Stapleford Miniature Railway facts for kids
The Stapleford Miniature Railway is a special small railway in Stapleford, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England. It uses real steam locomotives, just like bigger trains, but it's much smaller. The distance between its rails, called the gauge, is only 10.25 inches wide! This railway is famous for being one of the best of its kind. Even though it's usually private, many people from all over the world visit during its two public events each year, which raise money for charity.
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History of the Stapleford Railway
The Stapleford Miniature Railway started in 1958. It was built to carry visitors from the car park to Lord Gretton's big house, Stapleford Park. People loved riding the train so much that it quickly grew! The tracks were extended to go around the lake in the beautiful park. At one point, the park even had a special area where you could drive through a lion reserve!
Stapleford Railway on TV
The railway became quite famous when it appeared in a 1960s TV show called The Avengers. In an episode called "The Gravediggers," the character Emma Peel, played by actress Diana Rigg, was tied to the railway track! Luckily, the hero Steed saved her just in time.
Restoring the Railway
In 1982, the Stapleford estate closed to the public, and the railway stopped running for a while. But in the 1990s, a new group called the Friends of Stapleford Miniature Railway (FSMR) helped bring it back to life. This happened with the help of Jennifer Gretton, Baroness Gretton. The railway opened its doors to the public again in 1995. Now, it opens twice a year during steam rallies, usually in mid-June and on the August Bank Holiday weekend. These events help raise money for LOROS, a local hospice that cares for people who are very ill.
In October 2008, a new train station was officially opened by Pete Waterman OBE, a famous music producer and railway enthusiast.
What Does the Route Look Like?
The railway track is almost 2 miles long! It's a very impressive line with lots of twists and turns, running through the parkland. The trains cross the River Eye on several bridges. There's even a special tunnel that is 80 meters long. The entrances to this tunnel look like famous real-life tunnels: the west entrance looks like Box Tunnel, and the east entrance looks like Primrose Tunnel.
Meet the Locomotives
The Stapleford Miniature Railway has a collection of seven steam locomotives and one diesel locomotive. These are miniature versions of real, famous trains! For example, there's a 1/5th scale model of a NKP Berkshire class train and a 1/5th scale NYC Niagara. There are also 1/4th scale models of an East African train and a Harbours 31 Class.
| No. | Name | Wheel Arrangement | Year Built | Builder | Prototype |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 505 | Ypres | 4-4-0 | 2017 | SMR | GCR Improved Director Class |
| 751 | John H. Gretton | 4-4-2 | 1948 | Baydon | Freelance (not based on a specific real train) |
| 752 | - | 2-8-4 | 1971 | SMR | New York, Chicago and St Louis Berkshire Class |
| 2943 | Hampton Court | 4-6-0 | 1939 | Twining Models Ltd, Northampton | GWR 2900 Class |
| 3103 | Uganda | 2-8-4 | 2008 | SMR | EAR 31 Class |
| 5565 | Victoria | 4-6-0 | 1975 | SMR | LMS Jubilee Class |
| 6019 | - | 4-8-4 | 1997 | SMR | New York Central Niagara Class |
The IMechE Railway Challenge
In the summer of 2012, a special event called the "Railway Challenge" was held at the Stapleford Miniature Railway. This challenge was created by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE). It was for university students, as well as new graduates and apprentices working for railway companies. The goal was to help them learn more about railway engineering.
What is the Challenge?
Teams had to build a 10.25-inch gauge locomotive (a small train engine) following very strict rules. These locomotives were "hybrid" designs, meaning they used different types of power. They also had clever systems to get back energy that would normally be wasted.
For the first event in 2012, four teams took part. They came from Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Birmingham, Interfleet Technology (a company from Derby), and an independent team also from Derby. The first competition was won by the graduate team from Interfleet Technology. Their locomotive used both petrol and electricity and could store energy using special devices called supercapacitors.
A similar event happened in late June 2013, with four teams again. This time, the University of Huddersfield won, even though it was their first time competing. In 2014, five teams planned to enter, but only four competed: Interfleet Technology, University of Huddersfield, Birmingham University, and London Underground. London Underground, competing for the first time, won this event.
Images for kids
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The East African 31 class locomotive
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The EAR 31 class and the Nickel Plate Road Berkshire class locomotives at the new station
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Pete Waterman driving the EAR 31
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A replica of Box Tunnel at Stapleford, with a Saint Class locomotive
