Exploring Golden Acre Park | The Lost Miniature Railway 

I've said this before, Darren you are so lucky to be surrounded by so much history. It's people like you that keep local and regional history on the front burner so many others can learn of their past while enjoying a good story. Thanks for all your time, hard work and walking.

Mum born 1921 often talked about this park and said she wished the Council would open it as it was again. Thank you for another fascinating tour of history in Leeds.

That was genuinely fascinating. Luv how you spot clues in the landscape to help you orientate this against the map.

Very interesting, but at the same time, sad, it would be nice to have the railway reinstated, Darren

Another historical gem from your good self.

Excellent video Darren I really enjoyed this video I can't wait for next video I hope you and your family and friends are well and safe

Another great post Darren. Lovely to see people enjoying these things in the days when things were less tech based and pleasure was a more gentle and simple thing mate !! See you in Blackpool soon I hope ...

Excellent detective work, I loved how you pieced it all back together with genuine physical landmarks. A great vlog.

I love miniature railways if there is any at a park or theme we go too we have to go on it lol. Great video once again 😊

I love golden acre Park use to live 10 minutes away beautiful place and some amazing history

It's worth noting that the various Hudswell-Clarke Steam Outline Diesel locomotives at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Scarborough North Bay (along with the two 2' gauge Baguley Steam Outline Diesel locomotives at Wicksteed Park in Kettering) are by far the oldest diesel locomotives in regularly service in the UK today. It is a great shame that the Golden Acre Park line is no more. Today it would be a license to print money. As for sharp gradients several 15"/381mm gauge lines have some pretty fierce climbs on their routes. Probably the most challenging I have seen is on the 15"/381mm gauge Donauparkbahn in Vienna. Thank you for a very interesting video.

Thank you for the second tour today. A definite pleasure to view and instructive to comprehend. Enjoy your week ahead, and see you on the next. Cheers Darren! 😊

Fantastic, love how you superimpose the old photos to show us the old plans, & use landscape archaeology to trace old paths & trackbed. Must watch the Scarborough video now 😂

This, and a small number of other channels, are doing an outstanding job in preserving knowledge of our recent past. Darren: RU-vid is ephemeral. Please make sure you write all this stuff down too, and keep prodigious notes to hand down to the next generation. And publish in book form - get recognised by the establishment for your modern industrial archaeology.

This is again very interesting to see. And nice that those two steam locomotives still exist

Thanks, that was really interesting. It was nice to know the engines are still working and the dinning coach survived, even if just as a static display.

Again I loved this video like the last one on Golden Acre Park fab

great detective work on this one, love your fade in and out of new and old pictures.

Absolutely brilliant thank you.

Darren that was superb.historical and a big railway input.well done keep this going .

Informative and interesting video vlog of the little railway Darren. Once again brilliant detective work and those fade in and out photos from yesteryear are second to none incredible. Well done😉👍

Excellent!

Fantastic video as always, I've always loved the fade in pictures as it brings it all to life.

Great video once again 👍

Be great for the railway to open in some form again along part of the original route, even a smaller guage version. I can see the more challenging side over the once lake not been ventured but definitely in the area the display track is. Maybe a new interest/campaign group would be helpful in getting one reopened. Great video once again, super editing!

Finally able to get back to having my first cup of coffee and watching thieves videos on Sunday morning.

Brilliant as always 👌

What a beautiful park. The music very apt. The before and after photos amazing. What a research Darren. Thank you. Loved every second of your video.

Another fabulous video 👍

Another great video Darren, very informative. It was great to see both engines survived!👍

That was amazing Darren and so Informative. Having the railway back running would be so good . Thank you for a wonderful video.

Thank you. I really enjoy your videos, and how you explain the way you work out the various places

Excellent stuff Darren, really enjoyed that and your passion for the subject. Take care.

Fantastic video as always, the past will always be alive in people's minds whilst wonderful content like yours is produced. You can see so much happiness in the faces of those in the park and miniature railway back then. Thank you again from your subscribers.

Love this!!! Only just found this vid.. will watch in full later. I live 3 miles away from here 👍🏻

Another brilliant video Darren, glad to see some rails still exist today

Really interesting as always

Firstly loving the hair Darren, secondly loved this fascinating video! It's one of those stories that you wished you could go back in time to see it in its hay day. Thank you for finding it and bringing it back to life for us.

It looks a superb park add back the lake and the railway !!

Thanks for another cracking vlog very interesting 🧐

Superb and very well researched !!

what a great video very informative enjoyed it.

Thak you for these videos Im from Leeds this is brilliant

Thank you for another really enjoyable video, it must take some time to do the research and to try and overlay pictures from the past with today. I look forward to seeing your next video.

reminds me of the Dobwalls railway. I have fond memories of the Big Boy loco still being huge dispite being a scale engine. All gone now with most locos gone to Australia.

Great video and explore, Darren! 👌🏼😀

Listening to you talking and sussing out clues as you go makes me think of myself when I’m out looking at railway things, you must be inspiring me mate maybe I should make my first video…

Hi Daz. I have to say mate i watch many utube channels with then and now photos but by far you are the best. Well done mate keep going.

16:20 That is indeed a pretty impressive looking wooden bridge.

Excellent ..

This was the park of my childhood in the 1970s, many fond memories of the place. I grew up just on the very northern edge of Leeds, down the A660 Otley Road. At the time I had no idea of it's past as a theme park but even as a child I was puzzled by the red brick structures that dotted the park, they seemed somewhat out of place. It was only in the internet age that I became aware of what it once was and I was amazed. These are the first videos I've seen though specifically dealing with the park's history and they are absolutely fascinating. I wouldn't want it back as it was though. I always remember it as a peaceful place and as a proper botanic garden. That said, I do wonder if in some alternate reality when after the war the theme park was restored and continued to develop. I might well have grown up living less than a mile away from a Leeds equivalent of Blackpool Pleasure Beach or Alton Towers!

Great video Darren, don’t know the area but you make it interesting and captivating, great fades and research.

I wonder if there’s anyone out there who remembers going on this. Makes me sad to see it like this now but that’s just the way it is. Great video

I went to Goldenacre park for the first time this afternoon and spotted Waterside Station and wondered what was going on ther :) thank you.

Greetings to the gentleman who did the exploration of the golden park well where you were walking at times. If you look in the grass you can see in places I might be wrong, but but in the grass there’s areas where it looks like sleepers were when sleepers of pulled up the grass grow, but at least an impression of sleepers where they originally were, and it depends on the landscaping. Sometimes they get wiped out sometimes they do not looking at your walking around the footpath looks like and follow the conduit of the curves on the track work. I could be wrong but anyway most interesting yours Jeff Melbourne Australia

Darren, your photo blends are faultless. Better than many so called professionals. Grand that the two engines are still working.

Great stuff, insite to what life was and could have been.

Hello Darren love your vidio of leeds love my trains best wishes take care stay safe xx ❤😊

Thanks for another great video, its a pity they plant so many trees and not keep them at a manageable height, and as for all the brambles dont get me started ! I.m with you a major tidy up !

Watched both vids and enjoyed very much. Not sure how I missed the Scarborough video but will certainly check that out - memories of that as a kid. Good to hear the locos from Leeds are still in existence. Built to last, or what? Thanks again for a great trip.

Nice Darren thats answered a lot of questions as my girlfriend took me here for the first time as its near her etc..and i saw the rails etc....i never knew about this, great video Darren.

Great video Darren. Nothing like some railway detective work but not on a main line, in a park for a change 😊

I've often wondered about those disused tracks!

I'm pretty sure there must be a local 90 year old who remembers the park as it used to be .. it'd be good to show them this video & see if they recall any further details & memories of the park ! 👍

I'd say they should restore that bit of track as a branch line!

Just a suggestion for a place you could explore is the parlington woods near garforth, there is lots of history there as it is an old estate. there's an old train carriage in the woods, and there used to be a lake there, which has now been drained.

(03:00) You're in your element! Lucky you. Great research and frankly detective work Darren. Who else on this alternative planet of You Tube would care to give us the evidence of a grubbed out tree stump‽ And make it as interesting as the rest of the video. Bravo Mæstro. Somebody buy this man a Ground Penetrating Radar so that he can be certain sure of his educated guesses.

I can see we have the woodland discovery experience in common, Darren - and what a delightful little wood this is - thank-you for sharing it! I'm sure your change of mind was correct by the way: aerial views with much less foliage can be deceptive, especially when accompanied by such changes as the depth of that pond. Maybe we can compare notes on some of the more obscure bits of former national network close to Edinburgh, some day...

Never been or know anything about this place..but..it is one of many former entertainment places abandoned or dilapidated in the country.its like telling kids in the future when Thorpe park is gone and overgrown ..bloody crying shame

Top quality as always Darren. I'm still puzzled that large trees are standing where the blue lagoon was.

Go here quite often. Will look at it differently next time. 🚂👍🏻

would be nice if the railway would open again darren

H Darren, if your back over the park there are some rails part buried in the tarmac leading up to one of the out building’s. It’s quite a slope so may not be part of the railway loop but could be another ride or leading to storage. Next time I’m there I’ll get a photo.

I needed to know why they don't dig a tunnel and do an extension for the main line Train so that they can extend the unused abandoned underground train stations. Why couldn’t they use the part D78 Stock train doors on the sides and also restructure the front face of the A60 and A62 stock and that includes the class 313, class 314 and class 315 remix and make them all together and also redesign them an overhead line and also make them into Five cars per units and also having three Disabled Toilets on those Five cars per units A60 and A62 stock trains and also convert the A60 and A62 stock trains into a Scania N112, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXB, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel Engines and also put the Loud 7-Speed Voith Gearboxes even Loud 8-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Gearboxes in the A60 and A62 stock, class 313, class 314, and class 315 and also modernise the A60 and A62 stock and make it into an 11 car per unit so it could have fewer doors, more tables, computers and mobile phone chargers. A Stock Trains and also having 8 Disabled Toilets on those A stock trains. why couldn’t we refurbish and modernise the waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel and make it more Larger and extend it to the bank station, making it into a Triple-Track Railway Line so those Five countries such as Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden to convert the waterloo and city line Triple-Track Railway tunnel into a High-Speed Railway lines? The Third Euro tunnel Triple-Track Railway line to make it 11 times better for passengers so they could go from A to B. then put the modernised 11 car per unit A Stock and put them on a bigger modernised waterloo and city line Triple-Track train tunnel so it could go to bank station to those Five countries such as Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. The modernised refurbished 11 cars per unit A stock could be a High Speed The Third Triple-Track Euro Tunnel Train So it is promising and 47 times a lot more possible to do this kind of project if that will be OK for London Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden. oh by the way, could they also tunnel the Triple-Track Railway Line so it will stop from Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex so that the Passengers will go to Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden and also extend the Triple-Track Railway Line from the Bank to Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex Stations so that more people from there could go to Australia, Germany, Italy, Poland And Sweden more Easily. Why couldn't they extend the Piccadilly line and also build a brand-new underground train stations so it could go even further right up to Clapton, Wood Street can they also make another brand new underground train station in Chingford and could they extend the Piccadilly Line and the DLR right up to Chingford? All of the classes 150, 155, 154, 117, 114, 105, and 106, will be replaced by all of the Scania N112, Volvo B10M, Gardner 6LXB, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 8LXB Diesel Five carriages three disabled toilets are air conditioning trains including Highams Park for extended roots which is the Piccadilly line and the DLR trains. Could you also convert all of the 1973 stock trains into an air-conditioned maximum speed 78 km/hours (48 MPH) re-refurbished and make it into a 8 cars per unit if that will be alright, and also extend all of the Piccadilly train stations to make more space for all of the extended 8 car per unit 1973 stock air condition trains and can you also build another Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive Companies and can they order Every 37 Octagon and Every 17 Hexagon shape LNER diagram unique small no.13 and unique small no.11 Boilers from those Countries such as Greece, Italy, Poland, and Sweden, can they make Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive speeds by up to 142MPH so you can try and test it on the Original Mainline so it will be much more safer for the Passengers to enjoy the 142MPH speed Limit only for HS2 and Channel Tunnel mainline services, if they needed 16 Carriages Per units, can they use those class 55’s, class 44’s, class 40’s and class 43HST Diesel Locomotive’s right at the Back of those 18 Carriages Per Units so they can take over at the Back to let those Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s have a rest for those interesting Journeys Please!!!!!!!, oh can you make all of those Coal Boxes’s 17 Tonnes for all of those 142MPH Mayflower and Tornado Steam Locomotive’s so the Companies will Understand us PASSENGER’S!! so please make sure that the Builders can do as they are told!!!! And please do something about these very very important Professional ideas Please? Prime Minister of England, Prime Minister of Australia, Prime Minister of Sweden, Prime Minister of Germany, Prime Minister of Italy, Prime Minister of Poland and that Includes the Mayor of London.

Hi Darren, some great original cine footage there, it wasn't yours was it? I think you traced the old route perfectly, well done and very interesting 👏👏 It reminded me of the miniature railway near Southsea castle, long gone now, you walked by it on your Southsea seafront video 3 years ago. It started by the aquarium. Good luck from Spain!!

I also tried to trace the line many years ago, but with limited success. You have confirmed what I found and added a few more tantalising locations. Yes, it would be wonderful if the line was rebuilt, but I suspect the lack of local government interest or private finance would make it unlikely. Maybe public funding with volunteer operation would be an option.

Awesome 😊 did you put your clocks forward an hour

Another enjoyable explore. It would be great to see the railway running again, though it seems a full reinstatement would be impractible given the present layout of the park. Are there any moves afoot that you know of?

Lightwater Valley will be like this in a year or so.

It is very saddening to hear the recent death of your dog Barney the beagle.It must be so devastating

Hi Darren, the moving finger points.........are the gloves part of your merch line 😊? I have to say Leeds City Council keep that park in good order and it looks to be well used by folks and as I said about pt1 it reminds me of Heaton Park here in Gr Manchester. I hope the pain of loosing Barney isn't as raw now. Cheers DougT

Would be nice if the old railbed could be marked out and gravelled as a walking trail with maybe information boards and accompanying pictures.

The Flying Scotsman is passing through Woodlesford Station at 5:30pm this evening Darren, be sure not to miss it!

Reminds me of bell Vue in Manchester. Imagine if they had survived and how well they would be doing today

I genuinely believe that in this digital day and age a miniature railway like this *BUT* with actual steam driven engines - rather than diesel - could be a profitable enterprise if done well... Simple fact is that people love these railways but are disappointed the "steam locos" are diesel or electric. Heritage railways just about manage to do this yet have significantly more overheads at they use actual historic locos and tracks that require huge ground rents and restoration fees... *Yet* if you go to a large town park that has a what.. 100 meter?? 12" gauge?? Miniature steam driven loco that goes in a straight line and back then you find a queue almost as long as the track waiting to ride it.... If I it was a well designed track that meandered through woodland (like in this video) then a decent 20"-30" gauge coal fired steam railway would be a winner..... I've been to the full scale ones at Keighley and Preston and although they are a great day out and experience - as its full sized it seems a very limited experience.... A 3-5mile experience on a long winding miniature through woodland and across lakes would draw a crowd and require significantly less costs in upkeep compared to Keighley or Preston..... Just my 2 penneth.... Any entrapeneurs with acres of unprofitable woodland to spare - I'm full of ideas 🤣🤣👍👍

there was a minature railay at whorlton lido near barnard castle now derelict

Me who restores abandoned railways: WHERE THE BLOODY H*LL IS MY WALLET BOYS WERE GOING ON A ROAD TRIP

You mentioned a possible station called Parkway. Could this have been near to the hotel of the same name for the guests to use giving direct access to the park

Golden Acre Park, Yorkshires top dogging spot.

Can u imagine if all that was there today, I’m sure it would bring in modern crowds ….this is what people want to see not trees and shrubs…..😢

11:31 "Another brook" - tha's spending too much time in't south. Thatun's a *beck*.

Why did it close ??

Please don’ get rid of the brambles and fallen trees they are homes for birds and wildlife and would be a great shame I’ m glad that they leave them there are bird watching area.

Can you make your content inclusive by formatting the auto captioning into closed captioning please? it is extremely hard to watch it relying only on the auto captioning sadly (I'm Profoundly Deaf)

Fantastic, love how you superimpose the old photos to show us the old plans, & use landscape archaeology to trace old paths & trackbed. Must watch the Scarborough video now 😂