Mizens Railway
Mizens Railway is a 7¼ inch gauge miniature railway located in a 10-acre site near Woking in Surrey.[1] The railway comprises three routes, the longest being nearly a mile long. A variety of locomotives are in use, including several steam engines.
The railway was named after its original location at Mizens Farm, now the headquarters of McLaren until moving to the present site in Knaphill in 2000.
Routes
Three routes are operated by the railway on public running days, The Suburban, the Miler and the Highlander. A maximum of two of these routes can be operated at one time for the public.[2]
The Highlander saw its testing in mid-2014 with limited passenger runs. Technical difficulties prohibited opening in 2014 with final testing occurring in early 2015 before the start of the running season. Due to the demanding gradients of this route, it is only opened to the public in dry conditions and depending on the availability of locomotives and coaching stock. Trains on this route start and end their journey at platform 3. >
Signalling
The railway is controlled by a variety of signals. Many signals on the main line are controlled automatically but most signals around the train station are controlled from the south signal box. The north signal box is being installed to control the new 'Highland' route. Construction of the north signal box and its signals are nearing completion and is hoped to be in service in the 2015 train running season. Both signal boxes are controlled with 20 half-size levers and a variety of buttons to operate shunt signals. Basic electronic interlocking is in use where appropriate. All of the automatic signals on the track are 2 or 3 aspect colour light signals which operate using track circuit equipment. Many of the signals in the station are of a LMS semaphore type, and are built near to scale.
Standard gauge and larger narrow gauge rolling stock
The site contains several larger items of railway rolling stock on static display. The largest of these is the British Rail Class 423 (also known as 4-VEP) driving trailer unit number 76887 from unit 3568. A platform and protective roof have been constructed over the coach to protect it from the rain. Also on site is an LNER tender which is owned by and being restored by the 61662 Manchester United appeal. At the gate of the site a South African Class A 4-8-2T tank stands on a short section of track. The locomotive moved to the Woking site in 2011 by ship from Richard Bay in South Africa to Bristol Portbury Docks, and then by road transport to Woking.[3]
Miniature locomotives
Mizens railway has a variety of locomotives to drive the trains. These are powered by a variety of steam, petrol and battery electric power and can be seen on the front of the trains. On some days locomotives visit the railway, this mainly happens on the special event "The visiting locos day". The railway owns one locomotive, Bourne Again, a large sit-in petrol locomotive. Most of the other Locomotives are owned by members of the Railway and are also used on a regular basis.
Steam
The resident steam locomotives range from narrow gauge style to scale bodied. Facilities to run the steam locomotives such as water and coal can be seen on the station.
Diesel and electric
A large number of resident locos at Mizens are powered by diesel engines and electric motors. On most running days there are more diesel and electric locos in operation.
Running locomotives
| Type | Name | Number | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | Yeo | - | Design based on the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway 2-6-2T built by Manning Wardle | |
| Steam | Alice | - | Under maintenance | Design based on a Hunslet Engine Company narrow gauge industrial 0-4-0, painted blue. |
| Steam | Little John | - | Under maintenance | - |
| Steam | Sgt Murphy | - | Operational | Design based on a Kerr, Stuart and Company narrow gauge locomotive |
| Steam | Thunderhoof | - | Operational | - |
| Steam | Paddington | 1504 | Under Maintenance | Scale design of a GWR 1500 Class |
| Steam | Marquis | - | Under maintenance | - |
| Petrol Hydraulic | Bourne Again | - | Operational | - Recent overhaul completed and now in green livery. Design of the loco is based on a British Rail Class 08, however the loco has 0-4-0 wheel arrangement and narrow gauge dimensions. |
| Petrol Hydraulic | Ronny Rascal | - | Operational | - |
| Petrol Hydraulic | Lemon | - | Operational | Purple 0-4-0 based on a narrow gauge shunter. |
| Petrol | Richard Bonsey | - | Operational | Converted from Steam |
| Petrol | Chesnut | - | Operational | Mainly used by the Permanent Way Dept. |
| Petrol | Digby | - | Operational | 0-6-0 |
| Petrol Hydraulic | Sophie | - | Under maintenance | - steam outline |
| Petrol Hydraulic | Sonya | - | Under maintenance | - |
| Diesel | Phil Chambers | - | Operational | American outline locomotive with a Bo-Bo wheel arrangement. |
| Battery Electric | Goliath | - | Operational | - |
| Battery Electric | Brooklands | - | Operational | Built by Tom Smith with the works number 17. Build as a sample loco to show what he is able to build, this being the reason that both ends of the loco are different. |
| Battery Electric | 52 | 74018 | Operational | Built by Tom Smith with the works number 18. |
| Battery Electric | GWR Railcar | - | Operational | Design based on the GWR Railcars, scaled up to be a sit on top unit. |
| Battery Electric | Busy Bee | - | Operational | Tram style locomotive. Not commonly used on public trains, mainly used by the Signals dept. |
| Battery Electric | Class 08 | - | Operational | Used for Shunting |
| Battery Electric | Diane | D7029 | Operational | - |
Location
- Location: 51°19’35"N, -0°36’47"W
Outside links
References