| Bickington Steam Railway | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Place | Trago Mills, Newton Abbot, Devon |
| Terminus | Riverside Station |
| Operations | |
| Owned by | Trago Mills |
| Gauge | 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) |
| Stations | 3 |
| Length | 11⁄2 miles (2.4 km) |
| Operated by | Trago Mills |
| Built by | Trago Mills |
| Opened | 1988 |
Located at Trago Mills Regional Shopping Center, Newton Abbot, the 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) Minimum gauge Bickington Steam Railway was opened in 1988, using equipment recovered from the Suffolk Wildlife Park, which itself was taken from Rudyard Lake. It was built by Brian Nicholson, the headmaster of Waterhouses School in Staffordshire. Waterhouses was the junction for the Leek and Manifold Valley Light Railway. After being thwarted in an attempt to rebuild a portion of the Leek and Manifold Valley railway, B. Nicholson moved his railway, via Rudyard Lake and Suffolk, to Trago Mills.
Originally the railway was a 1 mile (1.6 km) double loop around 2 lakes with 1 station, 'Trago Central', but in 2006 the railway grew over 1⁄2 miles (805 m), with an extension taking it to Trago's front car park. A 3-track terminus and turntable was built and named the 'Riverside Station'. A third station was added in 2008 and was located at the far end of the Trago site on one of the original sections of line; this was named 'Goose Glen Halt'. This was constructed in the hope that Trago Mills shoppers would use the ride to return to their vehicles, a near half-mile uphill walk from the main shopping complex.
Over a section of this line, the railway climbs one of the steepest inclines for any non rack railway in the UK. The railway is a member of Britains Great Little Railways
Contents |
| No. | Name | Wheel Set | Builder | Built |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E.R. Calthrop | 2-6-4T | Coleby Simkins | 1974 |
| 750 | Blanche of Lancaster | 4-4-2 | D. Curwen | 1948 |
| Alice | 2-6-0 | Simkins & Vere | 1984 | |
| D5910 | 4w-4wDH | D. Nicholson | 1987 | |
| 24 | Sandy River | 2-6-2 | Coleby Simkins/Allcock/Vere | 1991 |
B. Nicholson had commissioned the locomotive No.1 E.R.Calthrope personally.
Monday to Saturday - 11am to 5pm
Sundays - 12pm to 4pm
The railway runs every weekend and all week and through local school holidays.
For any further schedule inquiries please call 01626 821111.
History of equipment - D. Nicholson (Railway Manager)