The Sherwood Forest Railway is Nottinghamshire's only public narrow gauge (15") railway. Established by David Colley and his family in 1999 it has been altered and extended several times since. Following our Crich fixture, 35 members visited for special 'all tracks' tours. On arrival, a generous buffet lunch was provided and gratefully received. Three groups each travelled on a single coach special train hauled by 0-4-0 saddle tank steam loco 'Pet' (built K Hardy 1998), driven by David's son Bob. As rehearsed the day before, each group started on one of the two shed roads (the southern extremity of the line) before covering one side of Loxley station loop, either side of the low wood decked platform.

Propelling along the recently completed carriage shed branch. The junction is by the 'tunnel' on the main running line in the background.
[© John Cameron 2016]

The line descends at 1:64 to the valley floor, through a tunnel constructed from rope containers. These came from the nearby former Clipstone Colliery whose distinctive Grade II listed headstocks still poke up through Sherwood Forest's trees. The railway runs through an area of former flood dykes, which were water meadows built in the 19th century and drained in the 1950s. The resultant lush and verdant landscape was at its best in the bright sunshine that the group enjoyed. At the other terminus, Weldale, reached by a sharp left curve, both sides of its loop were traversed, via the headshunt. Two old and immovable (indeed they were!) coaches prevented the buffers being reached, but the coaches' buffers were certainly reached!

On the return journey, a detour was made along the lengthy and recently opened carriage shed branch to the doors. Back at Loxley the 'other' side of the loop was used to terminate on the 'other' shed road where the next group started from. While each group was enjoying their rare track run, the rest were kept happy riding on the ECS moves that had to take place at Loxley to allow the special to use the other side of the loop on its return. A 4-wheel battery electric loco 'Anne' (built K Hardy 1993) also provided haulage. Other diversions included a zip wire which was bagged, to the end of wire of course, by some participants as well as the children (is this called zippage?), and a look round both sheds at the locos and stock. Tea, coffee and cakes supplied by Colleen Colley were much appreciated.

All the trips were very efficiently completed, even though normal service train runs were also fitted in. Their passengers looked rather bemused watching our members traversing shed roads and loops! David later ran the 4-wheel Diesel Hydraulic Lister replica loco 'Lottie' (built Colleys of Sherwood) on a loaded full line run. The little loco performed very well even on the steep gradient back up to Loxley. When most had left, our two youngest participants, Archie and Ruby Lewis, were trained to drive the battery electric loco. Both were naturals and can now look forward to future careers driving trains and BLS railtours. Archie also managed the scratch of the day, driving 'Anne' into her battery charging dock inside the shed; the rarest section of track on the railway! Quite an achievement for a seven year old. The Colley family made us very welcome and a thoroughly enjoyable day was had by all. The Sherwood Forest Railway http://goo.gl/xQQQec opens 11.00-16.30 (last train) to the end of November, fare £2. The Lister, Loxley's island wooden platform is to the left, behind is the railway's southern extremity, the two loco shed lines. [© Kev Adlam 2016]

Special thanks to Derby Member, John Cameron for this excellent visit and that to Crich earlier in the day.