Hastings Miniature Railway

When i was a mere lad in the late 50s there was a miniture line in Hastings from the old town to a station near the boating late i remember two locomotive one a 4-6-0 royal scot type and a 4-4-2 atlantic, does anyone know the fate of these two engines.

 

It was a 10.25 inch gauge line. The Royal Scot was a 1938 build by Basset-Lowke, but the 1966 edition of the Ian Allan book "Miniature Railways" lists another 4-6-0 in GWR style built by Twinings also in 1938, and a freelance 0-6-0; no mention of an Atlantic type loco, however. "A Sourcebook of Miniature and Narrow Gauge Railways" published in 1981 mentions that the Royal Scot loco moved to the Oakhill Manor line, but that line has closed down as well.
A quick thumb-through the 2000 edition of the Ian Allan book doesn't show up either loco, but I am aware that there are a number of lines missing from that book.

I recall that visiting the Midland Railway - Butterly site some years ago, the Princess Royal Locomotive Trust Ltd had a sizable collection of miniature locos based on LMS designs - they might be worth a check.

 

Thanks very much i will give it a try.

 

Much of the information you seek is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hastings_Miniature_Railway

 

Thanks for that.

 

The Basset Lowke Royal Scot was exported to the USA following the closure of Oakhill Manor, but is now back in the UK. I believe it will run at Royal Victoria Rly once restoration is complete.

The other locos were:-
GWR 4-6-0 Hampton Court, Saint class built in the 1940's by Guest?Twinning. Was used at Dudley Zoo and Cleethorpes before Hastings. As built was GW outline but had outside valve gear. Jim Hughes rebulit it closer to scale at Hastings. After leaving Hastings was purchased by Lord Gretton of Stapleford Miniature Railway. Extensivley rebuilt again by Neil Simpkins before entering service at Stapleford where it still remains.

Firefly 0-6-0 built by Bullock as a 0-6-0PT for the Fox Hill Miniature Railway. Later owned by Capt Howey and used on short line at New Romney after WW2 before RH&DR was restored. Later re-built as 0-6-0 tender loco. Now located at Kerrs, Arbroath. Firefly is returning to Hastings and several other lines in the south over the next few weeks.

 

Yes it is now at the Royal Victoria railway near Southampton. Their website has some brief information about it.

http://www.royalvictoriarailway.co.uk/trains.html

 

Looks good, will give it a visit on the way to our annual visit to Sandyballs holiday park in the New Forest.

 

Eastleigh lakeside railway is also worth a visit if you're in the area. Lots of interesting locos including another Royal Scot

http://www.steamtrain.co.uk/article.php?xArt=7&jssCart=c65d2fbc2333d619934398ff03290eff

 

Duplicate post

 

Here is a photo of Firefly at Eastleigh Lakeside Railway during their SB&CR event on 8/9 June 2013.
I was lucky enough to help out at Hastings in the late 60's so this was a rare chance to see the locomotive again whilst it was running in The South, thanks to John Kerr for bringing the locomotive down from North of the Border.
For those with Facebook accounts the Kerr's Miniature Railway has a page:
Kerr's Miniature Railway on Facebook
Or their main website at:
Kerr's Miniature Railway

 

Funny how Eastleigh lakeside raiway gives locations of other places to visit but doesn't list the MHR which is closer than Portsmouth which is listed on there other places to visit?

 

Not sure who the dodgy fella is driving Firefly there....?

 

These were the locos at Hastings MR the first time I visited in July 1967. Hope they are of interest.
Ray.