Moors Valley Railway
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The Moors Valley Railway is a 7.25 narrow gauge passenger railway, in the Moors Valley Country Park at Ashley Heath, Dorset, England near Ringwood in Hampshire. There are 18 steam engines and 2 diesel engines. The railway is fully signalled, with two signal boxes, one in a Great Western Railway style and one in a British Rail Southern Region style. The latter box also contains a mini lever frame. The railway was constructed at its present location in 1985/86 and opened to the public in July 1986, after the closure in 1985 of its predecessor at Tucktonia in nearby Christchurch, which had run since 1980.
Moors Valley uses a narrow gauge prototype to produce tank engines in which one may sit, allowing running during the harshest of conditions, so much so that it runs throughout the year.
Roger Marsh was a pioneer of this principle and built Tinkerbell; when this was spotted a tank locomotive, Talos, was ordered and so started the Tinkerbell-class locomotive. Coincidentally, when Tinkerbell was seen for sale, it was purchased forming the second locomotive. Several more were built at Tucktonia, several far more powerful than previous engines, before everything was moved to Moors Valley Railway.
Moors Valley Railway owns approximately 10 locomotives and a further 5 are privately owned. Hartfield is the most recent addition, being purchased from an owner who rarely used the loco. It has been used a lot in recent months, following the general idea of Jason (a Tinkerbell variation) as per many other private locomotives.
There are many other tender locomotives such as Offa, almost certainly the most powerful 7.25 gauge locomotive in existence until recently.
A further benefit of the locomotives is that, unlike models, Jim Haylock (owner of Moors Valley) has been able to create locomotives that are a lot more powerful due to the increased boiler size that can be achieved through almost freelance prototypes.
The railway has almost come to its full extent with very little possibility to expand trackwork.
The carriages at Moors Valley have no roof, but have a bench in the centre to sit on. Each carriage is approximately 5 metres long. There are four rakes of eight carriages, one each in green, brown, olive and red.
Locomotives of the Moors Valley Railway
| # | Name | Type | Colour | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Horace | 0-4-2D.H. | Black | 1999 | Diesel shunter, It is fitted with a Lombardini Six and a half H.P. single cylinder diesel engine with hydrostatic drive. Workers at the railway nick-name the engine 'Horace the Horrible.' |
| 3 | Talos | 0-4-2T | lined maroon livery | 1978 | One of the original batch of 5 Tinkerbell Class locomotives built by Roger Marsh in 1978. Is the mainstay of the Driver Experience Course |
| 4 | Tinkerbell | 0-4-2T | Stroudley’s ‘improved engine green’ | 1968 | The original Tinkerbell which gave its name to a popular class of locomotive, bought in 1978 by owner of the railway; Jim Haylock. |
| 5 | Sapper | 4-6-0 | Brunswick green | 1982 | Rebuilt 1993. It is unique on the MVR having inside frames and spoked wheels, based upon the War Dept Hunslet 4-6-0T’s. |
| 6 | Medea | 2-6-2T+T | L.B.S.C.R Umber Brown | 1981 | Originally an 0-6-2T. She was re-boilered and enlarged in 1985 and is essentially a larger Tinkerbell Class design. Now drivers have the option of a water bowser. |
| 7 | Aelfred | 2-6-4T | S.E.C.R. lined green livery | 1985 | Design is loosely based on the Vale of Rheidol narrow gauge engines. |
| 9 | Jason | 2-4-4T | Maunsell lined Green | 1989 | The first locomotive built at the MVR workshops. Was the pride of the fleet and the mainstay of winter service until Hartfield was purchased in 1997. |
| 10 | Offa | 2-6-2 | Furness Railway Red | 1991 | One of the most powerful 7.25 engines. It has as pulled a 25-coach train with 198 passengers, and three guards. Sister to Zeus. Rebuilt 2009/10. Due to be back in Service June/July 2010 |
| 11 | Zeus | 2-6-2 | Black | 1991 | Sister to Offa. Styled in South African Railways guise with Vanderbilt tender. |
| 12 | Pioneer | 4-6-2 | Dark blue | 1992 | This Pacific is based on Sapper, with several improvements including outside frames and rear pony truck. |
| 14 | Horton | 2-4-0 | Red | 1991 | It is a development of the Tinkerbell class locomotives but having the comfort that a tender engine offers. Won Best Prepared Engine Award at the Grand Summer Gala 2009. |
| 15 | William Rufus | 2-4-0 0-4-2T, | Red / black | 1997 | This Garratt type locomotive utilizes two Horton chassis with a fixed centrally mounted boiler giving a unique driving experience. |
| 16 | Robert Snooks | 0-4-4T, | Black | 1999 | Named after last highwayman caught in England. Based on famous 02 tank engines from Isle of Wight. Technically similar to Jason. |
| 17 | Hartfield | 2-4-4T, | Red | 1999 | Privately owned and built, sold to MVR in 2007 and is a slightly bigger version of Jason with higher boiler pressure. |
| ? | Ivor | 0-4-2T, | G.E.R. lined blue | 1997 | Privately owned, built by Tony Crowhurst. Ivor is a development of and is a Tinkerbell class locomotive. |
| 18 | Thor | 4-6-2 | Black | 2005 | Privately built and owned. One of the most powerful 7 1/4inch Engines. |
| 19 | Athelstan | 2-8-0 | E.A.R. Red | 2005 | Privately owned and built. The design resembles an East African Railways class 24. |
| 20 | Emmet | 0-4-0T, | Red | 2005 | The railway's 2ft gauge engine. Visited several 2ft gauge railways, currently at the Hayling Island Railway. |
| ? | Vixen | Bo-Bo D.H. | Red | 2006 | Built as a thunderbird engine and for pre season work. Has a 600cc Lombardini 2-cylinder engine. |
| 24 | Perseus | 0-4-2T, | LMS Coronation Blue | 2006 | Privately owned and built. Expansion on the Tinkerbell design with Walschaerts valve gear and bigger cylinders. |
Special Events
The MVR holds a number of special events throughout the year, showcasing their own, and visiting locomotives.
Tinkerbell Weekend
Every year on spring bank holiday weekend the MVR hosts it's Tinkerbell weekend with several visiting engines. The premise of the Tinkerbell Weekend is to gather as many examples of the Tinkerbell-style locomotives as possible at the railway, as it is the home of the "first" Tinkerbell.
The 2010 Tinkerbell Day included seven visiting engines: Rita B, Douval, Tinkerbell no3 and Bob as well as Prince Sheian and Siusaidh from the Swanley New Barn Railway. Also in use were the MVR Tinkerbell's: Tinkerbell, Talos, Ivor and Perseus.
Grand Summer Gala
The Grand Summer Gala is the railways largest event. It features the entire home fleet of locomotives in operation, along with visiting locomotives. Alongside the standard passenger trains, demonstration freight trains are run, featuring the railways large fleet of freight and permanent way stock. The gala also sees the usage of a number of heritage coaches from the Tucktonia railway, albeit not on passenger duties.
Other features of the gala include parades of full size and miniature steam traction engines, a display of classic cars and a model railway display in the carriage sheds.
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