Southern Miniature Railway

I have recently found out about a little line that ran in Hove on the Western Lawns.

https://www.mybrightonandhove.org.u...0z7rUG9OPSbYKyg1fZOBjHGWA3iQLuR10BtzSa10bDBAg

I would be interested, out of curiosity if anyone knows the fate of the locomotives please?

One, 'Pacific' is seen here.

https://www.prints-online.com/locomotive-pacific-southern-miniature-railway-14205147.html

...and the other is seen on the film linked to this article.

https://www.wokingnewsandmail.co.uk...Ri2Hhrcazefaen02FsRlBNjjMFsHDPaCSW9zD4I0RVUUY

Thanks in advance.

 

Both locomotives are privately owned, but not running at present.

 

Thank you, that is good to know that they survive.

 

This railway was 6" gauge, there were three locos, a LSWR paddle box, built around 1912, a pacific which had a hint of Maunsells proposed pacific and a Lord nelson.
They were built by Fredrick Hutchinson and for many years he ran the railway at Hove & fetes etc to raise money for the Southern railway orphanage at Woking. (Woking Homes) This was entirely supported by weekly staff deductions and fund raising.

When he passed away in the mid fifties an advert was placed in the staff magazine for anyone to take over the running of the railway. My Father and his colleague took it on and ran it at fetes and events using a portable track.
It was when he went to the homes he met my mother, who was working there, she had been an orphan at the homes from the age of 3 when her father (porter at Nine Elms) died in 1939.

In the mid sixties a number of other local people got involved and a permanent line was built in the 'boys field' which was on the up side of the homes, next to the Mosque.
My child hood was spent helping run the railway at all sorts of interesting events, running on the platform at Horsted Keynes in the early seventies stands out in my memory.

They only ever had the Paddle box and the pacific, the paddle box was totally rebuilt and looks more like an H15, it was named Grace E Groom after a legendary matron of the homes, the pacific was named Fredrick R Hutchinson after the builder.

The home stopped having children in the 80's and just became a old peoples home, the glorious building, complete with entrance hall floor with mosaic of the LSWR coat of arms was demolished for housing.

The line was moved to the old peoples home and ran a much shorter route. All now gone and the two locos were sold, with the money going to the home.

Fred Hutchinson's son was Joe Hutchinson who was one of the Southern designers, working for Maunsell and Bullied. I can remember having some really interesting conversation with him about his working life, including tales of test runs with the Leader.

 

Thank you Bob, for your memories of the railway and its locos. I had guessed at 9" gauge, so they are a bit smaller than I thought.