Sunshine at Bredgar
inspiration narrow-gauge photos preservation
Through the woods towards Stony Shaw with Eigiau
That freak October heatwave coincided with one of the 2′ gauge Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway‘s open days, so what better way to round off the summer than an afternoon of small trains in the Kentish hills.
A tunnel of trees on the B&WLR
What the privately owned railway might lack in length it more than makes up for in character, with sharp curves and steep gradients carefully inserted through the mature trees to give the appearance of having been there for a long time.
Eigiau waits to take the next train from Stony Shaw
The two stations, Warren Wood and Stony Shaw, are immaculately presented and the extensive sheds contain a brilliant array of machinery – as well as the railway stock there are traction engines, tractors and vintage cars and bikes.
‘Miniature’ Dholpur 2-8-4T
Not all the railed vehicles are 2′ gauge either, there were also a number of ‘miniatures’ on display. I use the term loosely as this 7.25″ gauge replica of an Indian 2-8-4T Dholpur which is a beast even at that scale and almost as big as the 10.25″ gauge Leek & Manifold tank (same prototype gauge of 2’6″) behind it. Definitely one for the future modelling file!
Limpopo running round at Warren Wood
An intensive service was running, with three engines in steam and taking turns on two rakes of coaches, and demonstration goods trains later in the day. The railway runs at least six open days through the spring and summer, you will need a car to get there but it’s well worth the effort!
More photos from the day on Flickr
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