Gartell Light Railway facts for kids
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Templecombe |
| Locale | England |
| Dates of operation | 1990–Present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 2 ft (610 mm) |
| Length | 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) |
The Gartell Light Railway is a special train line in Somerset, England. It's a "narrow gauge" railway, which means its tracks are closer together than regular train tracks. This railway is privately owned and runs near Templecombe, in a beautiful area called the Blackmore Vale.
The trains here travel about 1.2 kilometers (or 3/4 of a mile). Part of its path follows an old railway line called the Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway. The Gartell Light Railway has four stations: Common Lane, Pinesway Junction, Park Lane, and Tower View.
To keep everything safe and running smoothly, the railway uses a clever signalling system. This system is controlled from two special buildings called signalboxes. These are located at Common Lane and Pinesway Junction. From these signalboxes, staff control different types of signals, like old-fashioned semaphore arms and modern colour lights. They also control the "points," which are parts of the track that let trains switch lines.
The railway welcomes visitors on certain days throughout the year. On these days, you can usually see three trains running at once. Trains leave Common Lane station every 20 minutes. This busy schedule runs from 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Railway's Route
The Gartell Light Railway connects several interesting spots along its line:
- Park Lane
- Pinesway Junction
- Tower View
Meet the Locomotives
The Gartell Light Railway has a collection of different locomotives (train engines). Each one has its own name and story! Here's a look at some of them:
| Number | Name | Builder | Type | Year Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMANDA | Gartell Light Railway | Bo-BoDH | 2000 | This engine was rebuilt right here at the railway. It used to run on the Southend Pier Railway. |
| 2 | ANDREW | Baguley-Drewry | 4wDH | 1973 | This locomotive joined the Gartell Light Railway in 2007. |
| 5 | ALISON | Alan Keef | 4wDH | 1993 | |
| 6 | Mr. G | North Dorset Locomotive Works | 0-4-2T | 1998 | This engine was built specially for this railway. Its design is based on an older engine called Polar Bear. |
| 8 | Faith | North Dorset Locomotive Works | 0-4-2T | ||
| 9 | Jean | Alan White | 0-4-0T+T | 2008 |
See also
- British narrow gauge railways
