Rhyl Miniature Railway facts for kids
Joan is one of the original Rhyl Engines
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Rhyl |
| Locale | Denbighshire, Wales  |
| Dates of operation | 1 May 1911– |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 15 in (381 mm) |
| Length | 1 mile (1.6 km) |
The Rhyl Miniature Railway (in Welsh: Rheilffordd Fach y Rhyl) is a fun, small train line. It uses a special track size called a 15 in (381 mm) gauge. This railway is found in Rhyl, a town on the North Wales Coast.
The train line goes in a big circle around a pretty boating lake. This lake is near the beach promenade, just west of the town center. A special group called the Rhyl Steam Preservation Trust runs the railway. They are a charity that helps keep the trains running for everyone to enjoy!
Contents
History of the Rhyl Miniature Railway
Work on building this exciting railway started in December 1910. A person named Henry Greenly surveyed the land. He was given permission to begin construction in March 1911.
Opening Day and Early Success
The Rhyl Miniature Railway first opened to the public on May 1, 1911. It was a huge hit right from the start! In its first year, many people came to ride the trains.
The railway began with just one engine. It was a Bassett-Lowke Class 10 Atlantic engine. There were also six Bassett-Lowke carriages for passengers.
Growing the Fleet
Because the railway was so popular, they decided to get a second Class 10 engine in 1913. They also built special "cars de luxe" in their own workshop. By 1920, the two Class 10 engines were working very hard. They were often stretched to their limits during busy times. So, the railway decided to get more powerful engines. The first of these new, stronger engines was called "Albion."
Changes and Reopening
The railway faced a challenge in 1969. The company running it, Trust House Forte Leisure Ltd, decided not to invest more money. This was because they couldn't get a long lease for the land. So, in 1970, they gave the Marine Lake area back to the local council. The train tracks were then removed.
The area where the tracks used to be stayed empty for several years. But then, in 1978, new tracks were laid down. The railway started running trains again on July 1, 1978.
A brand new central station building opened in May 2007. Inside this station, there's a special room called the Albert Barnes Room. You can see the steam locomotive "Billie" displayed there.
Locomotives of the Rhyl Miniature Railway
The Rhyl Miniature Railway has several interesting locomotives. These are the engines that pull the trains. Each one has its own story!
| Name | Number | Type | Built By | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joan | 101 | 4-4-2 | Albert Barnes & Co | 1920 | This was the first of six engines of its kind. It was designed by Henry Greenly. |
| Railway Queen | 102 | 4-4-2 | Albert Barnes & Co | 1921 | This engine used to work at the Woodland Park Miniature Railway. It was first named Michael. |
| Michael | 105 | 4-4-2 | Albert Barnes & Co | c1925 | This engine is now fully working and ready to pull trains. |
| Billy | 106 | 4-4-2 | Albert Barnes & Co | c1930 | You can see this engine on display. It's in the Albert Barnes Room at the station. |
| Cagney44 | 44 | 4-4-0 | Cagney Brothers New York | c1910 | This is one of only a few working examples in the UK. It came to the UK in 1999 and was rebuilt. |
| Clara | 0-4-2DH | Guest & Saunders Light Engineering | 1961 | This engine looks like a steam train but runs on diesel. It was built for the Dudley Zoo railway. It came to Rhyl in 1978 and was rebuilt in 2011. | |
| 2W-2-4BER | Hayne/Minirail | 1958 | This rail car was changed to run on battery power in 1983. It used to be a normal coach. | ||
| 10498 | 4wDM | Lister | 1938 | This engine was changed from a 2-foot track size to 15-inch. It arrived in Rhyl in 1999. | |
| Prince Edward of Wales | 4-4-2 | No.15 | 1909 | This was the very first engine at the Rhyl Miniature Railway. It was almost scrapped, but its important parts were saved. It has now returned after being restored. |
