Audley End Railway
The Audley End Miniature Railway is a miniature railway in Essex, England.
| Audley End Miniature Railway | |
|---|---|
 Rolling stock and old station sign | |
| Locale | Saffron Walden, Essex |
| Terminus | Audley End |
| Coordinates | 52.0193°N 0.2176°E |
| Commercial operations | |
| Name | Audley End Miniature Railway |
| Built by | Audley End Estate |
| Original gauge | 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) |
| Preserved operations | |
| Stations | 1 |
| Length | 1 1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | 1964 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1963 | Building commences |
| 1964 | Line opens |
| 1979 | Line extended to its present length. |
| Website | |
| Audley End Railway | |
Overview
The 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm)-gauge circuit was built by Lord Braybrooke and was opened on 16 May 1964 by famous racing driver Sir Stirling Moss. The railway runs for 1 1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) through woodland adjacent to Audley End House, former home of the Braybrookes, now in the ownership of English Heritage.[1]
The woodland contains a large number of teddy bears and other soft toys arranged in displays. The line has two tunnels and crosses the River Cam and River Fulfen. The bridge across the Cam retains the original World War II pillbox.
The site is also home to the Saffron Walden & District Society of Model Engineers who run short circular 3 1⁄2 in (89 mm), 5 in (127 mm) and 7 1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) tracks at both raised and ground levels on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer months.[2]
In January 2019 the railway's owners announced they will sell nine locomotives in order to “raise £180,000 and secure the railway's future”[3]. The auction by Dreweatt's is scheduled for March 12, 2019[4].
References
- Lord Braybrooke, Audley End Railway 2004
