List of ridable miniature railways

Not to be confused with Minimum gauge railway.
Miniature railway ride in West Ryde, Australia in 2007.
Locomotive and train on the Chemin de fer touristique d'Anse in France.
Emerson Zooline Railroad's Chance Rides C.P. Huntington train in Saint Louis Zoo, one of hundreds of exact copies of this ride model in locations worldwide.

A ridable miniature railway (USA: 'riding railroad' or grand scale railroad) is a ground-level, large scale model railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are models of full-sized railway locomotives (powered by diesel or petrol engines, live steam engines or electric motors).

Overview

Typically miniature railways have a rail track gauge between 5 in (127 mm) and 18 in (457 mm), though both larger and smaller gauges are used.

These large model railroads are most often seen in urban parks or in commercial settings, such as amusement park rides.

The major distinction between a miniature railway and a narrow gauge railway is that miniature lines use models of full-sized prototypes. There are miniature railways that run on gauges as wide as the 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge on the defunct Disneyland Viewliner, or as wide as the 2 ft (610 mm) gauge on the operating Wicksteed Park Railway. There are also narrow gauge railways running on extremely narrow track as small as 15 in (381 mm) gauge or less, for example the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, Perrygrove Railway and the Eaton Hall Railway. These are known as minimum gauge railways.

Typically in the UK miniature lines are operated as public heritage railways, though many private lines also exist, especially in the USA.

At gauges of 5 in (127 mm) and less, the track is commonly raised above ground level. Flat cars are arranged with foot boards so that driver and passengers sit astride the track. The track is often multi-gauged, to accommodate 5 in (127 mm), 3 12 in (89 mm), and sometimes 2 12 in (64 mm) gauge locomotives.

Track can also be portable, even in gauges as large as 5 in. Typically portable track is used to demonstrate locomotives at temporary events such as fêtes and summer fairs.[1] Portable track can be either raised or ground level.

In Australia, most 5 inch gauge tracks are at ground level.

Australian societies are generally members of the Australian Association of Live Steamers, Ltd, which arranges Codes of Practice for Operations, Standards and Training, for the operation of miniature railways below 8 inch gauge through their subcommittee the Australian Live Steamers Safety Committee (ALSSC), and Boiler codes for the operation of miniature steam boilers through the Australian Miniature Boiler Safety Committee (AMBSC).

Miniature railways by rail gauge

3 12 in (89 mm) gauge

In the UK

Elsewhere

4 34 in (121 mm) gauge

5 in (127 mm) gauge

Miniature railway on Lindenhof hill in Zürich (Switzerland).

In the UK

Elsewhere

7 14 in (184 mm) gauge

An example of 7 1/4 inch track.

In the UK

In Australia

Elsewhere

7 12 in (190.5 mm) gauge

In the USA

Elsewhere

8 14 in (210 mm) gauge

9 in (229 mm) gauge

Faversham Miniature Railway in 2007.

9 716 in (240 mm) gauge

9 12 in (241 mm) gauge

10 14 in (260 mm) gauge

Wells and Walsingham Light Railway

12 in (305 mm) gauge

12 14 in (311 mm) gauge

13 38 in (340 mm) gauge

14 in (356 mm) gauge

15 in (381 mm) gauge

In the UK

Bure Valley Railway
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

In the USA

Glenwood, South Park & Pacific engine #13

Elsewhere

One of the Chemin de fer touristique d'Anse trains in France.

16 in (406 mm) gauge

Two locomotives of the Whiskey River Railway, an attraction at Little Amerricka in Marshall, Wisconsin, are being readied for a day of service on the railway.

16 12 in (419 mm) gauge

18 in (457 mm) gauge

18 12 in (470 mm) gauge

19 in (483 mm) gauge

20 in (508 mm) gauge

21 in (533 mm) gauge

2 ft (610 mm) gauge

2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge

Unknown gauge

See also

References

  1. 1 2 EGMES. "East Grinstead Model Engineering Society". East Grinstead Model Engineers. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  2. http://www.crowboroughminiaturerailway.com/about_us.html
  3. 1 2 3 City of Oxford Society of Model Engineers (COSME) website UK
  4. 1 2 3 Leyland Society of Model Engineers website
  5. 1 2 Maidstone Model Engineering Society
  6. 1 2 3 4 Malden and District Society of Model Engineers Ltd Website
  7. 1 2 3 NLSME website
  8. 1 2 3 (http://www.spenborough.me.uk/)
  9. 1 2 Tonbridge Model Engineering Society
  10. 1 2 3 Canberra Society of Model and Experimental Engineers
  11. S.A.S.M.E.E. Park, Adelaide, Australia
  12. 1 2 http://www.mcsme.co.uk
  13. 1 2 Guildford Model Engineering Society
  14. Hove Park Railway
  15. 1 2 "Portarlington Miniature Railway". Flickr. Retrieved 22 June 2014.
  16. 1 2 SA Society of Model & Experimental Engineers (S.A.S.M.E.E.) unofficial home page, located in S.A.S.M.E.E. Park
  17. 1 2 "Club tracks".
  18. 1 2 Swiss Vapeur Parc
  19. Sydney Live Steam Locomotive Society Co-op Ltd website
  20. 1 2 WAGGA WAGGA Society of Model Engineers, official website. Retrieved 19 July 2010.
  21. http://www.sheffieldsmee.co.uk/
  22. website
  23. 1 2 Barkingk (BPLR) website
  24. Bekonscot Light Railway website
  25. Bentley Miniature Railway website
  26. 1 2 3 "About DMR". Dragon Miniature Railway. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  27. 1 2 1949 to 1962
  28. Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway
  29. East Herts Miniature Railway website
  30. Echills Wood Railway website
  31. Fancott Miniature Railway website
  32. [http:www.foxfieldminiaturerailway.co.uk/ Foxfield Miniature Railway Website]
  33. Frimley Lodge Miniature Railway website
  34. Great Cockcrow Railway website
  35. Halton Miniature Railway Society
  36. High Legh Railway
  37. http://www.iwemrc.org.uk/714_gauge.asp
  38. Little Orchard Railway website
  39. Mizens Railway website
  40. Moors Valley Railway website
  41. 1 2 Mortocombe Railway website
  42. Pinewood Miniature Railway
  43. Miniature Railway World
  44. "End of the line for Pugneys Light Railway?". Wakefield Express. 15 March 2015.
  45. Saltwood Miniature Railway website
  46. Strand Miniature Railway
  47. Thames Ditton Miniature Railway
  48. Railway website
  49. MRW website entry
  50. Weston Park Railway website
  51. WMR Social website
  52. Woodseaves Miniature Railway website
  53. Altona Miniature Railway website
  54. Diamond Valley Miniature Railway website
  55. http://www.mvrail.org.au
  56. Golden Horseshoe Live Steamers website
  57. Keirunga Park Railway website
  58. "Welcome to Esch-sur-Alzette", Luxembourg National Tourist Office. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  59. (http://home.datacomm.ch/slb/index.html)
  60. (http://www.stoomgroep.be/)
  61. Annetta Valley & Western Railroad website
  62. Carillon Park Railroad website
  63. Carillon Park Rail & Steam Society website
  64. Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad website
  65. Golden Gate Live Steamers website
  66. Great Lakes Live Steamers website
  67. 1 2 Hesston Steam Museum website
  68. Houton Area Live Steamers website
  69. Illinois Live Steamers website
  70. Kitsap Live Steamers website
  71. Railroad Museum of South Florida Train Village website
  72. City of Largo, Florida: Train Weekend
  73. North Georgia Live Steamers website
  74. Orange County Model Engineers website
  75. Riverside Live Steamers website
  76. Sacramento Valley Live Steamers website
  77. Sagebrush Short Line Railroad website
  78. Shady Dell Pacific, Pacific Northwest Live Steamers website
  79. Tradewinds & Atlantic Railroad website
  80. Train Mountain website
  81. Triad Live Steamers, Farmington and Harrisburg website
  82. Wales West Website
  83. White Creek Railroad website
  84. Willow Creek Railroad website
  85. Burnaby Central Railway website
  86. http://minitraindesmarais.free.fr/sommaire.htm
  87. Paradise Valley Railroad website
  88. Audley End Railway website
  89. Beale Park website
  90. Berkeley Light Railway website
  91. Bickington Steam Railway website
  92. Birchley Miniature Railway website UK
  93. Eastleigh Lakeside Railway website
  94. Savilles Garden Centre
  95. Royal Victoria Railway website
  96. Rudyard Lake Steam Railway website
  97. Stapleford Miniature Railway website
  98. Sutton Hall Railway website
  99. Vanstone Woodland Railway website
  100. Wells Harbour Railway website
  101. City of Wenatchee - Wenatchee Riverfront Railway
  102. website
  103. C&H Railroad website
  104. Emerald Hills Railway website
  105. Folsom Valley Railway website
  106. Ruislip Lido Railway website
  107. Wabash Frisco & Pacific Railway website
  108. Hotham Park Miniature Railway website
  109. Littlehampton Miniature Railway website
  110. Adventure City website
  111. Castle Park website
  112. Combe Martin Wildlife Park website
  113. Evesham Vale Light Railway website
  114. Kirklees Light Railway website
  115. website Longleat
  116. website Markeaton
  117. American Heritage Railroad
  118. http://www.uni.edu/iowaonline/folklife/2/2/handouts/02.pdf
  119. Glenwood South Park & Pacific Railroad website
  120. Hillcrest & Wahtoke Steam Railroad website
  121. Joshua Tree & Southern website
  122. Laurel Run Railroad website
  123. Paradise and Pacific Railroad website
  124. Phoenix & Holly Railroad
  125. Redwood Valley Railway website
  126. Sonoma Traintown website
  127. Waterman & Western Railroad website
  128. Springbank Express
  129. http://www.srmduluth.org/G16/G16-history.shtml
  130. Balboa Park Miniature Railroad website
  131. Cedar Rock Railroad
  132. Little Florida Coast Line website
  133. AuSable Valley Railroad website
  134. Crown Metal Products Locomotive Roster
  135. Railway Preservation News
  136. Smokey Joe Railroad website
  137. "The Miniature Railway". CEC: Closed Canadian Parks. Retrieved 8 July 2012.
  138. Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad website
  139. Collegeville and Southern Railway website
  140. Heath Park Tramway
  141. Meadows and Lake Kathleen Railroad website
  142. National Railway Museum website
  143. Venice Miniature Railway
  144. "Forest Park Miniature Railroad". Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  145. Robert D. West (May 2, 2014). "Farewell is not Forever - Part 4: Oaks Amusement Park". Retrieved July 30, 2014. This train replaced a Miniature Train & Railroad Company G-16 that was installed in 1956. The G-16 ran on 16" gauge track, and resembled a diesel locomotive, painted in the colors of the Union Pacific Railroad. The track is dual-gauge: 16" for the former train and 24" for the current one. The train operates on a 2,600 foot oval-shaped loop that encircles the picnic areas.
  146. Brackenridge Eagle
  147. Matsudayama Herb Garden railway info

External links

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