the souvenir shop, we were able to watch the departure of the next train.

What a delightful railway in a wonderful setting. Although the weather was not at its best, it was clear that the line runs through some really attractive scenery. I would have liked to have taken the train in one direction and walked back - taking a few lineside shots as the trains passed by. Looks like I've talked myself into a return trip!

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

Moseley Industrial Museum

In a nutshell

Gauge:          2'

Length:      700yd

Opened:     1990s

Location:    

Tumblydown Farm,
Tolgus Mount,
Redruth, 
West Cornwall.
TR15 3TA 

Phone:01209 211191
Mobile: 0751 1256677
Web:      http://www.tumblydownfarm.co.uk/museum.html
Email:    colinsaxton494@btinternet.com

 

Date of visit:     8 June 2015

 

Key Facts

• The museum was originally started by Colin Saxton as a craft project for pupils at Moseley Boys Grammar School in Cheadle, Cheshire in 1969. 
• Over twenty-five years, the railway collection grew to over forty narrow gauge locos with half a mile of track. It became a museum open to the public.
• When the school grounds closed in 1990, the collection was dispersed - some forming the basis of the Moseley Railway Trust which is housed at the Apedale Valley Light Railway near Stoke on Trent, and the rest forming the basis for the collection at Tumbly Down Farm in Cornwall
• The museum now has eight locomotives, many of which are from local sources. Five are battery electric locos and three are diesel.
• There are also around forty items of rolling stock, renovated and maintained by a team of volunteers
• In addition to the  railway relics, there is a large collection of vintage toys on display, including clockwork and electric model trains from Hornby, Trix, Lima, ACE and LGB. There is also a large collection of Meccano and Dinky Toys.
• On the site is a display depicting a mine, with original equipment displayed in a realistic setting.
• The museum also houses a working replica of William Murdoch's 1784 steam powered road carriage.
• The museum is not normally open to the public but visits can be arranged by contacting the owner beforehand.
• There is no admission charge but visitors are encouraged to make a donation to museum funds.

Route

My Impressions

Having phoned beforehand to arrange my visit, it was suggested that a Monday would be a good day, as this was when the volunteers would be on site. I duly arrived shortly after lunch time and made my way into the main museum building which houses an impressive array of vintage model railway equipment. At the centre was a large Hornby Dublo layout with eight independent circuits.

Around the edges and in various nooks and crannies was an assortment of other model railway exhibits, such as LGB, ...

... Triang TT, ...

... Trix Twin and Hornby 0 gauge.

Another room was in the process of being refurbished to hold the museum's collection of Meccano models:

Although this was of great interest to me as a railway modeller of many decades standing, my primary purpose in visiting the museum for the purpose of this blog, was to view the narrow gauge railway artefacts. These were housed in a couple of sheds and workshops:

The museum has accumulated a number of battery electric vehicles which served in local tin and mineral mines. In addition, there was a range of internal combustion locomotives of varying vintages and origins.

Outside, a 700 yard two foot gauge line has been laid around some of the paddocks belonging to the farm and on the day of my visit, a BEV which formerly operated in the Geevor tin mine was coupled-up ready for a trip.

 As I was the museum's only visitor at that particular moment, I was treated to a personalised ride around the line.

There are a couple of passing places on the railway, which has a balloon loop at its far end

After negotiating the loop ....

... we set off back up the line.

The loco running round its train at the main terminus, where there is an interesting collection of trackwork serving the various sidings and shed roads.

After browsing the museum exhibits in more depth, including seeing the Hornby Dublo layout in operation, and joining the workforce for a very welcome cup of tea, I explored the museum's re-creation of a coal mine in which exhibits are displayed in realistic tableau settings.

 Colin, the museum's owner, talked me through the history, origins and workings of the site's replica of the steam road vehicle which was developed in 1784 by William Murdoch. Apparently, it was being prepared for a run in a local gala that weekend.

As a narrow gauge railway enthusiast and railway modeller (see Railway Modelling and Me), I found the whole experience to be extremely rewarding. Colin was on hand to talk me through many of the exhibits and his long-term and well established devotion shone through. The vast majority of exhibits have been donated by organisations and individuals and a team of volunteers keep things running so they can be shared with fellow enthusiasts and the mildly curious.

There is no admission charge, but a donation to keep this unique collection maintained is, to my mind, well deserved. My only regret is that I was unable to spend more time there and that it is so far away from where I live, otherwise I would become a more frequent visitor. I feel there is so much I was unable to see and experience in the time I had available.

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