Harlington Locomotive Society facts for kids
The Harlington Locomotive Society, also known as the Harlington Miniature Railway, is a fun place where you can ride small trains! It's located in an old orchard in Harlington, London, which is part of Greater London. The railway track is about half a mile long.
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What is the Harlington Miniature Railway?
The land for the railway, which is an old orchard, was given to the society a long time ago. It's found just east of Harlington's main street.
The club has a large train track system. It can run trains of two different sizes: 5 inches and 3.5 inches wide. The track includes a small tunnel, a clubhouse with a kitchen, and a workshop. There are also special areas called steaming bays where the miniature steam engines get ready. You'll also find a brick station and a signal box.
This railway is similar to some miniature railways in Germany, like the Parkreisen or Pionerbahn. However, the Harlington Miniature Railway is mainly for adults who enjoy this hobby. It's not used to train future railway workers.
How Trains Get Ready
In the middle of the western part of the track, there are special service areas. This is where the miniature locomotives are prepared. They are steamed up and then moved onto the main track using a turntable. There is also a place to check how well the engine's boiler pressure is working.
Old Signalling System
As far back as the 1950s, the railway used a special signalling system. It worked with "treadles" on the track. When a train's wheels rolled over a treadle, it would make the signal behind it turn red. The signal would then turn green again when the train passed the next treadle further down the line. This helped control the train traffic.
When Can You Visit?
Besides having members, the railway is often open to the public. You can usually visit on the second and fourth Sundays of each month. This happens between April and October. You can enjoy a train ride for a small fee.
Track Layout and Trains
The railway track goes all around the orchard. It is shaped like a figure eight, but the two loops don't actually cross over each other. Both 3.5-inch and 5-inch wide locomotives can run on the line. This is because the track is "dual gauge," meaning it can fit both sizes. The passenger cars that people ride in are designed for the 5-inch wide track.
History of the Harlington Railway
The local area around Harlington used to have many engineering companies. These included famous names like HMV (later EMI), the Aeolian Company, and Fairey Aviation. The engineering facilities at Heathrow Airport are also very close by. These companies meant that many engineers lived in the area. This provided a great group of skilled people who wanted to join the Harlington Locomotive Society.
Most of the land around the railway has now been built up with houses. However, the Harlington Locomotive Society remembers the area's past. Before it became a town, it was full of market gardens and orchards. These farms grew food for London. The railway found a new and fun way to use this historical land for leisure.
Publicity and News
The Harlington Miniature Railway has been featured in railway magazines and children's newspapers for a long time. In the 1950s, Arthur Mee's The Children's Newspaper even published a long article about the railway.
