Old Kiln Light Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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"Altonia" at Reeds Road, 5 April 2015
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| Locale | England |
| Preserved operations | |
| Length | 0.5 miles (0.8 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 2 ft (610 mm) |
The Old Kiln Light Railway is a fun, 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway. It's located at the Rural Life Centre in Tilford, Surrey, which is an open-air museum. This railway has many historic trains, including two cool steam locomotives. You can usually visit and ride the trains on many Sundays and Bank Holidays during the summer.
Contents
A Journey Through Time: The Railway's History
The Old Kiln Light Railway began in the early 1970s. It was first known as the "Wey Valley Light Railway." Back then, it was located near an old pumping station in Farnham.
In 1982, the land where the railway was located was sold. So, the railway's tracks and equipment had to move! They found a new home at the Old Kiln Museum, which is now called the Rural Life Centre. Since then, the railway has grown longer around the museum. A small part of the track even goes to the museum's special timber yard, where they show how wood was cut and used long ago.
Exploring the Stations: Where Trains Stop
The Old Kiln Light Railway has four stations where trains stop. Each station has its own unique features!
Reeds Road Station
Reeds Road is the main station at the south-western end of the line. It was built in 2003. This station has a waiting room for passengers. It also has a special track loop that helps trains change direction. There's even a siding, which is a side track, for storing trains when they are not in use.
Old Kiln Halt
Old Kiln Halt has a short platform and a shelter for passengers. It is located close to the old schoolroom at the Rural Life Centre. This is an important spot because it's where the railway's workshop for locomotives and sheds for carriages are found. There are also more storage tracks here.
Oatlands Station
Oatlands used to be the end of the railway line before it was extended to Mills Wood. This station is often used for special "Santa Special" trains during the holidays. It has a small waiting room with a stove to keep warm. It was once called "Waverley End Station."
Mills Wood Station
Mills Wood is the other end of the railway line, located on the north-east side of the Rural Life Centre. It has a waiting room, which is partly made from an old tram car! This station also has a run-round loop for trains to turn around. It connects to the woodyard, which is run by the Rustic Timber Group.
Amazing Locomotives: The Trains of Old Kiln Light Railway
The railway has a fantastic collection of locomotives, which are the engines that pull the trains. They have both steam and diesel engines!
Steam Locomotives
Steam locomotives use boiling water to create steam, which powers the engine. They are often very old and have a classic look.
| Name | Builder | Built | Notes | Photograph |
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| Pamela | Hunslet | 1906 | This engine was built for a quarry in North Wales. It needs a new boiler before it can run again. | |
| Elouise | Orenstein & Koppel | 1922 | This engine was first used in Portugal. It is currently being repaired and updated. | .jpg) |
| Emmet | Jim Haylock | 2005 | This engine is currently visiting from Moors Valley Railway. It was built using parts from an old 1937 engine. It is ready to run! |  |
Internal Combustion Locomotives
These locomotives use engines similar to those in cars, powered by diesel or petrol.
| Name | Builder | Built | Fuel | Notes | Photograph |
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| Altonia | Baguley | 1928 | Diesel | This engine was first used at a woodland railway. It later moved to Alton Towers Park. In 2012, it came to the Old Kiln Light Railway. |  |
| Motor Rail | 1946 | Diesel | This engine was bought by the OKLR in 1986. It was changed to fit the railway's 2ft gauge tracks. |  |
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| Phoebe | Motor Rail | 1944 | Diesel | This engine was used by the War Department. | |
| Eagle | Motor Rail | 1936 | Diesel | This engine worked at a brickyard and a concrete pipe works. It came to the OKLR in 1982. | |
| Fido | Motor Rail | 1931 | Petrol | This engine was used at sand pits in Farnham. | |
| Sandrock | Ruston & Hornsby | 1936 | Diesel | This engine is currently being repaired. | |
| Red Dwarf | Ruston & Hornsby | 1936 | Diesel | This engine used to work for the water authority. It is ready to run! |  |
| Norden | Ruston & Hornsby | 1956 | Diesel | This engine helped build tunnels for British Rail. It is currently on loan to another museum. | |
| Corbiere | Hibberd | 1941 | Diesel | This engine was used by the Ministry of Defense. It is named 'Corbiere' after its previous owner. |  |
| Moës | 1955 | Diesel | This engine was built for a brickworks in Belgium. It was restored and is now working again since 2017. |  |
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| Stinker | Hudson Hunslet | 1939 | Diesel | This engine was used to help restore the Basingstoke Canal. It is ready to run! | |
| Champion | Hunslet | 1971 | Diesel | This engine came from the Lydd Ranges in Kent. |  |
| Wey valley | Hunslet | 1971 | Diesel | This engine also came from the Lydd Ranges. It was rebuilt in 1988. | |
| Weyfarer | Hunslet | 1971 | Diesel | This engine is another one that came from the Lydd Ranges in Kent. | |
| Liz | Wickham | 1941 | Petrol | This engine was rebuilt in 1973 from a special target trolley. | |
| Sue | Wickham | 1941 | Petrol | This engine was also rebuilt from a target trolley in 1977. |
Passenger Coaches: Riding in Style
The Old Kiln Light Railway also has several coaches where passengers can sit and enjoy the ride.
| Origin | Number | Type | Build date | Notes | Photograph |
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| Lilleshall Light Railway | 1 | Open carriage | 1928 | This coach was used at Alton Towers before coming to OKLR in 1999. A roof was added in 2015. It is used as one of the main passenger coaches. |  |
| Lilleshall Light Railway | 2 | Open carriage | 1928 | This coach also came from Alton Towers in 1999. It is one of the main coaches used for passengers. |  |
| Old Kiln Light Railway | 3 | Open Carriage | 1989 | This coach is a copy of ones used at Penrhyn Quarry Railway for work trains. It is ready to use. |  |
| East Hayling Light Railway | 4 | 4-wheel third | 1996 | This coach was bought from the East Hayling Light Railway in 2008. It is painted red and cream and is ready to use. |  |
| Old Kiln Light Railway | 5 | 4-wheel third | Unknown | This coach was originally a wagon for carrying stones! The OKLR changed it into a passenger carriage. It needs some repairs but can still be used. |  |
| East Hayling Light Railway | 6 | 4-wheel third | 1992 | This coach is currently being repaired and updated inside. It is expected to be ready in late 2019. It will be painted crimson and cream. |  |
| East Hayling Light Railway | 7 | 4-wheel brake | 1996 | This coach is not currently in use. It is painted green and cream. |  |
| East Hayling Light Railway | 8 | 4-wheel third | Unknown | This coach is green and cream. It will be changed to allow easy access for people with disabilities. |  |
Wagons: Carrying Goods on the Railway
Wagons are special cars used to carry goods, tools, or other items on the railway.
| Origin | Number | Type | Notes | Photograph |
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| East Hayling Light Railway | 10 | Brake Van | This wagon was bought from the EHLR as a mobile ticket office. It was later changed into a brake van. It is ready to use. |  |
| MoD | DH 417 | Covered goods van | This van was used by the Ministry of Defense. A part of the back has been painted white with "FISH" on the side, like old fish vans. It was changed to fit the 2ft gauge tracks. |  |
| MoD | DH 453 | Covered goods van | This van also came from the Ministry of Defense. It is in better condition than DH417. One of its doors has been removed for now. |  |
| ? | DH 132 | Brake van | Built in 1943. This van was also used by the Ministry of Defense. It is in good condition but needs some work on its floor. |  |
| ? | DH 323 | 1-plank open wagon | This wagon also came from the Ministry of Defense. Its sides were removed, which was common for these wagons. |  |
| ? | DH 522 | 4-plank open wagon | This wagon also came from the Ministry of Defense. Its sides were removed. | |
| ? | Loco Coal Wagon | This wagon is painted grey with white letters. | ||
| ? | C50 | 2-plank open wagon | This wagon was recently repainted grey and has "P/Way Dept Old Kiln Halt" written on it. It has a brake. |
Awards and Recognition
The Old Kiln Light Railway received a special award in 1994. It was the "Surrey Industrial History Group Conservation" award, which recognized their great work in preserving industrial history!
