Worcestershire 15” gauge steam
Evesham Vale
1 June 2003
About a mile north of Evesham is a brand new railway - the
Evesham Vale Light Railway. Like a number of other such
lines, it is built to the "standard" large miniature gauge of
15", defined by Heywood over 100 years ago, and since
adopted by numerous other lines, including the well-known
Romney Hythe and Dymchurch and Cumbria's "Ratty". In
common with those lines, the EVLR mostly uses roughly ¼
scale replicas of standard gauge prototypes - such as the
"Morse", a replica of an American "switcher", which has been
the mainstay of services since the line opened in August 2002.
"John", the ex-Rhyl Miniature Railway 4-4-2, is in store awaiting
overhaul, while no 5751 "Prince William", built by G&S in 1946,
was in operation on this occasion, having recently been fitted
with the appropriate air brake equipment. Built originally (as a
4-6-0) for the Dudley Zoo railway, this fine pacific has seen
service at Blenheim Palace, Carnforth and Windmill Farm. A
further locomotive is under construction for the line at the
Exmoor Steam Railway's workshops. Unlike the fairly standard
Exmoor loco, this will be an 0-4-0 tender engine. Two other
items of motive power were present at Twyford (illustrated
below) - a reasonably-conventional Lister, no.41545 of 1955,
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
originally built to 2' gauge, and a rather unusual self-propelled
dumper wagon(!)
Trains operate from Twyford station through fields and orchards,
on a very pleasant "out-and-back" line around a mile in length.
Evesham Vale station, on the loop at the other end of the line,
provides a break in the journey, and the opportunity for picnics
or a walk back to the terminus through the park. Trains operate
at frequent intervals daily during school holidays and at
weekends throughout the year
The railway is located at the "Evesham Country Park Shopping
and Garden Centre" - could this provide the ideal excuse for a
family outing, along the lines of "there seems to be some sort of
a railway setup here...."
Link:
Evesham Vale Light Railway
