Downs Light Railway | |
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Location | Colwall, Worcestershire |
Type | Private |
Gauge | 9½ inches |
Built by | Geoffrey Hoyland |
Owned by | Downs Light Railway Trust |
Length | 0.75 miles (1.21 km) |
Stations | 1 |
Preservation Information | |
Original Gauge | 7¼ inches |
Preserved | 1983–Present |
Chairty No. | 513882 |
Website | DLR Trust |
History | |
1924 | Locomotive "Stantor" (renamed "Tubby") bought by the Downs School |
1929 | Locomotive "Maud" bought by the Downs School |
1937 | Locomotive "Ranmore" bought by the Downs School, railway is re-gauged, "Maud" sold |
1938 | Locomotive "Ranmore" sold |
1941 | Locomotive "George" bought by the Downs School |
1970 | Restoration commences by James Boyd |
1983 | The Downs Light Railway Trust is formed, ownership of the railway transferred to Trust from the Downs School |
1984 | Locomotive "Tim" built by the Trust |
1989 | Locomotive "George" sold, and proceeds fund the rebuilding of "Tubby" |
1992 | Locomotive "Tubby" returns, renamed "James Boyd" |
The Downs Light Railway is the world's oldest private miniature railway, with a track gauge of 9½ inches. The Railway is located within the private grounds of the The Downs School (Colwall, Malvern, Worcestershire). The railway was built and opened in 1925 by Geoffrey Hoyland (Headmaster) as a 7¼ inch gauge railway, for the principal purpose of education. The railway was regauged during the 1930s to the larger gauge of 9½ inches, to allow for new locos to be used on the line. After Geoffrey Hoyland left the school, the railway was allowed to deteriorate until it became unsafe to use by the late 1960s.
During the 1970s, restoration work began by former pupils of the school, most notably James Boyd. In 1983, the railway was handed over to the Downs Light Railway Trust, who became responsible for its ownership, preservation and operation.
The Downs Light Railway stands to be the only railway to be operated by Children aged between 7 and 13 years, as an educational extra-curricular activity.