Mizens Railway facts for kids

Bonsey Lane Station is one of the two stations which are terminals along a short but varied landscape route

The Mizens Railway is a fun miniature railway in Woking, Surrey, England. It's a special place where you can ride on small trains! This railway is built on a 10-acre site, which is about the size of 7 football fields.

The trains run on tracks that are 7¼ inches wide. This is a common size for miniature railways. Mizens Railway has three different routes, and the longest one is almost 1 mile long. You'll see many types of engines here, including cool steam trains!

The railway got its name from its first home, Mizens Farm. It moved to its current spot in the year 2000. You can usually visit Mizens Railway on most Sunday afternoons from May to September. They also have special events throughout the year.

Explore the Train Routes

Mizens Railway has three main routes for visitors: The Suburban, The Miler, and The Highlander. On public days, usually two of these routes are open. You can buy tickets for each route, or a special ticket that lets you ride both open routes.

The Suburban Route

This is the shortest route. It's almost always open, often with either The Miler or The Highlander. During big events, sometimes only The Suburban route runs because it can carry the most people.

The Miler Route

The Miler route is about a mile long. Part of it shares tracks with The Suburban route. Your train will leave from platform 3, going the opposite way from The Suburban. It then reaches Bonsey Lane and reverses back to platform 3.

The Highlander Route

The Highlander route was first tested in 2014 and fully opened in 2015. This route has some steep hills, so it only opens when the weather is dry. It also needs certain trains and carriages to run. Trains on this route also start and finish at platform 3.

Visitor Fun and Facilities

Mizens Railway has lots of things to make your visit great!

• Station Building: Here you'll find a small kitchen for snacks and a little shop.
• Picnic Area: A nice spot to eat your lunch.
• Ticket Office: Where you get your tickets to ride the trains.
• Footbridge: A bridge over the tracks where you can watch the trains from above!

Exciting Special Events

The railway hosts many special events all year round. They announce these on posters, social media, and their website. Some popular events include:

• 1940s Day: A day to step back in time!
• Teddy Bears Picnic: Bring your favorite teddy bear (usually in August).
• Santa Specials: These are very popular! You need to book tickets in advance. The train stops at "Santa's Halt" where you can meet Santa and his elves and get a gift. These run on the three Sundays before Christmas.

How Trains Are Controlled

The trains at Mizens Railway are controlled by different types of signals.

Signal Boxes

Many signals on the main line work automatically. But most signals around the train station are controlled by people in the south signal box. A new north signal box is being built to help control the Highlander route. Both signal boxes have 20 half-size levers and buttons for smaller signals. They use basic electronic systems to make sure trains are safe.

Track Signals

The automatic signals on the track are "color light signals." They show green, yellow, or red lights, just like traffic lights. These work using special equipment on the track. Many signals in the station look like old-fashioned "semaphore" signals, which have moving arms.

Big Trains on Display

Even though Mizens Railway is miniature, they have some full-size train parts on display!

• British Rail Coach: You can see part of a British Rail Class 423 train, called a driving trailer unit. It even has a roof built over it to keep it safe from rain.
• LNER Tender: This is a part of an old steam locomotive that holds coal and water. It's being restored by a group called the 61662 Manchester United appeal.
• South African Steam Engine: Near the entrance, you'll see a large South African Class A 4-8-2T tank engine. This huge train traveled all the way from South Africa by ship and then by road to Woking in 2011!

Miniature Locomotives

Mizens Railway has many different locomotives (train engines) that pull the carriages. These engines use different types of power: steam, petrol, and battery electric.

• Visiting Locos Day: On some special days, other miniature locomotives visit the railway.
• Railway's Own Engine: The railway owns one large petrol engine called "Bourne Again."
• Member-Owned Engines: Most of the other engines belong to members of the railway club. They use them regularly to run the trains.

Steam Engines

The steam engines at Mizens Railway come in different styles. Some look like narrow-gauge trains, and others are scaled-down versions of bigger trains. The station has facilities to provide water and coal for these steam engines.

Diesel and Electric Engines

Many of the engines at Mizens are powered by diesel engines or electric motors. On most public days, you'll see more diesel and electric engines running than steam engines.

Engines You Might See Running