Hall Leys Park miniature railway, Matlock

[4SRKT]

When I was a very young child my family lived in Belper, and among the very faint memories I have of that time is a green steam locomotive operating along a stretch of track in a park in Matlock. What little I have been able to find online says that the track is still there, but since 1974 has been operated by a freelance (and frankly plug-ugly) diesel locomotive and the track is a most unusual 9 1/2" gauge.

1974 is the year my family moved to York (I was 3 years old at the time), and all memories of this railway cease from this point. I can't even find any photos of the steam loco online. The closest I can get is a B&W shot from 1951 of something that someone thinks might be a sister locomotive from another railway in a different park in the area that closed before I was born.

Does anyone have any information on this line, and particularly the locomotive, dating from before 1974? Cheers.

 

[Smudger105e]

I just looked at that loco that you described as 'plug ugly'. I think you were just being kind!

 

[John Webb]

The Ian Allan book "Miniature Railways" published in 1966 gives no mention of this line. But their "ABC Miniature Railways" - effectively an update - published in 1998 says that the line was opened in 1948. But it doesn't say what loco first ran on the line.

Regarding the 9 1/2" gauge - this was popular between WW1 and WW2 particularly for private estates; the scale locos were built to was 2" to 1ft. But the 10 1/4" gauge became more popular despite its less convenient scale of 2 1/4" to 1ft, as equipment was more robust for public lines.

But there may still be a few public 9 1/2" around in addition to the Hall Leys line:
Lakeshore Railroad, South Shields
Barking Railway, Barking Park
Clevedon Miniature Railway, Somerset

Faversham Miniature Railway, in a garden centre in Faversham, has the very unusual gauge of 9".

(The above were listed in a 2000 book, but I can't promise they're still around! There was a 9 1/2" line at Dansom Park, Welling, near where I grew up, but it was lifted many years ago, alas.)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I just looked at that loco that you described as 'plug ugly'. I think you were just being kind!

Was this the one in orange livery ?

 

[tbtc]

Is this the beautiful orange loco that you mean?

 

[4SRKT]

Yes, and what a shocker it is!

This is the photo I found of the apparent sister loco that operated on a line at Matlock Bath. I can remember the Hall Leys one being green. It looks a bit like a pacific version of a Little Giant, like Colossus from the R&ER.

http://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/pix/matlock_park_hallleys_14_minrly.htm

 

[Smudger105e]

Yes, and what a shocker it is!

This is the photo I found of the apparent sister loco that operated on a line at Matlock Bath. I can remember the Hall Leys one being green. It looks a bit like a pacific version of a Little Giant, like Colossus from the R&ER.

http://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/pix/matlock_park_hallleys_14_minrly.htm

Is that the loco that is resident in the west Shed at Butterley, the one that is now painted in LMS livery that the kids can play on? I have a few pictures of it, will upload them when I can...

 

[4SRKT]

Is that the loco that is resident in the west Shed at Butterley, the one that is now painted in LMS livery that the kids can play on? I have a few pictures of it, will upload them when I can...

Thanks.

 

[Smudger105e]

Sorry 4SRKT, forgot about this! Here are a few pics of the loco at Butterley, not that good of the loco, but should give you a flavour and maybe help indentifying...




--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Although I suspect that the loco pictured above is the one shown in Derwent Gardens in this picture, although it may have been moved?

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Photos taken today.

 

[Sploosh]

Living in matlock i get to see this little train when i walk the dog down by the river but again it still pulls the tourists in even though it does not go far .

 

[Smudger105e]

http://www.andrewsgen.com/matlock/pix/matlock_park_hallleys_14_minrly.htm