Poole Park Railway

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Coordinates: 50°43′13.1″N 1°57′52.9″W / 50.720306°N 1.964694°W / 50.720306; -1.964694

Poole Park Railway
Poole Park Railway - geograph.org.uk - 33620.jpg
Overview
LocalePoole Park, Dorset, England
Dates of operation1949–2018
Technical
Track gauge10+1⁄4 in (260 mm)
Length640 metres (700 yd)
Other
Websitehttp://www.pooleparkrailway.org
Poole Park Railway
Legend
 Carriage sheds
 Poole Park station
BRIDGE
Wildlife pond

The Poole Park Railway runs through Poole Park in Poole, Dorset, England, with views of Poole Park. The line is built to the popular gauge of 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) and runs every weekend throughout the year and all school holidays.

History[]

In 1949 Southern Miniature Railways Ltd started this 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge railway. They also operated miniature railways in Stokes Bay, Bognor Regis and Southsea. The only one to survive to present times is Poole Park.

A freelance 4-4-2 tender loco “Vanguard” was used every day until 1965 and occasionally until 1970. After 1970 two diesel outline locos were used first powered by Ford Sidevalve engines then diesel.

Steam did briefly return in the 1990s with an engine called Arthur used mainly on Saturdays, which was sold in 1997.[1]

The line was taken over by Chris Bullen on 2 June 2005, becoming the third operator since 1949.

Poole Borough Council ended their tenancy agreement with Chris Bullen in 2017, ordering that the historic track be removed before tenders for a new operator would begin on 1 March 2017. The council after a public and media backlash then said that the track may remain in place until after the tendering process.[2] [3]

A petition was started to save the historic track from destruction on 38 Degrees website.[4]

The Railway was awarded to the Friends of Poole Park (a charity) in July 2017, with a concession to operate the Railway for 30 years.[5] [6] On 25 April 2018 two of the three railway CIC directors resigned as a result of an unworkable business relationship with the third director. The forty or more volunteers who had operated the railway and maintained the track all 'walked' out in sympathy. Subsequently, the Borough of Poole were unconvinced that the railway CIC could operate the railway safely, following a derailment in May 2018 and the walk out of Friends of Poole Park,[7] the concession was withdrawn and the CIC issued with a 'Notice to Quit' in July 2018.

BCP council received a grant from the Parks Foundation and have added additional funds of its own to ensure the mini railway is open once again, with a target date of autumn 2021.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Poole Park Railway 10¼ inch". Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Six thousand signatures in less than 24 hours: community rallies to 'save Poole Park railway'". Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Poole Park's mini railway to close as council looks for new operators". Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  4. ^ "To: Poole Council Save Poole Park Railway". Retrieved 6 January 2017.
  5. ^ "To: Launch - Poole Park Railway". Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  6. ^ "to:Poole Park Railway". Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  7. ^ "Poole Park mini railway's rolling stock being advertised for sale". Retrieved 2018-06-30.
  8. ^ "Poole Park Railway to re-open autumn 2021". Poole Projects. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

External links[]

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