RNAD Dean Hill

Does anyone know what has happened/is happening with Defence Munitions (formerly-RNAD) Dean Hill? It has quite an extensive 2' 6" railway running throughout it and, from what I last heard and saw, a large amount of 2' 6" stock! Any news? Would make a great hertiage site!!!

 

The remaining stock was dispersed and some ended up at the Explosion! museum at Gosport. The museum is soon to close so it will need keeping an eye on. According to a website I saw quite recently, all the track was lifted too.

 

Oh really? That is a terrible shame! Could of been a great heritage attraction there!

I knew Explosion had some, but from what I understood of what they had it was sold a while ago! I can't believe the museum is shutting though, hasnt been open for long! I didn't realise they still had some stock....veeeeeeeeery interesting!

 

Ah, I only know they had some ex-Dean Hill material at Explosion! because I went to a meeting there a longish while ago. If your information is that it was sold, then I have no more recent information than that. Do you know where it went?

Dean Hill info here:

http://www.deanhillpark.co.uk/history-o ... omplex.php

"In 2006, when Harving Ltd took over Dean Hill Park, it also acquired the narrow-gauge track, extending to some 7 km, as well as two Baguley Drewry diesel 60hp locomotives, two brake vans and a number of railway wagons.

But, having assessed the costs involved in maintaining the rail track and rolling stock, Harving has reluctantly decided that it should be removed and sold. Most of the track has already been lifted, leaving the railway formation, which will provide tracks for pedestrians and vehicles around the site as well as preserving important environmental habitats."

 

Thanks for that! I am depesperately trying to search my information to find out if and where the stock from Explosion! went, nothing as of yet! I am suuure it got moved though!

Nope, I cannot find anything, so it may very well all still be there, however I am sure it got moved elsewhere! In any case I don't live too far away from Explosion! and have never visited because as far as I was aware then NG railway was never actually used, could have been a much better used attraction!

 

All the stock and some track panels which ended up at Explosion! after closure of DM Dean Hill were subsequently sold to the L&B.

After the closure tender, two 60hp Baguley-Drewrys remained on site along with a large assortment of rolling stock. The 'lower' portion of the system, actually the northern part has now been largely lifted, although the upper southern system remains (certainly recently) still intact.

All the other rolling stock was sold by tender and dispersed around the country, with an amount of wagons also going for scrap - sometimes you can't win them all and beat the scrappies!

James.

 

Is this the ex-Dean Hill, ex-Explosion! Hunslet?

http://www.lynton-rail.co.uk/railway/ro ... eddon-hall

 

Aaaaaaaah thats it! I knew it! Thanks!

Shame alot of it got scrapped though!

 

Remember that the L&B have two ex Dean Hill Hunslets acquired at different times. What is now Heddon Hall (Hunslet w/n 6660) first having moved a little around the country and Hunslet w/n 6652 later from Explosion! in 2007.

James

 

There were a very large number of 1940-era 4w MoD wagons there which are quite common on heritage lines from previous sales at Trecwn and Broughton Moor, and I think they were the ones that tended to go for scrap. One of the steel brake vans (that the Talyllyn call the "Boudicca" class) came to Corris.

Richard

 

I emailed the current owners of Dean Hill and recieved a suprising reply from them! They stated that they had held several open evenings and appealed for volunteers to help open and operate the railway but in the three years they have owned the site I was the only person interested!

This seems like a pitty as Dean Hill would have been a unique heritage attraction!

 

I am another that would be very interested in starting some activity at Dean Hill. So i have been looking around for the second diesel, which i have found at Amberly Museum undergoing restoration. The site did not say if the engine was to be re-gauged or not, so i have sent an email asking this question an await their reply. Some of the stock ended up at the South Tynedale Railway and is destined to be re-gauged!

Is there one person at Dean Hill Park that is looking after what remains of the track?

smallhozen

 

From what I understand it is all being "taken care" of by R H Parry, you can contact them about it at info@deanhillpark.co.uk or use the same address for information (http://www.deanhillpark.co.uk - there is a section on the railway in the history part)

It certainly would make an exceptional attraction! Buy the 2' 6" Siam from the Bredgar and Wormshill Railway and there you have it! =P~

 

There could be some 2'6" stock from North Kent looking for a new home soon (although we hope not).

Richard

 

Just to confirm that Baguley 3751 at Amberley is now 2ft gauge although currently only the front wheelset is fitted with the rear ready to be refitted after some further work between the frames, in fact I've been working on this today!

Some photos of its collect a few years ago can be found in my fotopic gallery: http://narrowgaugeindustrial.fotopic.net/c428771.html

James.

 

Now that is a bit of a bugger. However i have found another ex-mod loco that has been re-gauged, but now need a complete overhaul. It is Mosely No48 could be a possibility.

 

Second diesel? What was the first?

A few years ago, Dean Hill had five Baguley Drewry diesels. Works number 3751 now at Chalk Pits. 3752 now at Almond Valley, Scotland. 3753 now at Butterley. (3754 was not a Dean Hill loco). 3755 and 3756 were left at Dean Hill. Are you sure they are not still there? It might be worth asking, and if they are no longer there, could you find out what happened to them? Thanks.

 

As Ken and myself said, after closure and the disposal tender two Baguleys remained at Dean Hill for the new (then prospective) buyer to enable them to use the system if required, the locos and stock deemed part of the site infrastructure. As far as I know they are still on site, retained for the system around the bunkers but are not in use.

Below is a list of Dean Hill locos and their subsequent disposal:

Hunslet w/n6651 - went to the Welshpool & Llanfair railway (under private ownership?) 2004, later to Sittingbourne & Kemsley 9/2004 initially on loan but latter purchased. Still 2ft 6in gauge and now running as Barton Hall.

Hunslet w/n6652 - to Explosion!, Museum of Naval Fire Power, Gosport, Hampshire 2004, sold to the L&B with some rolling stock and track 8/2007 and is currently undergoing overhaul and regauging to 2ft.

Hunslet w/n6659 - was unofficially named 'Lady Diana Spencer' at Dean Hill, sold to the Festiniog 2004 and passed via Alan Keef Ltd. for regauging to 2ft. Currently Boston Lodge shunter.

Hunslet w/n6660 - sold to Roger Craven (private) in Essex 2004, later passed to the L&B in 8/2005, regauged to 2ft and overhauled, now running as 'Heddon Hall'.

Baguley w/n3751 - prototype 60hp design. Sold to private owner and moved Amberley Museum 2004, regauged to 2ft and currently undergoing restoration to RNAD condition.

Baguley w/n3752 - sold to Almond Valley Railway in Scotland 2004, remains 2ft 6in gauge.

Baguley w/n3753 - a well travelled machine! Sold to Alan Keef Ltd 2004, then to Joe Nemeth at the Old Down Country Park, Gloucestershire (a now defunct miniature line), then to the miniature line at Powderham Castle near Exeter, Devon (also now defunct) for a proposed regauging and extension of the line. Then to Chris Phillimore of Chard, Somerset 2005(?) and later advertised for sale again (!), later moved to Statfold Barn where eventually it was regauged to 2ft and from what I understand exchanged/part exchanged for the Golden Valley Railway's ex Jubilee Line tunnelling Hunslet. It now resides at Butterley painted lilac and running as 'Darcy'!

Baguley w/n3755 & 3756 - still remain at Dean Hill in last used condition.

Hope that helps clear up what locos were on site at the time of closure and their subsequent location(s).

James
(owner of Baguley 3751)

 

Some further detail - HERE - even if they can't get the name right...

It should be 'MOEL Y GEST' or 'Moel y Gest'

#-o

 

I reckon we should try and get a group together and atleast consider doing something with whats left at Dean Hill