Swanley New Barn Railway facts for kids

The Swanley New Barn Railway is a fun, miniature railway located in Swanley Park in Kent, United Kingdom. It uses a special track size called 7 ¹⁄₄ in (184 mm) gauge. This means the tracks are 7.25 inches apart. The railway has signals all along the line, just like a real big railway! These signals are controlled from New Barn Station, which is also where the trains start and end their journeys.

The Stations

New Barn Station

New Barn is the biggest station on the railway. It has three platforms where passengers can get on and off the trains. It also has a special spinning platform called a turntable that helps turn the engines around. There's a ticket office where you get your tickets and a signal box that controls the trains.

All trains stop at New Barn so the engines can be turned around and get ready for the next trip. Sometimes, the younger helpers on the railway even help with this! If you start your journey here, you'll get your tickets before you board. If you travel from Swanley Parkway, you'll get your tickets when you arrive at New Barn. This station can hold three trains at once, but that usually only happens on special event days.

Swanley Parkway Station

Swanley Parkway is a smaller station with just one platform. It's located close to the park's car park. Passengers usually get on the train here and then travel to New Barn Station to get off. The ride from Swanley Parkway to New Barn takes about three minutes.

The platform at Swanley Parkway was made higher in 2006. This makes it much easier for everyone to get on and off the trains safely. There are ideas to make this station bigger in the future by adding a second track.

How the Signal Box Works

The signal box is at New Barn Station. It's super important because it helps control all the train movements, especially around the station where tracks can cross. The signalman in the box can see where all the trains are using special sensors called track circuits that are built into the tracks.

The signal box has 35 levers. Each lever controls something specific, like a signal or a set of points (which are like switches that move the train from one track to another). These levers are connected to a computer system. This system makes sure that the signalman can only set a path for a train if it's safe. It stops trains from being sent in the wrong direction or onto a track where another train is already crossing.

The points on the track are moved by small 12-volt motors, similar to those used in car windscreen wipers! These motors are controlled by the signal box computer. The signals themselves are powered by electricity. The main signal you see when entering the station is very bright, with three powerful bulbs, so it can be seen clearly in any weather.

Amazing Locomotives

The Swanley New Barn Railway has many different types of engines, both steam and diesel!

Steam Engines

Steam engines are powered by boiling water to create steam, which pushes the engine forward.

• Owd Rosie: This engine is brown and looks like a "Tinkerbell" type locomotive.
• Montezuma: This engine used to run mostly on Sundays with its American-style wagons. It's now painted Midnight Blue and is waiting for some repairs to its boiler before it can run again.
• Mallard: This is the only engine at the railway that is a scale model of a real, full-sized train. It's a model of the famous Mallard, which set the world speed record for steam locomotives in 1938! This model was even used in a TV advert.
• Sir Goss: This black engine used to be the main steam locomotive. It's currently getting a full overhaul to keep it running well.
• Prince Sheian: This red engine started running in 2010. It's a very busy engine and has already traveled many miles with passengers!
• Suisaidh: Built over time, this engine is based on another engine called Jason from the Moors Valley Railway. It's painted in a bright LNER apple green and started carrying passengers in 2007.
• Aneirin: This engine started service in 2015 and is based on an engine from the Ffestiniog railway.
• Mrs. Darling: This engine, based on a "Tinkerbell" design, started service in 2017.

Diesel Engines

Diesel engines are powered by diesel fuel, similar to how some cars and trucks work.

• Tulyar: This engine arrived in 1987 and is painted in two shades of green. It's the most-used engine on the railway and has traveled over 20,000 miles (32,000 km) carrying passengers!

The Tulyar, a popular diesel engine.

• Kestrel: This yellow engine arrived in 1999 and features a special logo.
• SNCF: This engine arrived in 2001 and is based on an older French locomotive design.
• Tegen: This diesel engine was built right at the railway! It's a unique design.
• Skipper: This engine arrived for testing in 2011. It was built by Peter Beevers and has a special sideways seat to make it easier to move trains around the yard.
• Western Enterprise: This engine arrived in 2012 and is based on a British Rail "Western" diesel.
• Robert F Fairlie: Also arriving in 2012, this engine is similar to Western Enterprise and is painted in a large logo British Rail style.
• Niseag: This engine arrived in 2013 and is also similar to Western Enterprise. It's painted in a special "Network SouthEast" livery.
• Phoenix: This engine started service in 2015. It's used to test new ideas for improving the other diesel engines. It's named after the mythical bird because it might be changed and "reborn" with different features over time.

Other Engines

• Steptoe: This engine is a British Rail Class 25 design and is used sometimes.
• "Nipa": This petrol-powered engine was built at the railway in 2013. It's mainly used for maintenance work on the tracks.
• Yellow Peril: This is a small vehicle powered by a car battery! It's used to move things around the site and was built by some of the younger members of the railway team.

Special Events

The Swanley New Barn Railway often holds fun events for visitors!

• Charity Day: Every year on January 1st, the railway holds a special charity day where only steam engines are used.
• 1812 Night: This is an annual event in Swanley Park that includes fireworks and a band. The railway runs special services until the first firework is launched.
• Summer Gala: These special events started for the railway's 30th birthday and happen every summer. They often feature miniature traction engines, stalls, and even visiting engines from other railways!