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Miniature Railway 19 M i n i a t u re Ra i l way m a g a z i n e

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Issue 19 Spring 2012 Miniature Railway 40 Manor Road, Dorchester, DT1 2AX, England tel 01305 259998 . ISSN 1751-3103

editorial email atob@atob.org.uk or atob@onetel.com . subscriptions teresa@atob.org.uk web www.miniature-railway.com

Editor David Henshaw . Contributors Stuart Duncan, Nick Maunder, Peter Nicholson, Chris Phillimore Thanks to David Barrie, Bob Bullock, David Eatwell, Dave Holroyd, James Jonathan, Nick Kelly, Charles O’Mahoney,

Peter Scott and Ron Stanbridge . Printers Henry Ling, Dorchester . Next deadline 1st Sept 2012

In some ways this is a very sad issue, as we witness the last days of the Hunters Rest line in Somerset and the auction of the historic Coniston Railway in Cumbria. More positively, we visit the revitalised Littlehampton Railway, and we’re in at the very start of the Woodland Way Railway, a new 5-inch line.

Hunters Rest and Coniston remind us that miniature railways can disappear almost in the blink of an eye, but Littlehampton should reassure us that the classic miniatures are mostly in safe hands, as they follow Rhyl towards their first century. Nothing is guaranteed, though. The Fairbourne remains on the critical list - like Littlehampton, it’s a rare 121/4-inch line - and the 71/4-inch Weston (Somerset again), is under a cloud as its lease comes up for renewal. Local authorities don’t always understand the historic significance of miniature lines. Keep vigilant, and do keep us informed. DAVID HENSHAW

Scrapping the turntable at Hunters Rest

Contents M i n i a t u r e R a i l w ay News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 L e t t e r s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 Out & About: Fa n c o t t M i n i a t u r e R a i l wa y . . . . . . . . 1 2 What’s On & Where t o Go 2012 . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 3 H i s t o r y : The Hunter s Re s t Min i a t u r e Ra i l way . . . . . 1 4 P ro f i l e : T h e Wo o d l a n d Wa y R a i l wa y . . . . . . . . . . . 1 8 P ro f i l e : T h e L i t t l e h a m p t o n R a i l wa y . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 Te c h n o l o g y : B u i l d Yo u r Ow n R a i l wa y . . . . . . . . . . 4 0

Cover: In April 2012, nearly thirty years after the last steam locomotive ran at Littlehampton, former driver Chris Shanks hurries

Fairbourne locomotive ‘Sherpa’ up the bank towards Norfolk Gardens. CHRIS PHILLIMORE

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Miniature Railway 19