View source for Poole Park Railway

{{Infobox heritage rail
|name=Poole Park Railway
|county=Dorset
|picture=Poole Park Railway - geograph.org.uk - 33620.jpg
|picture caption=The railway in Poole Park
|town=Poole
|built=1949
|gauge=10¼"
|length=700 yards
|website=http://www.pooleparkrailway.org
}}
The '''Poole Park Railway''' runs through [[Poole Park]] in [[Poole]], in south-eatsernmost [[Dorset]]. The line is built to the popular miniature gauge, 10¼" and runs every weekend throughout the year and all school holidays, giving a view of the park.

==History==
In 1949 Southern Miniature Railways Ltd started this miniature railway. They also operated miniature railways in Stokes Bay, Bognor Regis and Southsea, but the only one of these to survive to present times is Poole Park.

A freelance 4-4-2 tender loco “Vanguard” was used every day until 1965 and occasionally until 1970. After 1970 two diesel outline locos were used first powered by Ford Sidevalve engines then diesel.

Steam did briefly return in the 1990s with an engine called Arthur used mainly on Saturdays, which was sold in 1997.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk/PoolePark.html
|title=Poole Park Railway 10¼ inch
|accessdate=6 January 2017}}
</ref>

The line was taken over by Chris Bullen on 2 June 2005, becoming the third operator since 1949. Poole Borough Council, which owns the park, ended their tenancy agreement in 2017, and ordered that the historic track be removed before tenders for a new operator would begin, but this caused a public and media backlash with the result that the track remained in place.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/15006397.Thousands_sign_petition_to___39_save_Poole_Park_railway__39_/?ref=twt
|title=Six thousand signatures in less than 24 hours: community rallies to 'save Poole Park railway'
|accessdate=6 January 2017}}
</ref>
<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/15002436.Poole_Park__39_s_mini_railway_to_close_as_council_looks_for_new_operators/
|title=Poole Park's mini railway to close as council looks for new operators
|accessdate=6 January 2017}}
</ref>

The Railway contract was awarded to the Friends of Poole Park, a charity, in July 2017, with a concession to operate the Railway for 30 years.<ref>
{{cite web
|url=https://pooleparkrailway.org/poole-park-railway/launch
|title=To: Launch - Poole Park Railway
|accessdate=10 March 2018}}
</ref>
<ref>
{{cite web
|url=https://pooleparkrailway.org/poole-park-railway
|title=to:Poole Park Railway
|accessdate=10 March 2018}}
</ref>  However in 2018 internal dissentions within the charity and the resultant departure of volunteers left the railway effectively unable to operate safely<ref>
{{cite web
|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/16225677.Poole_Park_railway_shut_down_after_derailment/
|title=Poole Park mini railway's rolling stock being advertised for sale
|accessdate=2018-06-30}}</ref> and the concession was withdrawn.  In August 2018 the Poole Park Railway was taken over by the local council.

==See also==
*[[Purbeck Miniature Railway]]

==Outside links==
*{{cite web|url=https://pooleparkrailway.org/poole-park-railway|title=Poole Park Railway|accessdate=10 March 2018}}
*{{cite web|url=https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/save-poole-park-railway|publisher=you.38degrees.org.uk|title=Save Poole Park Railway &#124; Campaigns by You|accessdate=6 January 2017}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Ridable miniature railways}}

[[Category:British miniature railways]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Dorset]]