Wales West Light Railway facts for kids
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| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Locale | 30°30′10″N 87°47′13″W / 30.50278°N 87.78694°W Silverhill, Alabama |
| Dates of operation | 2001–present |
| Technical | |
| Track gauge | 2 ft (610 mm) |
| Length | 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) |
| Other | |
| Website | Wales West Light Railway |
The Wales West Light Railway is a fun train ride in Silverhill, Alabama. It's a special kind of railway called a narrow gauge line. This means the tracks are closer together than usual. The railway is 1.6 kilometers (about 1 mile) long. It's designed to look and feel like the old narrow gauge railways you might find in Wales, a country in the United Kingdom. Ann and Ken Zadnichek own this railway. Every year, over 30,000 people visit the railway and its nearby RV park for a great time!
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Trains and Cars at Wales West
The Wales West Light Railway has different types of trains. These include powerful steam locomotives and strong diesel engines. They also have special passenger cars for visitors to ride in.
Meet the Locomotives
Locomotives are the engines that pull the trains. The Wales West Light Railway has two main locomotives.
Dame Ann: The Steam Engine
Dame Ann is a steam locomotive. This means she uses steam to move! She weighs about 11,700 pounds. She was built in England by a company called Exmoor Steam Railway. Her first test runs were in Cornwall, England. Dame Ann arrived at the Wales West Light Railway in 2004.
She is designed to look like an old train from the 1800s. These older trains were called Penrhyn Port Class locomotives. Dame Ann was the first engine of her kind built in 83 years!
Gareth: The Diesel Engine
Gareth is a diesel locomotive. Diesel engines use fuel, like a car, to power the train. He was built in the mid-1960s by a British company called Motor Rail. Gareth weighs about two thousand pounds.
The railway bought Gareth to help build the tracks. When he first arrived, he looked like a steam train. His owners changed his look to match other diesel trains made by Alan Keef.
Passenger Cars: Your Ride!
The passenger cars at Wales West Light Railway are special. They are built to look like old cars from the 1800s. They are made of wood, but they have strong steel frames underneath. The wheels for these cars come all the way from England. For safety, they have modern air brakes.
Miniature Railway Fun
Besides the main railway, Wales West Light Railway also has a smaller, miniature train. This tiny train runs on a 7.5-inch wide track. It's a fun way to experience a train ride on a smaller scale!
