Perrygrove Railway

Perrygrove Railway
Legend To Oakiron Quarry Passing Loop Oakiron End of Heritage Line Passing Loop Footpath Heywood Rookwood Passing Loop Perrygrove Perrygrove Museum Passing Loop Footpath to Parking Perrygrove Engine Shed

The Spirit of Adventure passing Rookwood Station

Lydia's Hackworth valvegear

Backhead of Ursula and the Heywood launch-type boiler

The Perrygrove Railway is a minimum gauge railway of 15 in (381 mm) gauge. It is a private heritage railway at Perrygrove Farm in the Royal Forest of Dean near Coleford, Gloucestershire, England. Trains travel at frequent intervals on a round trip of 1+¹⁄₂ miles (2.4 km) between four stations.

The railway was inspired by the minimum gauge estate railways or British narrow gauge railways developed by Sir Arthur Heywood at the end of the 19th century, including his pioneering Duffield Bank Railway and the later Eaton Hall Railway. Perrygrove is the home of the Heywood Collection, which consists of five original vehicles, including the original saloon carriage from Eaton Hall. Also based at Perrygrove are replica vehicles built by James Waterfield, including the locomotive "Ursula" and the Duffield Bank Dining Carriage. All these vehicles are available for viewing when Perrygrove is open, but visitors are asked to telephone if they wish to be certain of seeing a particular item.

Locomotives

Steam

Number & Name	Description	Current Status	Livery	Builders
Spirit of Adventure	0-6-0T built by Exmoor Steam Railway	Operational	Red	Exmoor Steam Railway
Ursula	Duffield Bank Railway, Reconstruction of No.6 Ursula: 0-6-0T boiler 160 psi, grate area 3 sq ft (0.28 m2)., heating surface 80 sq ft (7.4 m2)., cylinders 5.5"x8", wheel diameter 1'4", Brown/Heywood valvegear.	Operational	Green	James Waterfield
Lydia	2-6-2T with Hackworth valvegear	Operational	Blue	Alan Keef Ltd
3	Replica K1 Garratt articulated locomotive from the Bush Mill Railway.	Undergoing Repair	Green	Bush Mill Railway

Diesel

Number & Name	Current Status	Livery	Builders
Workhorse, 26014 of 1967	Operational	Red	Motor Rail of Bedford
Jubilee, 9337 of 1994	Operational	Red	Hunslet Engine Company at Jack Lane, Leeds
Pylon, 40407 of 1954	Operational	Green	R A Lister and Company

History

Perrygrove Farm was purchased by Michael and Frances Crofts in 1993. Construction of the railway commenced in 1995 and it opened in 1996. The railway's existence depends on visits from day trippers, tourists and railway enthusiasts. The first two types of visitor are attracted by the promise of a great day out in the beautiful Forest of Dean, with picnic and play facilities outdoors and under cover, and an Indoor Village with secret passages, in addition to train rides. A unique treasure hunt is also offered: the railway supplies a key to open a hidden box of treasure, and clues to help treasure hunters find it. Clues are scattered in the ancient woodland where real treasure was found in 1849.

Railway enthusiasts can meet the builder of the line and when staff are available they are taken on tours of the engine sheds and workshops.

The railway is a member of the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean Tourism Association, which promotes tourism in the area. Its a member of Britains Great Little Railways.

External links

• Official website
• Wye Valley & Forest of Dean Tourism website
• photo of a steam train on the Perrygrove Railway on geograph