Narrow Gauge Pleasure

The North Gloucestershire Railway

The Railway Today

A Henschel built 0-8-0 at work at Toddington

The North Gloucestershire Railway is a two foot gauge, predominantly steam hauled, railway which shares the site at Toddington with the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Railway (GWR???) (an impressive standard gauge preserved railway). At a length of only 400 yards the railway is far from the longest in the country! As befits such a small railway the service is not extensive, confined to a dozen or so summer Sundays and bank holidays each year.

The line runs from the small station in one corner of the GWR car park to the railways headquarters and workshop, where the three coaches were built on ex war department (unsprung!) bogies. Here a short stop is made for the traveller to view the work in progress on locomotives and rolling stock and visit California Gates signal box. The signal box has been moved to the site and lovingly restored and the signalman on duty is always happy to chat and show the visitors the ropes. Unlike most signal boxes small children are made to feel welcome and even shown how to pull the levers!

Many British and American built ex World War One Locomotives have seen civilian service in the UK but the North Gloucestershire Railway boasts a machine built in Germany for service at the Front. The engine, built by Henschel, was never used by the German army and was passed to Poland as war reparation after the armistice. It was from Poland that the Dowty Railway Society purchased the engine before restoring it to original condition for service on their line.

Pulling off a signal at California Gates

Although small, this line gives the people of Gloucestershire the chance to see two foot gauge railways close to home without spending a lot of time or money. It also promotes the meeting of those with standard and narrow gauge interests through the site it shares with the GWR.

History and Origins

The North Gloucestershire Railway Company was formed in 1985 to replace the Dowty Railway Preservation Society which had been involved in standard gauge preservation at Ashchurch since 1962. Sadly the site at Ashchurch was needed for other things resulting in the move to the Toddington site alongside the GWR in 1982.

Standard gauge was dropped in favour of 2' gauge between 1986 and 1989 and the company sold its existing equipment to fund the purchase of narrow gauge equipment, including all the rail used on the 'main line' which came from the Southend Pier Railway. Three coaches were built on site based on War Department bogies (probably made during the First World War) and services commenced.

There is significant scope for further expansion on the site, the track actually extends 150 yards or so beyond the current terminus but this stretch is used only for storage of rolling stock. At least a further third of a mile could be accommodated when funding and volunteer labour permit.