Cadeby Light Railway
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Cadeby |
| Locale | England |
| Dates of operation | 1963–2005 |
| Successor | abandoned |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 2 ft (610 mm) |
| Length | 97 yards (89 m) |
The Cadeby Light Railway was a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway in the garden of the rectory in Cadeby, Leicestershire.
In the early 1960s the Reverend Teddy Boston became rector of All Saints' Church, Cadeby. Boston was a lifelong railway enthusiast and wanted to build a miniature railway in his new garden, but the cost proved prohibitive. Instead he searched for a full-sized narrow-gauge locomotive.
In 1962, he purchased Pixie, a W.G. Bagnall 0-4-0ST from the Cranford quarry. The quarry owners donated a short length of track and two wagons and the Cadeby Light Railway was opened.
Over the years, Boston built an extensive collection of ex-industrial narrow-gauge rolling stock which ran on the extremely short line in his garden. He also maintained an extensive OO gauge model railway at Cadeby.[1]
Although Boston died in 1986, his widow, Audrey kept the railway open for nearly twenty years, holding regular open days.
The railway finally closed in 2005. The majority of the collection has been amalgamated with the Moseley Railway Trust at the Apedale Community Country Park. Pixie is currently undergoing restoration as of 2014.
Collection
In 1982, Boston's collection consisted of:[2]
| Name | Wheel Arrangement | Manufacturer | Works Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret | 0-4-0ST | Hunslet Engine Co. | 605 of 1894 |
| No.2 | 0-4-0WT | Orenstein & Koppel | 7529 of 1914 |
| Pixie | 0-4-0ST | W.G. Bagnall | 2090 of 1919 |
| 87004 | 4wDM | Motor Rail | 2197 of 1922 |
| 0-4-0PM | Baguley | 1695 of 1928 | |
| 4wDM | Motor Rail | 4572 of 1929 | |
| 4wDM | Hudswell Clarke | D558 of 1930 | |
| 1 | 4wDM | Motor Rail | 5609 of 1931 |
| New Star | 4wPM | Lister | 4088 of 1931 |
| 24 | 4wDM | Motor Rail | 5853 of 1934 |
| 4wDM | Ruston & Hornsby | 179870 of 1936 | |
| 42 | 4wDM | Motor Rail | 7710 of 1939 |
| 20 | 4wDM | Motor Rail | 8748 of 1942 |
See also
References
- The Rev E. R. Boston MA (1973). Rails Round the Rectory – The story of the Cadeby Light Railway. Loughborough: The Book House. ISBN 0-902520-03-2.
- Thomas, Cliff (2002). The Narrow Gauge in Britain & Ireland. Atlantic Publishers. ISBN 1-902827-05-8.
- Specific
- ^ "Railway Vicar". British Pathé. 20 April 1967. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ Industrial Railway Society 1982 including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Industrial Railway Society. 1982. p. 114. ISBN 0 901096 43 1.
External links
- The Rev. Edwin Richard "Teddy" Boston – an appreciation – by Mike Rooth
- Steam rally appearance by "Fiery Elias"
- Photo of the Rev. Boston on 'Pixie', with All Saints' Church behind
- "Railway Vicar" (free video download) – April 1967 feature by British Pathe about Teddy Boston and his OO gauge model railway.
- Teddy Boston's involvement in the forming of the Cadeby Steam & Country Fayre