The Rhyl Miniature Railway (

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peop ...

: ''Rheilffordd Fach y Rhyl'') is a

gauge Gauge ( or ) may refer to: Measurement * Gauge (instrument), any of a variety of measuring instruments * Gauge (firearms) * Wire gauge, a measure of the size of a wire ** American wire gauge, a common measure of nonferrous wire diameter, ...

miniature railway A ridable miniature railway (US: riding railroad or grand scale railroad) is a large scale, usually ground-level railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are often models of full-sized railway locomotives (powered by diesel or petro ...

line located in

Rhyl Rhyl (; cy, Y Rhyl, ) is a seaside town and community in Denbighshire, Wales. The town lies within the historic boundaries of Flintshire, on the north-east coast of Wales at the mouth of the River Clwyd ( Welsh: ''Afon Clwyd''). To the we ...

on the North

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

Coast. The line runs in a circle around a

boating lake A boating lake is a lake A lake is an area filled with water, localized in a basin, surrounded by land, and distinct from any river or other outlet that serves to feed or drain the lake. Lakes lie on land and are not part of the ocean, a ...

near the

promenade An esplanade or promenade is a long, open, level area, usually next to a river or large body of water, where people may walk. The historical definition of ''esplanade'' was a large, open, level area outside fortress or city walls to provide cl ...

, to the west of the town centre. The railway is operated by Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust, a Registered charity.

History

Work on the railway began in December 1910 when it was surveyed by

Henry Greenly Henry Greenly (1876–1947) was amongst the foremost miniature railway engineers of the 20th century, remembered as a master of engineering design. Miniature railways Greenly is perhaps best remembered for his miniature locomotive designs. He wor ...

, to whom permission was given to start work in March 1911, and the railway opened to the public on 1 May 1911. The railway proved to be a great success in its first year. The railway was originally operated using a single

Bassett-Lowke Bassett-Lowke was an English toy manufacturing company based in Northampton. Founded by Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke in 1898 or 1899, the company specialized in model railways, boats and ships, and construction sets. Bassett-Lowke started as a ...

Class 10 Atlantic and 6 Bassett-Lowke carriages. In 1913 it was decided to buy a second Class 10 and the "cars de luxe" were built in the company's workshop. In 1920 the decision was taken to replace the two Class 10 with something more powerful due to them being stretched to their limits during peak season. The resulting engine was the first of the "Albion" locomotives.

It all came to an end in 1969. Rhyl Amusements was by then a subsidiary of Trust House Forte Leisure Ltd, whereas the Marine Lake itself belongs to the Borough Council. Trust House would not invest further in the Marine Lake site without a very long lease being granted, which the Council refused. As a result, Trust House decided to concentrate all its resources at Ocean Beach, and handed back the Marine Lake to the Council in 1970, completely bare.

The trackbed then lay bare until 1978 when it was relaid. The railway then started running trains on 1 July 1978. The new ''central station'' building was opened in May 2007. The central station incorporates the Albert Barnes Room which displays the steam locomotive "Billie".

Locomotives

, - ! Name ! Number ! Type ! Built By ! Date ! Description , - , Joan , 101 , , Albert Barnes & Co , 1920 , Designed by

this was the first of six locomotives of this type built , - , Railway Queen , 102 , , Albert Barnes & Co , 1921 , This locomotive worked at the Woodland Park Miniature Railway; a short-lived line beside the shore of the Isle of Grain, and was originally named Michael (not to be confused with 105) , - , Michael , 105 , 4-4-2 , Albert Barnes & Co , c1925 , Now in full working order , - , Billy , 106 , , Albert Barnes & Co , c1930 , Static exhibit in the Albert Barnes Room on site , - , Cagney44 , 44 , , Cagney Brothers New York , c1910 , One of a few working examples in the UK. She was brought to the UK in 1999 disassembled and rebuilt from there. , - , Clara , , , Guest & Saunders Light Engineering , 1961 , This steam outline diesel was built for services on the Dudley zoo railway and brought to Rhyl in 1978. Now rebuilt with hydraulic transmission which was finished in winter 2011. , - , , , 2W-2-4BER , Hayne/Minirail , 1958 , This rail car was converted to battery power in 1983 from a normal coach , - , , 10498 , , Lister , 1938 , This locomotive was converted from 2 ft gauge to 15 and brought to Rhyl in 1999 , - , Prince Edward of Wales , , , No.15 , 1909 , RMR's first locomotive was almost scrapped. The key components were rescued. It has now returned following restoration. For a brief time it was Red Dragon at Windmill Farm Railway.

References

External links

Official website
{{coord, 53.3138, -3.5033, type:landmark_region:GB, display=title Heritage railways in Denbighshire Miniature railways in the United Kingdom Museums in Denbighshire Railway museums in Wales 15 in gauge railways in Wales Rhyl

History

Locomotives

References

Further reading

External links