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The '''Coalyard Miniature Railway is operated by the [[Coalyard Miniature Railway Model Engineering Society]] and ''' is a 7¼" gauge miniature passenger carrying railway, running parallel to operating within the SVR main line at [[Kidderminster | Kidderminster StationTown station]] for approximately 500 yards site. It takes its name from the coal yard which operated alongside the station itself to the adjacent car park. It operates on most weekends when the SVR is openuntil 2004.

Originally It is operated by the [[Coalyard Miniature Railway Model Engineering Society]] on most weekends when the SVR is running trains. There is a small charge. It supports the work of the [[SVR Apprentices | Junior Club]], providing activities and training in railway operation.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blnov22 Branch Lines, November 2022] (Retrieved 19 November 2022)</ref> On 20 January 2019 it was the only passenger carrying railway open in Kidderminster as the SVR was closed for its winter period and West Midlands Railway were not running through Kidderminster due to late running engineering work.<ref name=FB>[https://www.facebook.com/CoalyardMiniatureRailway/ Coalyard Miniature Railway Facebook page]</ref>  In 2022 the Coalyard railway planted 15 trees in its embankment to help offset its carbon emissions.<ref name=FB/> ==The route==The Railway is around 500 yards long and runs from the station itself, alongside the station platforms and past the water column, to a platform at 'Tutherend' adjacent to the SVR car park.<ref>Scott, Peter, Minor Railways (34th edition), Published privately April 2022, ISBN: 978 1 902368 52 8</ref><ref name=MRW>[http://www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk/Coalyard Miniature Railway World website] (Retrieved 19 November 2022)</ref> There is an intermediate halt: ‘Sparks Halt.’<ref name=Wiki>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalyard_Miniature_Railway Coalyard Miniature Railway on Wikipedia] (Retrieved 19 November 2022)</ref> ==History==The railway was first built in 1988 as around 100 metres of dual gauge track comprising 3&frac12;" gauge rails laid within 5" gauge rails, to dual permit operation of both a 5" & King class Locomotive and a 3&frac12;" gauge, it Hall class locomotive.<ref name=MRW/> The track was relaid to constructed with continuously welded rail.<ref name=Wiki/> In 1990 a new heavy aluminium grade 7&frac14;" gauge in 1990track was laid and then gradually extended until it reached the far end of the SVR car park.<ref name=MRW/> The line originally used wooden sleepers, but later relaid with plastic sleepers.<ref name=Wiki/> The original line was then removed, making space for a new footpath from the SVR car park to Kidderminster Town station. <ref name=MRW/>  The railway was partly relaid to dual 7&frac14;" & 5" gauge in 1996, reverting back to single 7&frac14;" gauge a couple of years later. ==Rolling stock==Locomotives comprise steam, petrol or battery powered locomotives. Coaching stock is a mixture of sit astride and sit in coaches. There is a rake of wagons.<brref name=MRW/>The railway takes its Stock is approximately 1:8 scale proportions.<ref name from the coal yard which operated alongside Kidderminster Station until 2004.=Wiki/>

*[[Paddock Garden Railway | The Paddock Garden Railway at Hampton Loade]]*[[Coalyard Miniature Railway Model Engineering Society]] ==References==<references />

== Links ==*[http://www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk/Coalyard.html The Coalyard Miniature Railway on www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk]*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalyard_Miniature_Railway The Coalyard Miniature Railway on Wikipedia]*[https://www.facebook.com/CoalyardMiniatureRailway/ The Coalyard Miniature Railway on Facebook]