Watford Miniature Railway

The Watford Miniature Railway is a 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge railway running in Cassiobury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire.

Watford Miniature Railway
Willis Light Engineering Baldwin style 2-6-0 No. 7 'Marri' at the station
Overview
LocaleCassiobury Park, Watford, England
Dates of operation1959–
Technical
Track gauge10 1⁄4 in (260 mm)
Length600 yards (550 m)
Other
Websitehttp://www.watfordrailway.co.uk/

History

The railway was first opened at Easter 1959 by Charles Reed[1][2][3] as a circuit adjacent to the River Gade. Initially there were two locomotives; an LMS Compound steam locomotive named 'Maid Marion' and a petrol powered 08 Shunter locomotive. In 1968 the steam locomotive left and the railway was sold to George Webb.

In 1979 the railway was sold to Jeff Price, who set about expanding and improving the railway. In the 1980s the station was rebuilt on a new site, accessed by a gated level crossing across one of the paths in the park. More coaches were added and a number of steam locomotives used.

On Mr Price's retirement in 2017, the railway was sold to new operators Southern Miniature Railways.[4]

The Railway

The railway's main station is adjacent to the paddling pools and main children's playground. From here it turns 120 degrees, crosses a level crossing, and then rounds on itself in an ingenious manner in a wooded area adjacent to the River Gade.

Trains run regularly at weekends and school holidays throughout the year.[3]

Locomotives

Current Locomotives
Number Name Locomotive type Wheel

arrangement

 Builder Built Photo Notes
Conway Castle Diesel Hydraulic 4w-4w Fenlow Engineering 1972
Nikki Louise Diesel Hydraulic 0-6-0 R Prime 1988 Built for the Suffolk Wildlife Park, arrived at Watford in the early 1990s and extensively rebuilt for use there.
7 Marri Steam 2-6-0 Willis Engineering 1993 Returned to service in April 2018 for the first time since 2003.[5]
4179 Chiltern Shuttle Steam 0-6-0 R. Morse 1946 Privately owned, undergoing restoration to working order
Pilgrim Steam 0-6-0T D. King 1982
Green Gremlin Diesel Hydraulic 0-6-0 R. Prime 1987 Undergoing rebuild for use at Watford
Steam 0-4-4T Dugdale/Plummer 2007 Undergoing rebuild for use at Watford
Orchard Flyer Diesel Hydraulic 6w-6w R. Yates 1979 Undergoing rebuild for use at Watford

Former Locomotives
Number Name Locomotive type Wheel

arrangement

 Builder Built Photo Dates at Watford
1070 Maid Marion Steam 4-4-0 Unknown 1920s 1959 - 1968
Petrol Mechanical 0-6-0 C. Reed 1958 1959 - ?
Meteor V Petrol Mechanical 2-4-2 Shepperton Metal Products 1981 - 1996[6]
Meteor II Diesel Mechanical 2-4-2 Shepperton Metal Products 1983 - 2003 [6]
4442 Steam 4-4-2 A. Glaze 1983[7] - 2003
Derek Diesel Mechanical 4w Shepperton Metal Products 1985 - 1991[6]
Trevithick Steam 0-6-2T R. Marsh 1990 - 1997
Invicta Petrol 4w Maxitrak
Nelly Steam 2-4-0ST Richards Engineering 1977 2005 - 2014[8]
Thomas Poole Petrol Hydrostatic 0-6-0 Roanoke 2006 2011 - 2018

References
  1. "Watford Miniature Railway - Miniature Railway World". www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  2. Roy), Knight, N. R. (Neville (1999). British miniature railways : a photographic survey. Chester: Rail Romances. ISBN 9781900622028. OCLC 42273592.
  3. "About | Watford Miniature Railway". watfordrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  4. "Future of miniature railway secured after being taken over by new owners". Watford Observer. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  5. "Steam Trains return to Cassiobury Park in 2018 | Watford Miniature Railway". watfordrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
  6. "The Meteors" (PDF).
  7. "Miniature Railways News". Narrow Gauge News. 146. February 1985.
  8. "News". Miniature Railway Magazine. 24. Spring 2014.
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