Draft:Barnards Miniature Railway

• Comment: Please read WP:VERIFY Qcne (talk) 11:24, 22 July 2024 (UTC)

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The Barnards Miniature Railway is a 7 1/4 gauge miniature railway that runs around the grounds of Barnards Farm in Brentwood, Essex. Barnards is the longest end-to-end 7 1/4 in the UK, as well as being one of Essex's hidden gems.

The railway opened in 2010 when the first stretch of track was laid, and after several extensions and upgrades the line today runs from Burtonshaw to Angel Green, with a branch line separating at Belvedere to Lake End.

The railway has an extensive fleet of steam, diesel, and battery-electric locomotives, as well as an impressive carriage and wagon fleet.

1. History of The Railway

It was decided before 2010 that a small railway was to be established at the grounds of Barnards Farm, to provide an additional attraction for visitors. Originally, the line was to run from where Angel Green (the far end of the line) is now, to Sitooterie, instead the first 260m of track was laid from the old station site at Burtonshaw and around the end of the runway into the forest. After a team were established to build the railway, construction begun. One of the first locomotives to arrive was the Class 35 Hymek D7096 (now named 'Uncle John'), shortly followed by the first steam locomotive, Thomas II 'Ernie Turner' (then named 'Uncle John' - confusingly).

Originally, the railway ran into the woods and around to where our yard (now named Pardoe Lane MPD). The railway started off with the grey hanger, which is shared by four roads of track, and the resident Cessna plane during Winter. Extensions eventually lead to a workshop, mess, and additional hanger for locomotive storage added, eventually the largest shed, a 6-road building, was added. The first station site at Burtonshaw terminus ran through where the car park is now, since then the station was moved and upgraded more North of its past location to make the current location, with two platforms (later upgraded to three), release road, turntable, and spur roads all provided.

The line was eventually extended to Belvedere station. It crosses the River Mardyke and heads around a loop, coming back to the single platform at Belvedere. Belvedere originally started out as a single platform with signage, eventually a waiting room and shelter was added. In 2015 the extension to Sitooterie Halt was opened, and in 2016 a further 1/4 of a mile extension was opened to Angel Green. The total route from buffer stop to buffer stop is just shy of 1 mile, making it the longest end-to-end miniature railway in 7 1/4, in the country. Originally, locomotives would pass at Belvedere North Junction at the end of the runway, and Sitooterie.

From 2018 onwards, a trench was dug for a double track extension between Burtonshaw and Belvedere, removing this bottleneck would increase train capacity by 75%, and remove the requirement of tokens between the two stations, making radio communications less frequent. Around this time Belvedere station was significantly remodelled, with the 'Daisy Point' (down line that separated from the single section to Sitooterie, and the Belvedere Loop), removed, and a new middle road added solely for the purpose of going around the Belvedere Loop. Belvedere North Junction was removed with the passing point pushed back to Belvedere station. A crossover was installed to allow up direction trains to cross over this new middle road straight into the up platform.

In 2021, a new signalling system was introduced for Burtonshaw. This would utilise semaphore signalling powered by motors at the bottom of the pole, controlled from the signal box at Burtonshaw, to allow movements around the immediate station area. At this time, Burtonshaw also controlled access as far down as Belvedere, until semi-automated block sections were introduced. Around this time plans were also introduced for a new branch line, that would branch off at Belvedere, and run along a new avenue (now named the Talia May Avenue), to Lake End. It took roughly a year to construct after the trenches were dug, with a regular service started towards the end of the 2023 running season, this part uses tokens and radio communications.

2. The Route

The Barnards Miniature Railway starts at Burtonshaw terminus. After leaving either platforms 1 / 2 / 3, it crosses the road entrance with a swing level crossing (controlled by Burtonshaw Signalbox), before rounding the end of the runway, and running parallel with a little while with the A128 (Brentwood Road). After entering the woods, the line has split into two roads (down and up). The train passes the Pardoe Lane MPD signalbox, which is an overhead gantry, passing the MPD on the right, after rounding a long curve, the train passes the semi-automatic signals, and enters into the down line. Between Burtonshaw and Belvedere, there are two foot crossings, one by the Car Bull, and the other around Belvedere station.

As the train arrives into Belvedere, it crosses over a junction, and then over the River Mardyke, from there the train can run into the down platform, or enter into the middle road and go around the Belvedere loop. After a brief stop at Belvedere, the train, providing the signalling system allows, enters into the single line section between Belvedere and Sitooterie.

Between these two stations, the train runs along the other end of the runway, before passing into the woods, a set of points leads the train into the ballast sidings, only used on p-way maintenance days where ballast is needed for maintenance. After passing a foot crossing by this junction, the railway heads around Gibbards Curve passing Scoutcamp on the left, and heads under the tin-tunnel and over a water feature. From there a straight section of track brings the railway to edge of the Barnards Farm boundary, and into Sitooterie station.

Sitooterie station is controlled manually. The tokenless system guides the train into station limits, whilst Sitooterie - Angel Green is controlled by tokens and radio communication. All movements within the station are allowed, with points being thrown manually. Sitooterie acts only as a passing place, but can be used as a terminus with run-round facility for terminating trains (steam trains usually), the station has x2 exchange sidings with a run-round loop onto the turntable. From there steam locomotives can re-fill and enter back onto their train on the other end.

After leaving Sitooterie Halt, the train enters a tunnel and curves round to the right for the stretch to Angel Green. The train crosses over the River Mardyke for a second time, and runs parallel with the C2C mainline (London, Tilbury and Southend in old terms), climbing the steep bank to Angel Green. At the steepest point in the climb, the train passes under an overbridge with 'BMR' labelled, before reaching the top and entering into Angel Green. Angel Green is the terminating point of all other trains, having only one platform, runround loop and turntable (with a spur road).

The branch line to Lake End branches off at Belvedere station, it runs past the Belvedere hill, runs parallel (does not join up physically) with the BEL - SIT mainline at the end of the runway, before running away from it, and onto the Talia-May Avenue. From there, it curves around to eventually reach the end of its journey at Sitooterie Lake. Lake End, as of July 2024, has no runround facilities, therefore only used by multiple units or top-and-tailed trains. The branch line only permits one train at any given time.

3. Running Season

The railway is staffed entirely by volunteers, which maintain and run the railway. From May to September, the railway opens every other Sunday, opening at 11:00 and closing at 16:00. During half term and summer holidays the railway also opens alongside the gardens on Thursdays (please check dates online before attending), running an intensive service for customers.

The railway also hosts events alongside Barnards Farm Gardens, for instance the Easter Egg Hunt, Winter Lights (November), and Santa Specials (December). The railway also hosts enthusiast events through the year, such as the Exmoor Steam Gala 2024 (20th-21st July), and visiting locomotive galas too).

In 2020, the railway celebrated its 10th anniversary of opening, but due to the corona-virus, the huge number of events and galas planned had to be cancelled.

4. Locomotive Fleet

The railway is home to an extensive collection of steam, diesel, and battery-electric locomotives. The BMR often runs heavy trains, usually 7 in length, a lot of which are full), therefore not all locos are capable of pulling them. Because of this, some locomotives are frequently used 'front line', whereas some are used for more casual jobs or maintenance works when the railway is closed.

The list below shows only the main locomotives in our fleet. The railway is also home to a fleet of smaller locomotives that may be used on maintenance trains, member-only running days, or galas.

Some locomotives belong to members as a private loco, whereas some are owned by the Christabelle Charitable Trust.

Steam Locomotive Fleet

Locomotive Class & Name	Previous Name	Build Year	Past Railways	Current Status	Image
Tinkerbell 'Joan'		2014 P. Beevers		In Service
Thomas II 'Ernie Turner'	Uncle John	1988 J. Forshaw	Ness Island Railway, Inverness	Under Overhaul
Thomas II 'Christabelle E. Holmes'	Samuel Whitbread	1988 J. Forshaw	Beer Heights Light Railway, Devon Hollybush Garden Centre, Staffordshire Weston Park Railway, Shropshire	In Service
Exmoor 'Doris Hilburn'	Audrey	2004 Exmoor Works	Sutton Valence Railway, Kent (Private)	In Service
Exmoor 'Bernarda von Barnards'	Jeremy	2011 Exmoor Works	Wayside Light Railway, Kent (Private)	In Service
Exmoor 'Jean'		2000 Exmoor Works	Brookside Miniature Railway, Cheshire Hills Miniature Railway	In Service
Exmoor 'Amy Louise'		2004 Exmoor Works	Brookside Miniature Railway, Cheshire Hills Miniature Railway Crogga Valley Railway, Isle of Man	In Service
Tinkerbell (Inspired) 'Isabel'		2004 E. Walker		In Service

Locomotive Class & Name	Previous Name	Build Year	Past Railways	Current Status	Image
Mardyke C35 D7096 'Uncle John'	'Minimek'	1992 Mardyke	Grand Chigwell Railway, Essex	In Service
Mardyke C47 47548 'The Silcock Express'		1992 Mardyke	Ness Island Railway, Inverness Bolebroke C&L Railway, Sussex	Under Overhaul
Mardyke C47 47512	'County of Kent'	1992 Mardyke	Swanley New Barn Railway, Kent	Awaiting Overhaul
Mardyke C55 D9019 'Royal Highland Fusilier'		???? Mardyke	Belton Light Railway, Lincolnshire Lenham Miniature Railway, Kent	Under Overhaul
Mardyke C101 2-Car 'Daisy'		1982 Mardyke	Pugneys Light Railway, Yorkshire	Out of Service
Roanoke 'Dereck'		???? Roanoke	Barleylands Miniature Railway, Essex	In Service
Lister 'Spuggy'		???? M. Redfearn	????	In Service