Longleat Miniature Railway in 2008

(All 14.8.2008 copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

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My garden used to back onto the grounds at Longleat when I lived in Wiltshire. Back in 2008 I visited and photographed the miniature railway there.

It was (and still is) a 15 inch gauge line with excellent infrastructure, rolling stock and permanent way. It's about a mile long, with one main station and a route that takes you through the woods, back along the lake and into the main station again.

The line is generally always busy as it is one of the 'free' attractions once you've paid the entry charge.

All in all a lovely example of a line that almost borders on narrow gauge in the Heywood style. It would be great if the line was extended to actually serve a transport need through the estate, as well as offering a pleasant ride!

italy

The Swiss (RhB) station in Tirano.

The Italian station in Tirano.

Mystery steam loco at Tirano. All 4.12.2008

I've yet to really 'do' Italy, the closest I've come is the Italian section of the Centovalli and the southern section of the Rhatische Bahn's Bernina line, which terminates in Tirano.

We were staying in St Moritz in December 2008 and travelled on the Bernina line during the stay. The Bernina line is of course one of the most scenic lines in the world, and I've visited it a number of times. But this was the first time I'd actually left the station to look around the town. As well as the metre gauge station it also has a terminus on the Italian State Railways, which was very different from the Swiss station. A distance from this station, on some sidings, stood this steam loco, a complete mystery to me. Was it one of the famed reserve stock of steam locos kept by the Italian railways to use after the oil runs out, was it a privately owned loco or perhaps something to do with a preservation scheme? Any ideas??

britain's most obscure line?

This was the Horningsham and Mintsbury Light Railway, a 7¼" line that could be found in my old garden! In February 2008 I moved to Bristol and unfortunately the line had to be lifted. The garden here is much smaller but I have put in four panels, just for old time's sake!


Recovered track in the courtyard.

(All 18.2.2008)