Difference between revisions of "Coalyard Miniature Railway"

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[[File:Miniature railway, Kidderminster Town railway station - DSCF0839.JPG|thumb|300px|right|View of the railway from the station]]
 
[[File:Miniature railway, Kidderminster Town railway station - DSCF0839.JPG|thumb|300px|right|View of the railway from the station]]
[[File:686 and coalyard.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A train on the original dual gauge track]]
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[[File:686 and coalyard.jpg|thumb|300px|right|A train on the dual gauge track in 1997]]
  
The Coalyard Miniature Railway is a 7¼" gauge passenger carrying railway running parallel to the SVR main line at [[Kidderminster | Kidderminster Station]] for approximately 500 yards from the station itself to the adjacent car park. It operates on most weekends when the SVR is open.
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The '''Coalyard Miniature Railway''' is a miniature passenger carrying railway operating within the [[Kidderminster | Kidderminster Town station]] site. It takes its name from the coal yard which operated alongside the station until 2004.
  
Originally built in 1988 to dual 5" & 3&frac12;" gauge, it was relaid to 7&frac14;" gauge in 1990. 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<br>
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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.
The railway takes its name from the coal yard which operated alongside Kidderminster Station until 2004.
 
  
== See Also ==
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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>
[[Paddock Garden Railway | The Paddock Garden Railway at Hampton Loade]]
 
  
== Links ==
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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>
[http://www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk/Coalyard.html The Coalyard Miniature Railway on www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk]
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In 2022 the Coalyard railway planted 15 trees in its embankment to help offset its carbon emissions.<ref name=FB/>
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==The route==
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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>
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==History==
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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/>
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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/>
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The original line was then removed, making space for a new footpath from the SVR car park to Kidderminster Town station.<ref name=MRW/>
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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.
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==Rolling stock==
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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/>
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==Gallery==
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<gallery>
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File:Diesel gala in miniature 2016 1.JPG | Diesel Gala, 2016
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File:Diesel gala in miniature 2016 2.JPG | Diesel Gala, 2016
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</gallery>
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== See also ==
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*[[Paddock Garden Railway | The Paddock Garden Railway at Hampton Loade]]
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*[[Coalyard Miniature Railway Model Engineering Society]]
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==References==
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<references />
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==Links==
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*[http://www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk/Coalyard The Coalyard Miniature Railway on www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk]
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*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalyard_Miniature_Railway The Coalyard Miniature Railway on Wikipedia]
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*[https://www.facebook.com/CoalyardMiniatureRailway/ The Coalyard Miniature Railway on Facebook]
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{{#coordinates:52.384160|-2.240021|[primary|][dim:1000]}}

Latest revision as of 15:24, 19 November 2022

View of the railway from the station
A train on the dual gauge track in 1997

The Coalyard Miniature Railway is a miniature passenger carrying railway operating within the Kidderminster Town station site. It takes its name from the coal yard which operated alongside the station until 2004.

It is operated by the Coalyard Miniature Railway Model Engineering Society on most weekends when the SVRSevern Valley Railway is running trains. There is a small charge.

It supports the work of the Junior Club, providing activities and training in railway operation.[1]

On 20 January 2019 it was the only passenger carrying railway open in Kidderminster as the SVRSevern Valley Railway was closed for its winter period and West Midlands Railway were not running through Kidderminster due to late running engineering work.[2]

In 2022 the Coalyard railway planted 15 trees in its embankment to help offset its carbon emissions.[2]

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 SVRSevern Valley Railway car park.[3][4] There is an intermediate halt: ‘Sparks Halt.’[5]

History

The railway was first built in 1988 as around 100 metres of dual gauge track comprising 3½" gauge rails laid within 5" gauge rails, to permit operation of both a 5" King class Locomotive and a 3½" Hall class locomotive.[4] The track was constructed with continuously welded rail.[5]

In 1990 a new heavy aluminium grade 7¼" gauge track was laid and then gradually extended until it reached the far end of the SVRSevern Valley Railway car park.[4] The line originally used wooden sleepers, but later relaid with plastic sleepers.[5]

The original line was then removed, making space for a new footpath from the SVRSevern Valley Railway car park to Kidderminster Town station.[4]

The railway was partly relaid to dual 7¼" & 5" gauge in 1996, reverting back to single 7¼" 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.[4] Stock is approximately 1:8 scale proportions.[5]

Gallery

See also

References

  1. Branch Lines, November 2022 (Retrieved 19 November 2022)
  2. 2.0 2.1 Coalyard Miniature Railway Facebook page
  3. Scott, Peter, Minor Railways (34th edition), Published privately April 2022, ISBN: 978 1 902368 52 8
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Miniature Railway World website (Retrieved 19 November 2022)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Coalyard Miniature Railway on Wikipedia (Retrieved 19 November 2022)

Links