Rocks by Rail

Address: Cottesmore Iron Mines Siding, Ashwell Road, Cottesmore, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 7BX
Location Type: Museum and Standard Gauge Railway Line

Telephone: 01572 813203 Email: secretary@rutlandrailwaymuseum.org.uk

Line Length: ¾ mile Gauge: 4ft 8½ inches
Open Days: Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays Admission: voluntary donation
Parking: Free at museum LE15 7BX
Website: www.rutlandrailwaymuseum.org.uk YouTubevideo location map

Site Facilities: Refreshments, shop, picnic tables, woodland walks

A mineral branch line linked three iron ore quarries to the main line at Ashwell on the the Melton Mowbray to Oakham route. Situated on the exchange sidings that served these three quarries is the Rocks by Rails museum. On the 19 acre site the museum sets out to recreate a typical East Midlands ironstone quarrying operation of the 1950s - 1960s. The large collection of quarrying equipment includes excavators, dumper trucks, freight vehicles some of which can be seen working.

The railway is an important part of the museum with demonstration goods and passenger trains on operating days. There are over twenty industrial steam and diesel locomotives along with iron ore and other mineral wagons. Most locomotives can be seen in the loco yard or workshops. Tours around the workshop allow visitors to view the restoration of historic industrial locomotives and wagons.

Formerly called the Rutland Railway Museum the site is to be officially relaunched as 'Rocks by Rail' on April 24-25 2012. After a number of years of work by volunteers at the museum the facilities have been much enhanced, greatly improving the visitor experience.

Statfold Barn Railway

Address: The Grain Store, Ashby Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 0BU Location Type: Narrow / Standard / Miniature Gauge Railway Lines
Telephone: 01827 830871 Email: information@statfoldbarnrailway.co.uk Line Length: 1½ mile Gauges: 2ft / 2ft 6 inches / 4ft 8½ inches / 10¼ inches / 7¼ inches
Admission: by invitation only, see their website Open Days: to be announced for 2012 Parking: on site B79 0BU
Website: www.statfoldbarnrailway.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

The Statfold Barn Railway is a private line which holds a number of 'Enthusiasts Days' for which members of the public can apply to be invited. At the railway there is a short section of standard gauge track along with a 1½ miles of dual 2ft / 2ft 6inch gauge. Miniature 10¼ / 7¼ inch track is also available in the garden railway.

A trip on the railway begins at Statfold station with the line going around the perimeter of a large field. A balloon loop at the end obviates the requirement for the locomotive to run around. The return journey again goes around the field back to the station. Passing loops enable more than one train to be operating at a time.

The Hunslet Engine Company is based at the railway which are all part of the LH Group. Over fifty locomotives are on site, some awaiting restoration or repairs, others are in working order or being stored. Extensive workshops are capable of all engineering work required including the building of new locomotives.

Resident locomotives that may be operating on open days include No.5 Orenstein & Koppel 'Pakis Baru' 0-4-4-0T built 1905, No.4 Hunslet 'Trangkil' 0-4-2ST built 1971, 'Statfold' and 'Jack Lee' both Hunslet Quarry 0-4-0ST engines built in 2006, 2007.

Kidderminster Railway Museum

Address: Station Approach, Comberton Hill, Kidderminster, Worcestershire DY10 1QX Location Type: Railway Museum
Telephone: 01562 825316 Email: krm@krm.org.uk Open Days: Severn Valley Railway operating days (see timetable)
Parking: Kidderminster station pay and display DY10 1QX
Website: www.krm.org.uk location map

A former grain and wool warehouse built in 1878 now houses the Kidderminster Railway Museum. First opened in 1990 the museum is next to Kidderminster station on the Severn Valley Railway. Exhibits include signalling equipment, signs, photographs, nameplates, timetables and line posts.

Steeple Grange Light Railway

Address: Porter Lane, Wirwksworth, Derbyshire DE4 4LS Location Type: Narrow Gauge Railway
Telephone: 01246 205542 Line Length: mile Gauge: 1ft 6 inches Journey Time: 20 minutes
Service: 2012 tba Tickets: Adult £3.00, Child £1.50 Parking: National Stone Centre DE4 4LS or Black Rocks picnic site
Website: www.steeplegrange.co.uk YouTubevideo location map

A line from High Peak Junction on the Cromford Canal to Whatley Bridge opened in 1832. Worked by horses, there were nine inclines where stationary steam engines hauled the wagons. After 1841 steam locomotives gradually replaced the horses. Apart from a short period from 1874 - 1877 no passenger service operated, only mineral traffic. Sidings linked to the many quarries in the area. One of the branches which closed in 1967 went to the Middleton Quarry part of this is now used by the Steeple Grange Light Railway (SGLR).

Set up in 1985 the SLGR has a ½ mile of 18 inch gauge line. Some of the track and rolling stock came from Ladywash Mine, Eyan and Beverootes Colliery, Nottingham. The line starts at Steeple House Junction with a steep 1:27 incline using part of the Killer's branch it goes past Recreation Ground Halt to the present terminus at the road crossing..

Two locomotives provide the motive power for passenger trains they are 'Greenbat' a 5hp battery powered vehicle built by Greenwood & Batley in 1961 and Ruston & Hornsby ZM32 'Horwich' 20 hp diesel. Passengers are carried in ex-colliery manrider wagons.

In the future the SGLR should complete the line to Middleton Quarry. Another extension to the National Stone Centre is a possibility, this would provide a connection to the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway.