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Dean Forest Railway
9681 lydney junction north 2.jpg
9681 north of Lydney Junction station
Locale West Gloucestershire
Commercial operations
Built by Severn & Wye Railway
Original gauge 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) (prior to 1868)
7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) Brunel gauge (1868 to 1872)
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge (from 1872)
Preserved operations
Stations 5 open
Length 4+1⁄4 miles (6.8 km)
Preserved gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened 1813
1868 Converted to 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) Brunel gauge
1872 Converted to 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Closed 1977
Preservation history
1970 The Society is formed
1971 First open day at Parkend
1978 First open day at Norchard
1983 The Duke of Gloucester visits
1986 Route purchased from BR
1991 Norchard to Lakeside opened
1995 Lakeside to Junction opened
2001 Lydney Town opened
2002 Norchard to Tufts opened
2003 Tufts to Whitecroft opened
2006 Parkend opened by Princess Anne
2012 Whitecroft opened
Headquarters Norchard

The Dean Forest Railway is a special railway that keeps old trains running. It's about 4+1⁄4-mile (6.8 km) long and goes between Lydney and Parkend in the beautiful Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

This railway used to be part of the Severn and Wye Railway, which connected Lydney to Cinderford. A group of people who love trains started running steam trains here in 1971. They bought the railway tracks and land from British Rail in 1986. By 1995, their trains reached Lydney Junction, and by 2005, they reached Parkend. Today, you can ride on trains pulled by old steam engines, classic diesel engines, and even old diesel multiple units (trains with their own engines).

The Dean Forest Railway has even received an old station building from Panteg and Griffithstown railway station. It was moved in June 2016 and will be rebuilt at the new Speech House Road stop.

Exploring the Dean Forest Railway

The Dean Forest Railway hopes to make its line even longer! They plan to add another 2+1⁄2 miles (4.0 km) of track into the middle of the Royal Forest, reaching Speech House Road. This would make the railway about 6+3⁄4 miles (10.9 km) long in total. There are also plans to extend the railway all the way to Cinderford. This big project could cost around £8 million, with some funding possibly coming from the government. As of 2025, the project is moving slowly because they need permission for a new level crossing.

Stations and Stops

The Dean Forest Railway has several interesting stations along its route.


  • Lydney Junction: This is one end of the line, where your journey might start or finish.
  • St Mary's Halt: This stop is now closed, but the platform is still there.
  • Lydney Town: Another stop in Lydney.
  • Middle Forge Junction: This is where the railway line splits. There isn't a station here.
    • Norchard Low Level: This is a main station with a railway museum and a shop. It's a great place to learn more about trains!
  • Norchard High Level: You can reach this platform from Norchard Low Level by a ramp and steps.
  • Tufts Junction: An old junction where other railway lines used to connect. No station here.
  • Whitecroft: A station along the route.
  • Parkend: This is the current other end of the line, deep in the forest.

Future Stations

The railway plans to add more stations as it extends:

  • Coleford Junction Halt
  • Bicslade Wharf
  • Speech House Road
  • Cinderford

Amazing Locomotives

The Dean Forest Railway is home to many different types of locomotives, both steam and diesel. These engines help pull the passenger trains and also do important work on the railway.

  • 1450 at Oakenwood

    1450 passes through Oakenwood, just north of Whitecroft.

  • 9681 South of Parkend Dean Forest Railway

    9681 hauling goods into Parkend.

  • 1450 as 1401 Dean Forest Railway

    1450 masquerading as 1401 as part of DFR's Titfield Thunderbolt Weekend.

Steam Engines

Steam engines are old-fashioned trains that use boiling water to create steam, which then powers the wheels. They are very popular with visitors!

Number & Name Description Current Status Image
No. 5541 A GWR 4575 Class tank engine (meaning it carries its water and fuel on the engine itself). Being fixed up. Its boiler permit expired at the end of December 2024.
5541 in Norchard
5541 at Norchard
NCB No. 3880/WD 152 "Rennes" An "Austerity" tank engine, built for tough work. Being fixed up.
Rennes WD152
Rennes WD152
No. 9681 A GWR 5700 Class tank engine. Running! It was fully fixed up in November 2022.
9681 sits at Parkend
9681 at Parkend
No. 2147 "Uskmouth 1" A small Peckett and Sons tank engine. Running! This was the first engine bought by the railway in 1971.
Uskmouth 1 at Norchard Dean Forest Railway
Uskmouth 1 at Norchard
No. 3806 "Wilbert" Another "Austerity" tank engine. Stored. It was named after the famous railway author, Rev. W. Awdry.
Wilbert at Parkend (geograph 4376915)
Wilbert at Parkend

Diesel and Electric Engines

Diesel engines use diesel fuel, similar to a truck, to power the train. Electric engines use electricity. These are often used for shunting (moving carriages around) or pulling trains.

Number & Name Description Current Status Year Built Image
No. 5622 "Don Corbett" A small Hunslet diesel shunter (a small engine used to move wagons). Running!
5622 Dean Forest Railway
5622 "Don Corbett"
No. 08769 (D3937) "Gladys" A common Class 08 diesel shunter. Running! It started working again in 2013. 1960
3937 Dean Forest Railway
08769 "Gladys"
No. D9521 A Class 14 diesel engine. Running! 1964
D9521 Norchard Dean Forest Railway
D9521 at Norchard
No. E50619 A BR Class 108 diesel multiple unit (DMU) carriage. Running! 1958
No. E50619 at Lydney Junction
E50619 at Lydney Junction

Visiting Steam Engines

Sometimes, other steam engines visit the Dean Forest Railway for special events!

Number & Name Description Last Visit Image
Rocket (replica) A copy of the famous Stephenson's Rocket, one of the first steam engines. 2010
Rocket Tyseley (3)
Rocket replica
WD 132 Sapper An "Austerity" tank engine. 2024
WD132 Sapper South of Middle Forge Junction Dean Forest Railway
WD132 Sapper
Jessie An "Austerity" tank engine, sometimes dressed up as Thomas the Tank Engine! 2021
Thomas looking on
Jessie as Thomas
No. 30587 A very old LSWR 0298 Class tank engine. 2016
LSWR 0298 Class Beattie Well Tank 2
30587

Passenger Carriages

The railway uses different types of carriages for passengers. The main set of carriages includes a mix of Mark 1 and Mark 2 types from British Railways.

Great Western Railway Carriages

These are older carriages from the Great Western Railway (GWR) era.

Design Type Number Status Image
Collett Standard TK (Third Corridor) 5813 Used as a sales coach to help raise money.
GWR BCK No.7362
GWR BCK No.7362
Hawksworth Inspection Saloon W80943 Running! This special carriage was built in 1948.
80943 Dean Forest Railway
W80943 Inspection Saloon

British Railways Carriages

These carriages were built by British Railways (BR) after the GWR era.

Design Type Number Status Image
BR Mk1 TSO (Tourist Standard Open) 4980 Running!
4980 Dean Forest Railway
4980
BR Mk1 TSO 4923 Running! It was fixed up in 2021.
4923 Dean Forest Railway
4923
BR Mk1 SO (Standard Open) 4786 Running! This carriage is rented from another railway.
BR Mk1 BSK (Brake Standard Corridor) 34742 Running! It started carrying passengers in December 2018.
BR Mk.I BSK E34742
34742
BR Mk2 TSO 5175 Running! It arrived at the railway in November 2018.
BR Mk.II TSO M5175
5175
BR Mk2a TSO 5341 Running! It arrived in July 2019.
BR Mk.IIa TSO M5341
5341

Coach Type Codes

  • BCK – A carriage with both passenger seats and a guard's brake area.
  • BSK – A standard passenger carriage with a guard's brake area.
  • TSO – A passenger carriage with open seating, often for tourists.
  • SO – A passenger carriage with open seating.
  • TK – A passenger carriage with a side corridor and separate compartments.

Wagons

The Dean Forest Railway also has many different types of wagons. Some are used for display, showing what trains used to carry. Others are used for engineering work, helping to maintain the railway tracks. You can often spot these wagons in the sidings (storage tracks) along the line. There are wagons for carrying ballast (stones under the track), vans for goods, and tank wagons for liquids.

Brake Vans

Brake vans are special wagons where a guard would sit and operate a handbrake to help slow the train down.

Design Type Number Status Image
SR 25 Ton Queen Mary Brake 56303 Running! It has two types of brakes.
Queen Mary Brake Van at Norchard Dean Forest Railway
Queen Mary Brake Van
LMS 20 Ton Standard Brake 732268 Running! It was fixed up off-site and returned in December 2024.
BR 20 Ton Shark Brake DB993901 Running! This type of brake van is used for spreading ballast.
993901 Plough Brake Van 'Shark' at Norchard
Shark Brake Van
GWR 20 Ton Toad Brake W68480 Running!
68480 GWR Brake Van at Norchard
GWR Toad Brake Van

Images for kids

  • 1450 & Autocoach at Norchard

    1450 and Autocoach at Norchard.

  • Norchard Station, Dean Forest Railway - geograph.org.uk - 88501

    9642 at Norchard Station.

  • Port Talbot railway no 26, built Hudswell Clarke & Co 1901, works no 555, becoming GWR 813. Sold to Backworth Colliery in 1901 as no 12, renumbered 12 by NCB. Withdrawn 1967 & privately preserved. (9922395584)

    GWR 813.

  • No steam today (4793995720) (2)

    5521 as L150.

  • Churchdown local train geograph-2935671-by-Ben-Brooksbank

    5538.

  • GWR 4900 Class 4953 Pitchford Hall

    4953 "Pitchford Hall".

  • 4150 at Bewdley

    4150.

  • Taff Vale Railway locomotive no 28 at Caerphilly 1983

    Taff Vale Railway No. 28.

  • Class 78xx No 7812 Erlestoke Manor (8063163476)

    7812 'Erlestoke Manor'.

  • Peckett no 1722

    Peckett No. 1722.

  • Chasewater Railway - Rosyth No. 1 - geograph.org.uk - 5102755

    Rosyth No. 1.

  • 18I02I2016 Hunslet Austerity WD75008 SWIFTSURE NVR D1

    75008 Swiftsure.

  • Bagnall 401 at Middle Engine Lane

    401 Vulcan.

  • Rth Rly SR LSWR 30120 SVR 22.09.12R edited-2

    30120.

  • Metropolitan Railway E Class No 1

    Met No.1.

  • 41720 at Norchard in 1994

    41708 (1704).

  • Severn Valley 1940's Weekend (9239183450)

    47383.

  • Mid Hants Railway - steamy Mickey (geograph 4865447)

    41312.

  • GWR 1340 Trojan Didcot Railway Centre

    1340 Trojan.

  • GWR 1369, Oldland Common

    1369.

  • 4866 Didcot (1)

    1466.

  • GWR 5700 Class 7754 at York Railfest

    7754.

  • Steam Loco 0-6-0PT Num. 6412 at Buckfastleigh

    6412.

  • GWR Class 66xx 6695 0-6-2 (5970265139)

    6695.

  • Parkend railway station MMB 10 3717 "City of Truro"

    City of Truro 3440 (3717).

  • 7802 Bradley Manor 01

    7802 'Bradley Manor'.

  • 3205 at Norchard

    3205.

  • Splash Point - 5199 down train

    5199.

  • 4210127 Dean Forest Railway

    4210127.

  • Salty Collects GUV 11.01.2014 Adam Williams

    6688 "Salty".

  • D9555 old oak common depot

    D9555.

  • No. M51566 at Lydney Junction

    M51566.

  • No. M51914 departing Norchard High Level

    M51914.

  • No. M56492 after repaint

    M56492.

  • No. M59387 after refurbishment

    M59387.

  • Departmental locomotive, Dean Forest Railway, 1992 - geograph.org.uk - 5758021

    2145.

  • 3947 Dean Forest Railway

    3947 "Planet".

  • Forest of Dean Railway (9722864699)

    08238 "Charlie".

  • 08473 scrapped at Lydney

    08473.

  • Lydney Junction railway station MMB 01 08734

    08734.

  • 7633 Dean Forest Railway April 1 2007

    D7633.

  • 31466 leaving for Gloucester from the Dean Forest Railway

    31466.

  • 37 263 at Kidderminster

    37263.

  • Train repairs - geograph.org.uk - 683384

    37308.

  • 47524 at Chesterfield (6315830998)

    47524.

  • E6001 Dean forest railway 070507 d.adkins

    73001.

  • Lydney Junction railway station MMB 06 73002

    73002.

  • W50632 at The Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway - July 2017

    W50632.

  • CIG set Dean Forest Railway

    1499.

  • D2069 at Doncaster Works

    D2069.

  • Class 09 shunter at Celsa, Cardiff - geograph.org.uk - 6520192

    09106.

  • Preston Riverside station - D9537+D9539

    D9537.

  • Bewdley - D8568 arriving from Kidderminster

    D8568.

  • 08I08I2015 Spa Valley Railway A3

    D8188/20059.

  • 26014, 26008 - inverness - sep 1977

    D5343.

  • BRClass 31 No 31130 Calder Hall Power Station - Side

    31130 "Calder Hall Power Station".

  • BR Class 33 0 Bo-Bo Diesel-Electric ‘D6515’ “Lt Jenny Lewis” (28729822882)

    33012/ D6515 Lt Jenny Lewis RN.

  • Crompton 33 063

    33063/ D6583 R.J. Mitchell.

  • 37227 at Chinnor 11 09 21 (51447137623)

    37227.

  • 37510 Stowmarket Marsh Lane

    37510 'Orion'.

  • 37884 Europhoenix livery ROG decals

    37884 'Cepheus'.

  • 37901 British Rail diesel loco

    37901.

  • Crowcombe 832 light engine to Bishops Lydeard

    D832 Onslaught.

  • The Swindon and Cricklade Railway Diesel Gala 04

    E6003 ( 73003) 'Sir Herbert Walker'.

  • Derby Lightweight Single Unit 79900

    79900 'Iris'.

  • Hugh llewelyn 150 244 (6453644321)

    150244.

  • Haywards Heath - 201001 in platform 1

    DEMU unit 1001.

  • 33012 with the LU 4-TC unit at Basingstoke on UKR The Dean Forest Railway railtour working 1Z66 Lydney Junction to Clapham Junction 27 07 24 (53885283413)

    No. 428 (4 TC).

  • 2013 Dean Forest Railway 03

    Autotrailer Third 178.

  • GWR BTK 1645 at Totnes (2023)

    BCK 1645.

  • 1829 Dean Forest Railway

    RMB 1829.

  • 1665 Dean Forest Railway

    RBR 1665.

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