My wife and i take holidays in the forest of dean every year. The forest of dean railways and tramways railuk forums. Books covering the history of the forest of dean, gloucestershire. The route was part of the former severn and wye rail way which ran from lydney to cinderford. Other locomotives also visit the dean forest railway for events or periods of hire. The mineral wealth in the area brought developments in the transport network, through canals, horse and muletram roads, and steam railways. Quality and profusely illustrated railway history books. Experience the sight, sounds and smells of travel on a rural branch railway operated by steam trains with some heritage diesel services. The first severn and wye railway was a small horsedrawn rail and canal network which originated as the lydney and lydbrook railway company in 1809 and was initially constructed to allow exploitation of the mineral resources of the forest of dean.
We regularly have special events such as visits from thomas the tank engine, bygone branchline days and sanata specials for xmas. Forest of dean railway company the bullo pill and forest of dean railway. We now have 5 stations along the line with great walks and local pubs accessible from many. Author pam posted on september 6, 2015 february 27, 2017 categories news tags press articles. It opened in 1868 by which time the principal colliery intended to be served. More recent shots from the preserved line from lydney junction, via norchard, to parkend. Inevitably these posts look back to an era when tramways and railways ruled supreme in the forest. The author has lived in hampshire since moving down from london in. The forest of dean in west gloucestershire is an area rich in history, both industrial and in its transport. Bona fida researchers should contact the honorary curator on 01594 845840 or email email protected if they wish to access items that may not be on display or to apply for. This is a website dedicated to the railways of the forest of dean past and present mostly past in gloucestershire, united kingdom.
We have been there almost every year since the year 2000. About 20 steam locos are featured together with pictures of all stations on the line. Horse operated, they were later converted into railways worked by locomotives and, later still, both also provided passenger services for the benefit of local inhabitants. Our party of 9 was well catered for, the cream tea delicious with cups of tea in abundance served by very friendly staff. My wife and i enjoy an annual holiday in the forest of dean. A trip along the forest of dean railway from lydney to parkend taken from the window. One of the last railways to be built in the broad gauge. The ancient rights were put on the statute books in the dean forest mines act 1838, the only public act to affect private individuals. The history of the colliery and its tramway and railway connections. The severn and wye, forest of dean railway and coleford branch all. It was formed in 1826 when the moribund bullo pill railway and a connected private railway failed, and they were purchased by the new company. We chose the dean forest railway as an 80th birthday treat for a family member, and we certainly werent disappointed.
Dean forest railway the friendly forest line the beautiful and historic royal forest of dean offers many attractions to visitors the dean forest railway run almost entirely by volunteers is based at near lydney in gloucestershire. The line was intended to run to a new harbour to be built by a separate company at brimspill on the river severn. The railway s main base is at norchard, north of lydney, once the site of a coalfired. In 1810, the severn and wye railway and canal company began construction of a tramway and the lydney canal. The bullo pill ran from the place of that name on the river severn to cinderford bridge and was built without parliamentary sanction 1809 the forest of dean railway ran from cinderford to a junction with the severn and wye, and the powers for its construction was given by 49 geo. Dean forest railways extension plan forest of dean and. Dean forest railway lydney 2020 all you need to know. Forest of dean railway limited free company information from companies house including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity. It offers visitors the chance to soak up the sight, sounds and smells of travel on a rural branch railway operated by steam trains and the. The dean forest railway, and exsevern and wye railway lines. Forest of dean railway limited filing history free. A history of the new forest railways including the castlemans corkscrew and the first railway line through the new forest. These superbly detailed maps provide an authoritive and fascinating insight into the history and gradual development of our cities, towns and villages.
The museum features a 7 14 gauge miniature passenger electric loco. A selection of prints of forest of dean railways if the view required is not shown, please contact us. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and bought the trackbed and line from british rail in 1986. During that time we have enjoyed exploring a number of the different railway routes in the forest and have begun to realise just how complex a network of tramways supported the standard gauge railways which themselves had replaced much earlier. The dean forest railway will certainly be grateful for any donations towards this costly, but worthwhile, project. This article has been compiled for the new forest guide web site from existing sources. Ian, born in cinderford, has written several books on the history of the forest of deans railway system and he is currently a board member of the dean forest railway. The dean forest railway, and exsevern and wye railway. The second little book was originally published by the forest of dean. The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and bought the. Great range of romantic breaks in the forest of dean. Riding the old rails in the forest of dean for convenience i have now grouped lifestyle illustrated features by topic.
At this stage it was a horsedrawn plateway, charging a toll for private hauliers to use it with horse traction. Many of the routes which will be highlighted can be accessed on foot, some are now part of an extensive cycle network in the forest. How much better it would be if they could extend the line down to one of my favourite places, lydney harbour, which would only be enhanced by the presence of a heritage line, in my opinion. The steam train ride was very pleasant and enjoyed by young and old, a truly memorable day for our family. This title presents a selection of past views and contrasts them with developments on the railway. A heritage railway running through the forest of dean run by volunteers. Severn and wye railway volume 3 british railway books. The list of attractions that are related to trains and railways is just starting so we may have missed a few or they are on our to do list. About dean forest railway a heritage railway running through the forest of dean run by volunteers. The southern end of the line is currently an unsatisfactory almost bare platform at lydney junction. The forest of dean railway also ran towards cinderford and its nearby collieries, branching.
The forest of dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the. Heritage railways luxury trains other galleries links north wales 22nd april 2017 portfolio link page april 2019 d9537 visiting from the east lancashire railway and make its first appearance outside of the railway since restoration, leads d9521, four mineral wagons and a guards van, running slightly early with the 1730 parkend to norchard. With the closure of these industries and cheaper foreign imports the railways closed, and the forest is now a network of foot. Dean forest railway preserved british steam locomotives.
The books can be purchased by mail order from my local bookshop sedgeberrow books, 25 high street, pershore wr10 1aa tel. The forest of dean central railway was a mineral railway line designed to connect certain collieries in the central part of the forest of dean to a new dock at brimspill on the river severn. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading lost railways of the forest of dean. The locomotives listed below are normally based on the dean forest railway but do visit other heritage railways. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Disused railway tunnels in the forest of dean flickr. Lightmoor press books forest of dean lines and the. Dean forest railway, forest of dean the dean forest railway is a 4 1. This would be a nice book for anyone interested in the dean forest railway. The list includes those still to be restored as well as those which are operational. Media in category dean forest railway locomotives the following 23 files are in this category, out of 23 total. Romantic breaks in the forest of dean, romantic weekend. Visited with friends and the plan was to meet at parkend and then from lydney junction to take walk to the harbour, alas that was too far to walk with my disabled wife but it is a possibility if you wanted to.
Railways of the forest of dean railways of the forest of. How to get to dean forest railway in forest of dean by bus. Flickr is almost certainly the best online photo management and sharing application in the world. He is a railway modeller in 7mm scale and was for ten years editor of the gauge. The great western railway museum is housed in one of the last remaining permanent railway buildings in the forest of dean, on the original site of coleford railway yard. Dean forest railway attraction in or near lydney in the. A visitor to the area prior to the first world war would have found the forest surrounded by railways on all sides and several penetrating the centre of it. An old map of gloucestershire, handdrawn in 1840 for the renowned cartographic publisher samuel lewis. Forest of dean by aboutglos if you like trains there are a few good railway related tourist attractions in the forest of dean and even more within an hours drive from the fod. Forest of dean lines and the severn bridge the horse operated tramroads of the forest of dean were later turned into railways and. This latter describes its history as probably unique in railway history and so far we have been unable to think of any examples to contradict this. Show off your favorite photos and videos to the world, securely and privately show content to your friends and family, or blog the photos and videos you take with a cameraphone. Lightmoor press forest of dean lines and the severn bridge.
Forest of dean websiteearly collieries, tramways and railways in the forest of dean. Railways and tramways in the forest of dean new railway. The forest of dean railway was a railway company operating in gloucestershire, england. It was authorised by parliament in 1856, but serious difficulties were encountered in raising the money to build it.
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