The Valley Railway Adventure

The Valley Railway Adventure (formerly the Evesham Vale Light Railway) is a 15 in (381 mm) gauge railway that operates in Evesham Country Park in Worcestershire, England.[1][2][3][4][5]

Route

The railway operates over a total distance of just over 1 mile (1.6 km), from Twyford Station to Evesham Vale Station. Twyford Station is the only terminus on the line, with Evesham Vale Station situated on a balloon loop.

History

The railway was originally built and owned by Jim and Helen Shackell, with public services commencing on 1 August 2002.[1] The railway passed into the ownership of Adrian & Sandra Corke in 2012, without interruption to services.[1] In 2024, the railway was sold to David & Katherine Nelson-Brown[6] who also own the Perrygrove Railway. The railway was renamed to The Valley Railway Adventure. In February/March 2026, significant trackwork took place at Twyford station, with the yard layout and station run-around loop changing. A headshunt was added to the yard, allowing shunting to occur within the yard without the main line being entered.

A small number of passenger coaches have been constructed for the line, but most of those in service are historic vehicles acquired from other lines, notably the Fairbourne Railway in Wales, and the short-lived Chemin de fer de Guerlédan in Brittany.[7]The 5 carriages from Chemin de fer de Guerlédan were sold in 2025. They are being replaced by new coaches (built in the nearby Forest of Dean) which are similar in design to coaches running at the Perrygrove Railway. These are due to come into service sometime in 2026[8]

Locomotives

Locomotive
Number 		Locomotive
Name 		Locomotive
Type 		Year Built Builder In service? Permanent Resident? Notes
Steam Locomotives
300 Monty 0-4-2 1996 Exmoor Steam Railway Yes [9] Yes (2013-Present)
312 St Egwin 0-4-0ST+T 2003 Exmoor Steam Railway Yes [9] Yes (2003-Present) Privately owned
323 Anne 0-6-2 2004 Exmoor Steam Railway Yes [9] Yes (2025 - Present)
Diesel Locomotives
Joyce 6wDH Yes [9] Yes (2025 - Present)
Biscuit 4wPM Mike Eddy No [9] Yes (2014 - Present) Privately owned - For Sale
Former Locomotives
5751 Prince William 4-6-2+T 1949 Ernest Twinning and J N Maskelyn N/A Yes (2003 - 2012) Stored out of public View[7]
103 John 4-4-2 1921 Albert Barnes and Company N/A Yes (2003 - 2012) Stored out of public View[7]
32 Count Louis 4-4-2 1924 Bassett-Lowke N/A Yes (2003 - 2013) Privately Owned[10] Stored out of public View
712 N/A 0-4-0 1950 R H Morse N/A Yes (2002 - 2012) Stored out of public View[7]
995 Dougal 4-4-0PM 1939 R H Morse N/A Yes (2003 -2012) Stored out of public View[7]
N/A Bessie 4wDM 2002 Mike Eddy and Matty Nowel N/A Yes (2002 - 2014) Stored out of public View[7]
3 Dougal 0-6-2ST+T 1970 Severn Lamb N/A Yes (2004 - 2025) Now Owned by Ruislip Lido Railway
452280 Cromwell 4wDH 1960 Ruston and Hornsby N/A Yes (2012- 2025) Now at Haigh hall miniature railway
JGF4 Sludge 4wDM 1955 R A Lister and Company N/A Yes (2002 - 2025) Privately owned - Sold to New Zealand

References

  1. ^ a b c "New Husband and Wife Team Take Over Evesham Vale LR | Rail.co.uk". www.rail.co.uk. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Visiting engines a hit at Evesham Vale Light Railway Summer Gala". Evesham Journal. 11 July 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Not one steam locomotive visitor... but two for Evesham Vale Light Railway". RailAdvent. May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  4. ^ Balloo, Stephanie (11 August 2020). "Best family days out in Worcestershire – from fairy trails to picnic spots". BirminghamLive. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  5. ^ Morris, Royston (15 July 2018). Miniature Railway Locomotives and Rolling Stock. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-7792-7. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Sale of Evesham Vale Light Railway has been agreed". RailAdvent. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Locomotives and Rolling Stock at Evesham Vale Light Railway". Evesham Vale Light Railway. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Valley Railway Adventure Facebook post". Facebook. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Evesham Vale Light Railway". Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  10. ^ "2010 stock list". Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  • Media related to Evesham Vale Light Railway at Wikimedia Commons
  • Official website

52°07′02″N 1°56′14″W / 52.1172°N 1.9372°W / 52.1172; -1.9372

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