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Watford Miniature Railway

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

History

The railway was 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 it. In the 1980s the station was rebuilt on a new site, accessed by a gated level crossing over one of the paths in the park. More coaches were added and a number of steam locomotives used.

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

Layout

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

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

Locomotives

Current locomotives

Former locomotives

References

  1. ^ "Watford Miniature Railway - Miniature Railway World". www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  2. ^ Knight, Neville R. (1999). British miniature railways : a photographic survey. Chester: Rail Romances. ISBN 9781900622028. OCLC 42273592.
  3. ^ a b "About | Watford Miniature Railway". watfordrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Future of miniature railway secured after being taken over by new owners". Watford Observer. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Newman, Rudi (2019). Watford Miniature Railway : Steaming to Sixty. [England]: Southern Miniature Railways. ISBN 978-1-5272-3590-8. OCLC 1121092703.
  6. ^ "Steam Trains return to Cassiobury Park in 2018 | Watford Miniature Railway". watfordrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  7. ^ a b Nicholson, Peter (February 2022). "Two locomotives join Watford frontline fleet". The Railway Magazine. p. 68.
  8. ^ Peter, Nicholson. "'Forgotten' Henry to return to steam at Watford". The Railway Magazine. p. 66.
  9. ^ a b c "The Meteors" (PDF).
  10. ^ "Miniature Railways News". Narrow Gauge News. 146. February 1985.
  11. ^ "News". Miniature Railway Magazine. 24. Spring 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Watford Miniature Railway.

51°39′45″N 0°25′25″W / 51.662403°N 0.423731°W / 51.662403; -0.423731