Royal Victoria Railway facts for kids

Welcome to the Royal Victoria Railway! This fun miniature railway is about 1 mile (1.6 km) long. It runs through the beautiful Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley, Hampshire, England. As you ride, you'll get great views of Southampton Water. The railway uses a special track width, called a gauge, of 10.25 inches (26 cm). You can ride the trains every weekend all year round and during all school holidays.

Meet the Locomotives: Our Train Engines!

The Royal Victoria Railway has many different train engines, called locomotives. They are powered by either steam or diesel.

Steam Locomotives: Power from Water and Fire

Steam locomotives use boiling water to create steam, which then pushes the train.

• Trevithick: This engine was built by Roger Marsh. It's an 0-6-2 steam locomotive, designed for the age of steam in Cornwall.
• Isambard Kingdom Brunel: Built by David Curwen, this 2-6-0 tender locomotive also worked in Cornwall.
• Basil the Brigadier: This is a special 2-6-0 + 0-6-2 articulated locomotive. This means it has two separate engine parts that can move independently. It was built in 1938 by Kitsons of Leeds. It used to run on the famous Surrey Border and Camberley Railway.
• Peter The Private: This engine looks almost exactly like Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It started running in early 2017 and is painted bright red.
• Royal Scot: Built in 1938 by Bassett-Lowke, this is the only 10.25-inch gauge Royal Scot they ever made. It traveled a lot, working at the Hastings Miniature Railway and Oakhill Manor Railway before going to the USA. It came back to England in 2002.
• The Engineer: This 4-4-2 Atlantic type locomotive was built by David Curwen. It used to work on the Weymouth miniature railway and was called 'Merrie England'. It arrived in 2016 and is being restored. It's now named 'The Engineer' to honor its builder.
• The Great Bear: Built in 2011, this locomotive was first named 'Coronation'. It was driven by the famous actor Will Hay when the Surrey Border and Camberley Railway opened. It arrived in 2016 and is ready to pull trains after some running-in.

Diesel Locomotives: Modern Power

Diesel locomotives use a diesel engine, similar to those in trucks, to power the train.

• Maurice the Major: This was the very first engine on the railway, built in 1994/95. It has a 3-cylinder Kubota diesel engine.
• D1001 Western Independence: Built by David Curwen in 1964, this engine first ran at Margate Pier. It now has a 3-cylinder Kubota engine and a hydraulic drive system.
• D1002 Western Explorer: Also designed by David Curwen, this engine was built in 1965. It worked at the Brooklands Miniature Railway. It's now being restored and has the same engine system as Western Independence.
• D1011 Western Thunderer: Built in 1964 for the Audley End railway, this engine was even driven by the famous racing driver Stirling Moss when the line opened! The railway plans to update its engine soon.

Past Locomotives and Visitors

Some locomotives have been part of the railway's history but are no longer here. Others visit for special events.

• Claude the Colonel: This engine was built in 1999/2000 and looked like a steam engine. It now lives in Scotland.
• Belle: This engine, built by David Curwen, visited for a special event. It once ran with 'Basil The Brigadier'.
• Alice: An 0-4-0 saddle tank locomotive with a tender, based on a Bagnall design.

Exploring the Railway Line

Let's take a journey along the Royal Victoria Railway! The ride usually begins at Piccadilly Station. You buy your tickets from the engine shed, which is across from a well-designed yard. This yard is actually where a new station building will be. The carriage shed is also here.

After leaving Piccadilly, the line curves. It crosses a set of points that lead to the yard and engine shed. Then, the train runs straight, right next to Southampton Water. Sometimes, gorse hedges might block the view a little. At the end of this straight section, there's another set of points for a new extension. Your train will always turn left here and head inland. On your left, you might see a new double track section. This will eventually lead back to the yard and the future main station.

The line then curves right and starts to go downhill. You'll enter a wooded area and then a cutting (a path dug into the ground). The track winds through an 'S' bend and comes out onto an embankment. From here, you get amazing views of Southampton Water and the Chapel. The Chapel is the last part of a huge old military hospital.

At the bottom of the embankment, you'll pass a short hedge. Then you'll arrive at Chapel Road Station. This station is usually closed. It has a neat ticket office and waiting room. After leaving Chapel Road, the line starts to climb. It crosses the first level crossing and runs between a gorse bank and the car park. There's another 'S' bend through small trees. Then, the line runs below the playground and past the tea rooms.

The line curves inland again and crosses a second level crossing, right near the Cedar Tea Rooms. Here, the line starts to climb more steeply. If you're on a steam engine, you can hear it working hard to go up the hill! The train enters more woodland and another cutting, which goes around a large playground. At the deepest part of the cutting, the line curves sharply. This is the sharpest curve on the whole line!

After curving right out of the sharp bend and through another 'S' bend, the line goes straight. It climbs alongside the sensory garden and comes out of the woods. You'll cross another level crossing and pass the first playground on your left. From here, you can see back to the lower part of the line and across to Southampton Water and the chapel. The line then goes back into the trees, crosses the last level crossing, and goes down a short straight section. This brings you back to Piccadilly, ending your journey!

Future Plans: Exciting Extensions

The railway is always growing! A new main station is being built opposite the engine shed. This station will connect to the carriage shed, which will also act like a tunnel. On the other side, the line will split into two tracks and head south. One track will join the main circuit, and the other will connect with the existing line through a special crossing. Eventually, trains will leave the new station, travel around the main circuit, and then go straight onto the new loop. They will cross the special crossing and return through the carriage shed to the new station. Volunteers have done a lot of work already, including building the brickwork for a turntable and the walls for the new building.

Stations on the Line

The Royal Victoria Railway has two main stations:

• Chapel Road Station
• Piccadilly Station

Who Runs the Railway? Our Amazing Volunteers

The Royal Victoria Railway is run entirely by a group of dedicated volunteers. They do all the hard work needed to improve and keep the railway running smoothly. In 2005, some cadets from Southampton University helped build the new station. Later, they helped lay track for the extension.

Current Projects: What's Happening Now?

There are always exciting projects underway at the railway!

• Finishing 'Peter the Private' locomotive.
• Refurbishing 'Western Thunderer' diesel locomotive.
• Completing the large new main station building.
• Laying a small amount of new track to open the extension fully.

Images for kids

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  New terminus station during construction