Visiting Barnes 'John' leads 'Joan' round the circuit at Marine Lake © P.Bryant
Five Barnes for the first time at Rhyl, stand in Central Station © P.Bryant
Rhyl Miniature Railway 15 inch
The Rhyl Miniature Railway is now the oldest miniature railway in the country having first opened in 1911. The line was originally set up by Basset Lowke and Henry Greenly, but taken over after a year of operation by Rhyl Amusements Ltd, who improved the line. Albert Barnes, who at the time, was owner of Rhyl Amusements Ltd, constructed six locomotives, four of which operated at Rhyl. In 1970, after mainly unchanged operation since 1930, the railway was placed into store. The railway received a burst of life in 1978, when the track was relayed, and in 1980, the line was bought by Les Hughes, and the railway kept going until 2000, when the line once again closed whilst construction of a flood relief tank was in progress. However in 2001, the Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust was formed to operate the line and eventually in 2007, the line was officially handed over to the Trust. In 2007, a new station building was opened which holds a museum of the lines history. The line has run for its whole life in a circuit around the Marine Lake, the station situated next to the main road. Trains are operated by 'Joan', the Cagney locomotive, or one of the IC locomotives, whilst the other Barnes locomotives await restoration.
Address: Marine Lake, Wellington Road, Rhyl, Denbighshire
Telephone: 01352 759109
Operator: Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust
Line Length: 1700 yards, Circular
First opened: 1911
Website: Rhyl Miniature Railway Website
Locomotives
No
|
Name
|
Type
|
Builder
|
Built
|
44 |
4-4-0 |
Cagney |
c1910 |
|
101 |
Joan |
4-4-2 |
A.Barnes & Co |
1920 |
102 |
Railway Queen |
4-4-2 |
A.Barnes & Co |
c1921 |
105 |
Michael |
4-4-2 |
A.Barnes & Co |
c1927 |
106 |
Billy |
4-4-2 |
A.Barnes & Co |
c1934 |
Clara |
S/O 0-4-2DM |
G&SLE |
1961 |
|
4wDM |
Lister |
1938 |
||
2w-2-4BER |
Hayne/Minirail |
1983 |
Opening Times: Weekends and Bank Holiday Mondays from Easter to September, and daily throughout the summer holidays. Trains from 11am to 4pm.
Fares: Adults £2.00, Children £1.50
RMR Page was last updated on the 29th May 2008 with page published.
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