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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 400 yards site. It takes its name from the coal yard which operated alongside the station itself to 'Tutherend', the adjacent car park. It operates on most weekends when the SVR is openuntil 2004.

Originally built in 1988 to dual 5" & 3½" gauge, it was relaid to 7¼" gauge in 1990It is operated by the [[Coalyard Miniature Railway Model Engineering Society]] on most weekends when the SVR is running trains. The railway was partly relaid to dual 7¼" & 5" gauge in 1996, reverting back to single 7¼" gauge There is a couple of years latersmall charge.

The railway operates a range It supports the work of steam the [[SVR Apprentices | Junior Club]], providing activities and other locomotives with 'sit-astride' coachestraining in railway operation.<ref>[https://www.svrlive.com/blnov22 Branch Lines, November 2022] (Retrieved 19 November 2022)</ref>

It supports On 20 January 2019 it was the work of only passenger carrying railway open in Kidderminster as the [[SVR Apprentices | Junior Club]], providing activities was closed for its winter period and training in railway operationWest 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>

The In 2022 the Coalyard railway takes 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 coal yard which operated 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 permit operation of both a 5" King class Locomotive and a 3&frac12;" Hall class locomotive.<ref name=MRW/> The track was constructed with continuously welded rail.<ref name=Wiki/> In 1990 a new heavy aluminium grade 7&frac14;" gauge track 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 Station until 2004Town 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.<ref name=MRW/> Stock is approximately 1:8 scale proportions.<ref name=Wiki/>