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The Watford Miniature Railway is a gauge railway in
Cassiobury Park Cassiobury Park is the principal public park in Watford, Hertfordshire, in England. It was created in 1909 from the purchase by Watford Borough Council of part of the estate of the Earls of Essex around Cassiobury House which was subsequently ...
, Watford,
Hertfordshire Hertfordshire ( or ; often abbreviated Herts) is one of the home counties in southern England. It borders Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire to the north, Essex to the east, Greater London to the south, and Buckinghamshire to the west. For govern ...
.


History

The railway was opened at Easter 1959 by Charles Reed as a circuit adjacent to the River Gade. Initially there were two locomotives: an LMS Compound steam locomotive named ''Maid Marion'' and a petrol-powered 08 Shunter locomotive. In 1968 the steam locomotive left and the railway was sold to George Webb. In 1979 the railway was sold to Jeff Price, who set about expanding and improving it. In the 1980s the station was rebuilt on a new site, accessed by a gated level crossing over one of the paths in the park. More coaches were added and a number of steam locomotives used. On Price's retirement in 2017, the railway was sold to new operators Southern Miniature Railways.


Layout

The main station is adjacent to the paddling pools and main children's playground. From here the line turns 120 degrees, crosses a level crossing, and rounds on itself in a wooded area adjacent to the River Gade. Trains run regularly at weekends and school holidays throughout the year.


Locomotives


Current locomotives


Former locomotives


References


External links

{{commons category
Watford Miniature Railway website
Watford Miniature railways in the United Kingdom