7¼” Standard Gauge
Echills Wood
The difference between gauges, at the small
end, can be hugely significant. With tracks just
3” wider, 10¼” gauge lines can operate
locomotives (based upon narrow-gauge
prototypes) whose cabs can accommodate two
people. Not so with standard gauge prototypes
at Echills Wood...
The “Standard Gauge Weekend” at Echills Wood
was organised with a true standard gauge railway in mind - the
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway, whose line has suffered
two embankment failures within 12 months, and desperately
needs to raise at least £350,000 to restore full-line operations.
All the money raised at today’s event would be donated to the
GWR.
The Echills Wood Railway started life at Stoneleigh Park, some
20-odd miles to the south, but relocated to its current site at
Kingsbury Water Park in 2006. It now extends to around 2km
through pleasant woodland, making not just an enjoyable ride
but also something interesting to watch while walking through
the park.
Geoff’s Rail Diaries
We did both, as will be evident from the pictures - and the
passing trains were certainly interesting to watch. Larger
locomotives, sometimes in pairs, hauled longer rakes of
passenger stock, while other, smaller types trundled merrily
around with just a van for the driver and a passenger. Midland
Compound 1026 (I’ll refer to all the models as though they are
their full-size originals) hauled two maroon coaches - and GWR
0-6-0ST 1399 hauled a very authentic-looking freight train (I
failed utterly to get a decent photograph of this train. It only
ever appeared unexpectedly...) The passenger stock in use
followed the “Standard Gauge” theme - models of “normal”
bogie stock, with grey roofs made from comfortable seating
material.
We enjoyed our afternoon immensely - will have to go again...
Links:
•
Echills Wood Railway official website
•
Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway
19 June 2011
