Defunct preserved railways

In my notes many years ago there’s was a railway near saindersfoot in Wales. It was in a field and there was quite a big loop of track around the outside but it had closed and now the railway has gone. But I forgot to write down what year it was at the time so I don’t know any more. Sorry about this.

 

When will the WSR thread be merged with this one?

 

Thank you Saggin' Dragon, fascinating reading documenting the long-term work necessary to restore a coach. Yes, I did read it all.

 

Yes, the torrid tale of the Saundersfoot Steam Railway!

Basically, the Saundersfoot Steam Railway was a planned 15" gauge line of about 1 mile from Sepaside to Wiseman's Bridge on the trackbed of the old 4' Saundersfoot Railway. Planning permission was given, despite objections from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Rural Wales, in 1988, but no trains ran until 1991 and even then on a different route. Due to a number of objections forcing a public inquiry, and interim railway of 400 yards was laid around part of the proposed site at Stepaside. Steam locomotive Chough (built by Wilhelm van der Heiden in Rotterdam and having at some point or another steamed in most parts of the UK, from the RH&DR, to Paradise Railway in Cornwall, then up to Banff in Scotland, and back down to Bury St Edmunds) was tested on site having not run for a few years, and the temporary line finally opened in the summer of 1991 with Chough as the only locomotive.

The public enquiry was completed toward the end of 1991 and a LRO granted, but that was as far as the railway got, insufficient funds and the closure of the temporary line in 1992 due to the land being sold, brought the whole plan to an end. Chough is now in Canada. You can find a lot more info on the local and the Saundersfoot Steam Railway here: https://www.narrow-gauge.co.uk/gallery/show.php?image_id=467&cat_id=87

 

15' gauge? We're in dockside crane territory here, surely...

 

Shades of Spinal Tap's Stonehenge.

 

Ah blast - that's a bad typo!

 

This is good information thanks

 

I seem to recall a reference to a "South Cambridgeshire Railway"? but no other information so I don't know when or where.

 

There's some information on the link below.

https://flic.kr/p/qmdWLq

Not really a railway, it was little more than a couple of sidings on a farm. All stock now elsewhere.

 

..and rob us of our daily entertainment?? Perhaps WSR could make some money by selling the film rights to the saga
Can this Railway return to the status quo ante?/ I do not think so

 

One film? You could safely reckon at least a trilogy, if not a weekly TV soap opera!

 

Another line that closed was the gorse bosom railway which was at Devon but they took it away many years ago

 

I'd not heard of the Gorse Blossom railway before, looked good – does anyone know what happened to the equipment after the railway was sold?

Simon

 

Its not April 1st is it?

 

Most was relocated to Powderham Castle Devon. But that closed as far as i know. I believe NP members will know more.

 

From a brief search with google :
Gorse Blossom Miniature Railway (Aug 1990)

Check out my other miniature railway pics on Flickr:

www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/collections/72157625...

The 7 1/4" gauge Gorse Blossom Miniature Railway (Bickington, Devon) was opened in 1984 by railway author/journalist Geoffrey Kichenside. It was set in 10 acres of land adjoining the old A38 and ran in a loop of about 3/4 mile in length. Other facilities included a G-scale LGB layout, a drive-your-own train, assault course, kids play area and woodland walks.

Most of the railway equipment had previously operated on the Buckfastleigh Miniature Railway in Devon.

The park was sold to new owners in 1998 and carried on until 2003 when it was finally closed. The land was subsequently sold and has now been converted into an upmarket camping site - see www.yurtcamp.co.uk

 

I'd confused myself flicking through those photos earlier, as it moved seamlessly (without me noticing) into a collection from an American Theme Park, with an enormous wooden rollercoaster, and I couldn't for the life of me work out why I wasn't aware of the place, nor why they would have replaced a dirty great rollercoaster with some yurts…

Simon

 

I’m afraid I did not have any notes on the gorse on where it went. Another railway that is nearer me that used to be a steam railway was bicton gardens steam railway as it was knowed. But they got rid of the steam engine and it is a silly diesel that looks like a steam engine now but at least it’s still running. I would like them to have steam railway again one day but I expect that won’t happen