Watford Miniature Railway

The Watford Miniature Railway is a 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge railway in Cassiobury Park, Watford, Hertfordshire.

Watford Miniature Railway
Willis Light Engineering Baldwin style 2-6-0 No. 7 'Marri' at the station
Overview
LocaleCassiobury Park, Watford, England
Dates of operation1959–present
Technical
Track gauge10+1⁄4 in (260 mm)
Length600 yards (550 m)
Other
Websitehttp://www.watfordrailway.co.uk/

History

The railway was opened at Easter 1959 by Charles Reed[1][2][3] as a circuit adjacent to the River Gade. Initially there were two locomotives: an LMS Compound steam locomotive named Maid Marion and a petrol-powered 08 Shunter locomotive. In 1968 the steam locomotive left and the railway was sold to George Webb.

In 1979 the railway was sold to Jeff Price, who set about expanding and improving it. In the 1980s the station was rebuilt on a new site, accessed by a gated level crossing over one of the paths in the park. More coaches were added and a number of steam locomotives used.

On Price's retirement in 2017, the railway was sold to new operators Southern Miniature Railways.[4]

Layout

The main station is adjacent to the paddling pools and main children's playground. From here the line turns 120 degrees, crosses a level crossing, and rounds on itself in a wooded area adjacent to the River Gade.

Trains run regularly at weekends and school holidays throughout the year.[3]

Locomotives


Current locomotives
Number Name Locomotive type Wheel

arrangement

 Builder Built Photo Notes
Conway Castle[5] Diesel Hydraulic 4w-4w Fenlow Engineering 1972
Nikki Louise Diesel Hydraulic 0-6-0 R Prime 1988 Built for the Suffolk Wildlife Park, arrived at Watford in the early 1990s and extensively rebuilt for use there.[5]
7 Marri Steam 2-6-0 Willis Engineering 1993 Returned to service in April 2018 for the first time since 2003.[6]
4179 Chiltern Shuttle Steam 0-6-0 R. Morse 1946 Returned to service on 1st January 2022 after an extensive restoration to 'as new' condition[7]
Eric James Diesel Hydraulic 6w-6w R. Yates 1979 Undergoing rebuild for use at Watford
1950 Henry Steam 4-6-2 E. Dove 1950 Awaiting restoration[8]
Densil Diesel Hydraulic 0-6-0 Alan Keef 1998 Steam Outline[7]

Former locomotives
Number Name Locomotive type Wheel

arrangement

 Builder Built Photo Dates at Watford
1070 Maid Marion Steam 4-4-0 Unknown 1920s 1959 - 1968[5]
Petrol Mechanical 0-6-0 C. Reed 1958 1959 - ?[5]
Meteor V Petrol Mechanical 2-4-2 Shepperton Metal Products 1981 - 1996[9]
Meteor II Diesel Mechanical 2-4-2 Shepperton Metal Products 1983 - 2003 [9]
4442 Steam 4-4-2 A. Glaze 1983[10] - 2003
Derek Diesel Mechanical 4w Shepperton Metal Products 1985 - 1991[9]
Trevithick Steam 0-6-2T R. Marsh 1990 - 1997[5]
Invicta[5] Petrol 4w Maxitrak
Nelly Steam 2-4-0ST Richards Engineering 1977 2005 - 2014[11]
Thomas Poole Petrol Hydrostatic 0-6-0 Roanoke 2006 2011 - 2018[5]
Pilgrim Steam 0-6-0T D. King 1982 2019[5] - 2021

References
  1. "Watford Miniature Railway - Miniature Railway World". www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  2. Knight, Neville R. (1999). British miniature railways : a photographic survey. Chester: Rail Romances. ISBN 9781900622028. OCLC 42273592.
  3. "About | Watford Miniature Railway". watfordrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  4. "Future of miniature railway secured after being taken over by new owners". Watford Observer. 25 July 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  5. Newman, Rudi (2019). Watford Miniature Railway : Steaming to Sixty. [England]: Southern Miniature Railways. ISBN 978-1-5272-3590-8. OCLC 1121092703.
  6. "Steam Trains return to Cassiobury Park in 2018 | Watford Miniature Railway". watfordrailway.co.uk. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  7. Nicholson, Peter (February 2022). "Two locomotives join Watford frontline fleet". The Railway Magazine. p. 68.
  8. Peter, Nicholson. "'Forgotten' Henry to return to steam at Watford". The Railway Magazine. p. 66.
  9. "The Meteors" (PDF).
  10. "Miniature Railways News". Narrow Gauge News. 146. February 1985.
  11. "News". Miniature Railway Magazine. 24. Spring 2014.
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