Beer Heights Light Railway
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 Steam locomotive 'Claudine' running round its train at the terminus. | |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 14 July 1975–Present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) |
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The Beer Heights Light Railway operates 1 mile (1.6 km) of minimum gauge 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm) track at Beer, Devon, England.[4] It is part of Pecorama, an exhibition owned by Peco.[5]
Overview[]
The official opening was by Rev. W.V. Awdry on 14 July 1975, at which time it offered a return ride from "Much Natter" station via a balloon loop.[citation needed] Subsequently, it was almost doubled in length by construction of the "Devil's Gorge" extension which involved a very considerable cutting, and the complex track layout also includes a more recent steeply-graded branch line to "Wildway Down". The station at Deepwater was revamped in late 2014 and reopened in July 2015 as 'Deepwater Halt'.
The line is notable for its high standard of presentation to the public and for the fine views obtainable from it.[6] It is home to eight steam locomotives designed on narrow gauge principles.
Locomotives[]
The railway currently has eight steam locomotives, two diesel and one electric.[7] A locomotive called 'Finn MacCool' also visits every summer (usually July – September) from the Belfast and County Down Miniature Railway Society, Northern Ireland, to help out in the peak season.[8] Other locomotives also visit during the 'Loco Week' and 'Bank Holiday Weekend Gala' in August.
Operational[]
| Number | Name | Wheel Arrangement | Notes | Power source | Arrived | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Dickie | 0-4-2+T | Built by David Curwen, Wiltshire | Steam | 1976 |  |
| 4 | Thomas II | 0-4-2ST+T | Thomas II (Original), Built by Roger Marsh | Steam | 1979 | |
| 5 | Linda | 2-4-0ST+T | Mainline Hunslet, rebuilt by TMA Engineering, Birmingham. Replica of Ffestiniog Loco. | Steam | 1983 | |
| 6 | Jimmy | Bo-Bo | Built Severn Lamb, Stratford-On-Avon | diesel hydraulic | 1986 | |
| 7 | Mr.P | 2-4-2T+T | Built in Beer Works | Steam | 1997 |  Steam locomotive 'Mr P' on turntable. |
| 8 | Gem | 0-6-0+T | Romulus (heavily modified - Engerth tender arrangement) | Steam | 1999 | |
| O&EBR 1 | Otter | 2-4-2T | Built at Western Steam, Privately Owned | Steam | 2004 | |
| 9 | Claudine | 2-4-4T | Single Fairlie, Built at Beer Works | Steam | 2005 |  BHLR Claudine |
| 10 | Alfred | Bo-Bo | Tram style, Built at Beer Works | Battery Electric | 2003 | |
| 11 | Ben | Bo-Bo | Freelance, Built at Beer Works | LPG / Petrol Mechanical | 2015 | |
| 12 | Jools | 0-4-2T | Heavily rebuilt from Samastipur. | Steam | in 2018. |
Under overhaul or construction[]
| Number | Name | Wheel Arrangement | Notes | Power source | Arrived | image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Samastipur | 0-4-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway, rebuilt |into Jools. | Steam | 1999 |
Previous[]
| Number | Name | Wheel Arrangement | Notes | Power source | Arrived | left | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Little Nell | 4wBE | Built by Cromar White | Battery Electric | 1970s | Early 1980s | ||
| 2 | Thomas Jnr | 0-4-0ST+T | Steam | 1970s | Early 1980s |
References[]
- ^ "Gallery 16 Beer Heights July 2016". www.ribblevalleyrail.co.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ "Plan Your Visit - Pecorama". Pecorama. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ^ "A Short History of English Maps". www.bsswebsite.me.uk. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
- ^ "Beer Heights Light Railway 7¼ inch". UK: Miniature Railway World. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "Pecorama". Seaton Bay. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ http://www.pecorama.info/beer-heights-light-railway/
- ^ http://www.pecorama.info/beer-heights-light-railway/our-rolling-stock/
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
External links[]
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Beer Heights Light Railway. |
| show Ridable miniature railways in England |
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Coordinates: 50°41′49″N 3°06′08″W / 50.69687°N 3.10215°W
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- 1975 establishments in England
- Railway lines opened in 1975
- Heritage railways in Devon
- Miniature railways in the United Kingdom
- 7¼ in gauge railways in England
- England rail transport stubs