The miniature railway is always popular with our visitors. Although originally aimed at the children, it seems that the adults find it just as attractive! The railway is a continuous loop of about one third of a mile in length and the tracks are set at 7¼ inch gauge. You will be amazed by the power of the tiny locomotives as they haul both adults and children around the scenic route.
The station is located near the sawmill, from where the route starts with a climb, passes through a tunnel before running below the fairground. It then winds up through a wooded area and loops round to the right past a small bamboo plantation. The gardens then come into view on the left, with a good view of the ornamental pond and fountain. The route then runs downhill parallel to the gardens and then starts to climb again as it loops around another pond, past the engine shed and back to the station. The journey takes about 4 minutes.
There are currently five steam locomotives and one petrol locomotive on the railway. As far as possible, we use the steam locomotives, but the petrol engine is a useful standby. We also have occasional visiting engines from other railways. The regular engines are detailed below.
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Pauline is a Romulus 0-4-0 Tender locomotive, built by Bennett Bros of Bristol in 1990. The Romulus is a freelance design based on typical narrow gauge proportions. This is a popular design for small 7¼ inch locos, as it has very simple valve gear, which is all accessible for maintenance, it has plenty of power for a small engine, and it is an easy design to drive. |
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Bob is an 0-4-2T built by an enthusiast near Maidenhead in 1981 to the Tinkerbell design. She was presented to Hollycombe by Mr R.C.U. Corbett. This loco has been used at Hollycombe for many years and is currently the main locomotive used on the miniature railway. |
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Tess is a scale model of a narrow gauge Bagnall 0-4-0ST industrial Saddle Tank. She was built by a model engineer from Farnborough, completed in 1984. She is now privately owned by Colin & Lisa Healey and is used to supplement Hollycombe's own locomotives. Tess also makes appearances at other railways, the first being to Swanley in Kent on 1st September 2001. |
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Toby is based on a standard gauge 0-6-0T side tank locomotive. She was built to a Bassett Lowke design, and is now privately owned by Peter & Lorraine Collins. She is used to supplement Hollycombe's own locomotives also makes appearances at other railways. |
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Dougal is a petrol mechanical locomotive built by David Curwen. It is modeled on a standard gauge 08 diesel shunter and is powered by a single cylinder Villiers petrol engine with a motorbike gearbox and chain drive to the rear axle. This engine is a very useful resource, as it can be called on at a moments notice with no need to wait to raise steam. It is also owned by Peter & Lorraine Collins. The picture shows Dougal on a Schools Educational Day with children in period costume. |
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La'al Un is a tiny 0-4-0T locomotive built to LBSC's Tich design. This design was derived from typical standard gauge outline contractors engines and was intended as design suitable for introducing enthusiasts to model engineering. This loco is owned by Colin & Lisa Healey and was restored from a kit of parts, including a new boiler. The loco is too small and underpowered to run regular service trains, but may be used for demonstration on gala days or put on display for general interest. |