Rudyard Lake Steam Railway
The Rudyard Lake Steam Railway is a ridable miniature railway and the third railway of any gauge to run along the side of Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire, England.
Overview
The railway runs for 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) on the track bed of an old standard gauge North Staffordshire Railway line. After the NSR line closed down, a small narrow gauge train ran on the site for two years before moving via Suffolk to Trago Mills in Devon. The current line started in 1985 and is 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge, and operates to a timetable. It was built by Peter Hanton of Congleton working on his own over a period of ten years. In October 2000, he sold the railway to Rudyard Lake Steam Railway Ltd, who have developed it since that date.
The railway was purchased by the Leek and Rudyard Railway on 18 December 2015. This company owns the assets of the former Isle of Mull Railway and combined the two railways at Rudyard. In May 2024 the railway changed hands again and is now owned and operated by the Rudyard Lake Railway.
Trains run at weekends and bank holidays from March to November, with more regular services from Easter to October and daily during school holidays..The railway is a member of Britain's Great Little Railways.
Route
The railway runs for 1+1⁄2 miles (2.4 km) on the track bed of an old standard gauge North Staffordshire Railway line. It operates from Rudyard railway station to the dam, then along the side of the lake to terminate at Hunthouse Wood, about a mile south of the site of the old Cliffe Park railway station. There is also a passing loop at Lakeside Loop
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Locomotives
Many of the locomotives were named by the former owner's wife after the legends of King Arthur:
| Image | No. | Name | Wheel arrangement | Builder | Date built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Locomotives | ||||||
| 6 | Excalibur | 2-4-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway | 1993 | Previously named River Churnet prior to rebuild in 2003, when regauged from 12 1/4 inch gauge. | |
| 8 | King Arthur | 0-6-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway | 2005 | Overhauled 2019 | |
| 9 | Pendragon | 2-4-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway | 1998 | Built alongside Merlin, Previously known as Ashorne and ran on the 12.25" Ashorne Hall Railway. One of the most well travelled steam engines in the world, having lived at Ashorne, Rudyard, Leaving in 2019, Royal Victoria Railway, Ferry Medows Miniature Railway, Astbury Light Railway, and returning to Rudyard in 2024. She has Also visited a number of other railways including Fairbourne Railway, Wells and Walsingham Light Railway, Hastings Miniature Railway and many others. It is also notably the first ever steam engine to go through a McDonald's Drive-through | |
| 196 | Waverley | 4-4-2 | David Curwen | 1948 | On permanent loan; formerly at the Isle of Mull Railway. | |
| Victoria | 2-6-2T | Mouse Boiler Works | 1993 | Based on the Victorian Railways NA class, Victoria is owned by the Leek & Rudyard Railway Ltd. Removed for overhaul in Sheffield from December 2015 to December 2018. | ||
| 4 | Norfolk Pioneer | 2-6-0 | Tony Martin at Wells and Walsingham Light Railway | 2011 | Arrived at Rudyard in 2024, from the Astbury Light Railway. Built for the Wells and Walsingham Light Railway | |
| George | 0-4-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway | Built for Poole Park Railway, also lived at Honey Brook Farm. Sister engine to Peggy and Pulborough at South Downs Light Railway | |||
| Internal Combustion Locomotives | ||||||
| 2 | Ferret | 4wPM | Terry Stanhope of Leeds | 1969 | Re-gauged from 2' to 15" then 10.25" gauge, briefly known as Mordred in line with the Knights of the Round Table theme. | |
| 5 | Rudyard Lady | Bo-Bo | L.A.Smith of Leek | 1989 | Bogie diesel, privately owned. Built for the railway in 1989 by L A Smith of Leek and since being built, has never left the railway except for a short stay in a storage facility in Leek in 2018 while the railway constructed a new engine shed. In 2025, she received a full mechanical rebuild/repaint into her original livery, including an extensive overhaul of her original engine and gearbox which was completed just in time for the railway's 40th anniversary gala in August | |
| Frances | Bo-Bo | Mouse Boiler Works | 1999 | Bogie diesel, formerly at Isle of Mull Railway. | ||
| Ulysses | Bo-Bo | Large diesel built for the Shillingstone Light Railway | ||||
| Paignton Zoo 37 | Bo-Bo | Bickington Steam Railway (Trago Mills) | In the process of being converted from battery electric to Diesel, Briefly lived at the Astbury Light Railway | |||
| Elizabeth | 0-4-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway | Steam outline, Built for Poole Park Railway, also lived at Honey Brook Farm | |||
| Non-Passenger Hauling Engines | ||||||
| Ikanhopit | 0-4-0 | Worlds Smallest 10.25" engine, lived at the Astbury Light Railway | ||||
| The Wasp | 0-4-0 | Sir Thomas Salt | One of the fastest engine of the gauge, having been built to do 40mph! although now significantly geared down. Built for the Shillingstone Light Railway | |||
| Scamp 69, "Vanelope" | 0-4-0 | Adam Jeffrey, to the Design of Colin Edmondson | One of the Popular Scamp designs, can have its gauge changed between 7 1/4 and 10 1/4 in under an hour | |||
| Locomotives that have since left the railway | ||||||
| 7 | Merlin | 2-4-2T | Exmoor Steam Railway | 1998 | Overhauled 2020, now at a private railway. | |
| Lady Jane Grey | 0-4-0T + T | Bressingham Steam Museum & Gardens | Returned to the private Somerford Light Railway | |||
| Gladstone | 4-4-2 | Rebuilt by H Bullock in 1937 | ~1890 | The worlds first 10.25" engine, and RLR's first steam engine too, returning in 2025 for the 40th Anniversary, original engines gala. | ||
| Belle | 0-4-0 | David Curwen | 1954 | Built for the Shillingstone Light Railway. | ||
| Glen Auldyn | Bo-Bo | Bob Davies | 1988 | Bogie diesel, formerly at Isle of Mull Railway. | ||
A fleet of 13 carriages and a wide variety of goods wagons are also used. A further enclosed brake carriage was constructed in 2011 and brought into service in August; another 12 seat enclosed coach was added in December 2012. The carriages from the closed Isle of Mull Railway are also slowly being brought back into service after restoration.
Facilities
Rudyard Station comprises Platform 1 with a shelter where the trains depart. A footbridge links this to Platform 2 where the cafe, a large covered picnic area, signal box and toilets are located. Platform 2 is, in fact, the original standard gauge platform built by the North Staffordshire Railway. The original flower beds and retaining walls are clearly visible. At a higher level than platform 1 is a good vantage point. To the South end of the station are the engine shed, water tower, coal bunker, storage shed and workshop.
The railway offers learn to drive a steam train courses, of either a half or full day for individuals or groups. Children's parties are hosted and the Platform 2 Cafe provides cold refreshments all year around whenever the railway is running.
References
Sources
- Hanton, Peter. The Heywood Society Journal No. 34, Spring 1994
- Williams John K. The Heywood Society Journal No. 52, Spring 2003
- Hanson, Michael. The Heywood Society Journal No. 56, Spring 2005
External links
- Official website, including current timetable details