For me this was a first visit to the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway, and one I will not forget for a long time, if only for the fun we had! The BWLR is a private railway which opens for visitors a few times each year.
Evidently it was a very busy day, with trains running up and down the little line non-stop. Having six steam locos and three or four diesels at work made for an interesting display. I spent the entire afternoon there - noon to 6pm.
The programme starts at the top end of the line near the visitors' parking space, then continues to Warren Wood, the main station and works area. The stationary beam engine in the works hall was in operation.
At the down end of Warren Wood is a tight curve and gradient where the locomotives have to work fairly hard up the hill. Further on there is a field which is the lowest part of the line, which then climbs on towards the far terminus of Stony Shaw.
At Stony Shaw several trains are seen with the locomotives being exchanged each time. The signalling procedures are equally interesting to watch - if there isn't a signal to clear a shunting move, the signalman waves a green flag from the box.
Some more trains are seen on the main line, and finally we return to Warren Wood to see some locomotive and train movements. One of these shows a train hauled by 0-6-0WT 'Katie' struggling on a damp patch of track.
An interesting shot is not of a train but of a road vehicle: a 1930s Reliant three-wheeled van running out of the works building to join the evening photo session.
Some video shot at the floodlighted photo session concludes our visit to this attractive little railway.
15 сен 2024
