Longleat Miniature Railway in 2008

(All 14.8.2008 copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing)

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My garden used to back onto the grounds at Longleat when I lived in Wiltshire. Back in 2008 I visited and photographed the miniature railway there.

It was (and still is) a 15 inch gauge line with excellent infrastructure, rolling stock and permanent way. It's about a mile long, with one main station and a route that takes you through the woods, back along the lake and into the main station again.

The line is generally always busy as it is one of the 'free' attractions once you've paid the entry charge.

All in all a lovely example of a line that almost borders on narrow gauge in the Heywood style. It would be great if the line was extended to actually serve a transport need through the estate, as well as offering a pleasant ride!

my own back garden!

(All copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing 1.6.2014)

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As far as I know this is the first railway of any type in Hartcliffe, south Bristol. It's 7¼" gauge and runs the length of my garden, linking the incinerator, shed, compost bins and outbuildings. It's about 25-30 feet in length! The only piece of rolling stock is a tipper wagon, which is currently pushed by hand. I do have a long term aim of getting a small loco.

The line was originally sited at Horningsham in Wiltshire, about a mile from the 15" gauge Longleat Railway. I had a much bigger garden there and had an elaborate route planned with a large oval and a couple of branches. Unfortunately it was a rented property and the Longleat Estate built a ROAD through the middle of my garden, killing the railway stone dead.

So when I inevitably moved the line came with me, and probably sees more use here than it did at Horningsham. Sadly there's no scope for expansion although my neighbour was keen to extend the line into her garden, until we built a wall!

This does show that almost anyone can have their own little railway if they want one!