Knebworth Park and Winter Green Railway

51°58′19″N 0°12′43″W / 51.972°N 0.212°W / 51.972; -0.212

Knebworth and Winter Green Railway
Overview
HeadquartersStevenage
LocaleEngland
Dates of operation1971–1990
Successorabandoned
Technical
Track gauge1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm)
Length1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km)

The Knebworth and Winter Green Railway was a 1 ft 11+1⁄2 in (597 mm) narrow gauge railway built in the grounds of Knebworth House in 1972 as a tourist attraction.

The railway was built by Pleasurerail Ltd. a company set up to build and operate private tourist railways which included the Great Whipsnade Railway and also the line at Blenheim Palace. In 1971, they started construction on a railway in the grounds of Knebworth House near Stevenage.[1] The initial line was an end-to-end layout running from the house to the adventure playground. In 1980, the track was extended to form a mile-long continuous loop.

During its existence, the line hosted a number of steam and diesel locomotives. The line continued to run until 1990 when it was lifted and the remaining stock transferred to other lines

Locomotives

These are the locomotives that stayed at Knebworth for extended periods. Not all ran there at the same time and the exact dates when they were present are not always known.

Name Builder Works No. Built Type Operating period Notes
Triassic Peckett 1270 1911 0-6-0ST on site 1979 Now at the Bala Lake Railway
Sezela No. 4 Avonside 1738 1915 0-4-0T Arrived in 1972 Now at the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway
No. 1 Hunslet 1429 1922 0-4-0ST Arrived in 1972 Now named Lady Joan and at the Bredgar and Wormshill Light Railway
Lilla Hunslet 554 1891 0-4-0ST Arrived in 1972 Now on the Ffestiniog Railway.
Sezela No. 2 Hunslet 1720 1915 0-4-0T Now in the private collection of Nick Williams.[2]
Sao Domingos [3] Orenstein & Koppel 11784 1925 0-6-0WT on site 1979 Static display only at Knebworth. Moved to South Tynedale Railway in 1980. Now restored to working order at the Great Bush Railway[4]
Pedemoura Orenstein & Koppel 0-6-0WT Now at the Leighton Buzzard Light Railway after spending many years at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway
[5] Motor Rail 8717 1941 4wDM On site 1987 Dismantled and converted into a brake van
No. 6 Horatio [5] Ruston & Hornsby 217967 1942 4wDM On site 1987 Moved first to the Stoke Place Railway in Buckinghamshire, then to the Devon Railway Centre.
[5] Motor Rail 8995 1946 4wDM On site 1987 Dismantled and converted into a brake van
No. 2 [5] Motor Rail 21513 1955 4wDM On site 1987
[5] Sir Tom [6] Motor Rail 40S273 1966 4wDM On site 1987 Moved first to the Stoke Place Railway in Buckinghamshire, then to the Devon Railway Centre.

References

  1. ^ Harris, Michael (15 November 2019). On the British Narrow Gauge. Amberley Publishing Limited.
  2. ^ Industrial Locomotives: including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Vol. 15EL. Melton Mowbray: Industrial Railway Society. 2009. ISBN 978-1-901556-53-7.
  3. ^ "South Tynedale Railway stocklist". Archived from the original on 5 August 2007.
  4. ^ Industrial Locomotives handbook 15EL. Melton Mowbray: Industrial Railway Society. 2009. ISBN 978-1-901556-53-7.
  5. ^ a b c d e Bryant, R.S. (1987). Industrial Locomotives, including preserved and minor railway locomotives. Industrial Railway Society. ISBN 0-901096-55-5.
  6. ^ "Motor Rail 40S273". 4 May 2007.

See also