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Watford Miniature Railway

Willis Light Engineering Baldwin style 2-6-0 No. 7 'Marri' at the station
Overview
Locale	Cassiobury Park, Watford, England
Dates of operation	1959–present
Technical
Track gauge	10+1⁄4 in (260 mm)
Length	600 yards (550 m)
Other
Website	http://www.watfordrailway.co.uk/

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

History

The railway was opened at Easter 1959 by Charles Reed 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.

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.

Locomotives

Current locomotives

Number	Name	Locomotive type	Wheel arrangement	Builder	Built	Photo	Notes
	Conway Castle	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.
7	Marri	Steam	2-6-0	Willis Engineering	1993		Returned to service in April 2018 for the first time since 2003.
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
	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
	Densil	Diesel Hydraulic	0-6-0	Alan Keef	1998		Steam Outline
	Evelyn	Steam	2-6-4T	B. Elliott & R. Cockwood	2015

Former locomotives

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. : 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.

External links

• Watford Miniature Railway website

51°39′45″N 0°25′25″W / 51.662403°N 0.423731°W / 51.662403; -0.423731

• Watford
• Miniature railways in the United Kingdom