Miniature Railway - Issue 1

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MiniatureNews

West Not many miniature railways are launched with a royal train,but the Bath & West Railway had this honour in June last year,when HRH the Duke of Kent opened the line.Operated by East Somerset Society of Model & Experimental Engineers at the Royal Bath & West Showground near Shepton Mallet in Somerset,the line has ambitious plans.Initially a short loop around a workshop and club room,the 5"/7 1 / 4 " line is being extended to a full 800 metre circuit. Already complete is a (very!) long straight.Under construction is a return loop around a small lake,including a 30 metre viaduct and a substantial bridge. The work should be complete in 2007 producing one of the best lines of its type in the West Country. location OS183 ST633 397 showground www.bathandwest.co.uk railway contact Roger Davis web www.essmee.org.uk tel 01749 677195

PHO TO: ESSM EE

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RIGHT The long straight is complete.Note the concrete slab construction LEFT from this current railhead the line will swing left around a lake and back to the station

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South Proof that 10 1 / 4 " lines are still very much part of the modern miniature railway scene can be found at the South Downs Light Railway near Pulborough.Rescued by a group of volunteers in 2000,the former 7 1 / 4 " Riverview Miniature Railway was relaid to 10 1 / 4 " and has been growing in scope ever since.Developments for 2006 include a new circuit through a four metre cutting,with gradients of up to 1:50.A tunnel is planned, together with further extensions,but this very much depends on finding volunteer assistance and donations.The line runs most weekends and Bank Holidays. location OS197 TQ030 184 web www.sdlrs.com contact Chris English tel 07711 717470 mail chris@cjenglish.demon.co.uk

PHOTOS: South Downs Light Railway

Twenty Years Ago News items from the archives

Discovery of an elderly seven-inch gauge locomotive... “ ...In view of the coverage of early 1 1 / 2 "-scale locomotives. I viewed an early 4-4-0 tender loco of seven-inch gauge (no quarter!) in Cinderford, Gloucestershire, in July 1974... The style would appear to be largely freelance, with elements of LSWR appearance... the livery was basically green. Within the smokebox the boiler appeared to be soft-soldered, and clean as if it had not been steamed. Yet the engine's motion-work seemed to have some wear... I regret these sketchy details are the only record I have... ” Bob Rainbow writing in 7 1 / 4 -inch Gauge News, Summer 1986

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