Changes: Dudley Zoo Miniature Railway (the DZR)

Revision as of 03:21, 11 October 2017

Overview

The railway ^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4] first planned out in 1937, built in 1938 and opened later in June 1938^[5]^[6]^[7]. It was lifted (the track was removed) in 1992.^[8]^[9]^[10]

History

It was opened in June 1938^[11] as a 10¼" gauge railway by Trevor Guest and railway was about 800 metres including it's balloon loop. ^[12]

It was rebuilt and simplified after World War 2, which meant so the train had to run in reverse on the return journey with the guard acting as look out for the driver. ^[13] The line opened at Whitsun in 1947 as a 15"gauge line with the removal of the balloon loop. Initially a petrol powered railcar based on a GWR 'Flying Banana' prototype joined in 1947. A US steam outline internal combustion engine loco joined in 1948. ^[14]

The steam loco Katie and others joined in the 1950s. ^[15] The EW Twinings produced a 2-4-2 steam locomotive, Katie, based on a colonial narrow gauge design; joined in 1956.^[16]

A double ended diesel powered locomotive joined 1957; with 1960 and 1961 by two further N\A internal combustion powered locos, the 1961 unit being an 0-4-2 steam outline loco called Clara.^[17]

In 1968 Trevor Guest eventually sold the ailing railway to the Zoo and some roiling stock was sold off.^[18]

It was reduced in length during the early and closed around 1974, only to re-opened again 12 months on, with an even smaller track that served only the entrance to Bear Ravine part of the route. ^[19]

1978 the railway was reduced in length to around 700 metres and no loop. ^[20]

The railway closed in 1980, to be re-opened in 1981 with just 50m of track^[21], mostly in the zoo. Over the 1980s it was restored to its original length, employing 4 coach petrol-electric railcar (humidly the RapidoRail unit Les Aderson)^[22], before finally closing in 1992 and being demolished later that year. ^[23]^[24]

Cost

It cost £2,000 (1938 prices) to build. ^[25]

Rolling stock and drivers

The original 2 steam locomotives, Lady Sonia and Sir Richard, were built by G& S Light Engineering, of Stourbridge.^[26]^[27]^[28] They wieghed 2 tonnes and were driven by retired Great Western Railway drivers, Frank Bellamy and Harry Rempton. ^[29]^[30]^[31] They were of the 15 inch gauge.^[32] It carried up to 150 people per journey 10 small coaches.^[33]^[34]^[35]

Initially a petrol powered railcar based on a GWR 'Flying Banana' prototype joined in 1947.^[36]

A US steam outline loco joined in 1948.^[37]

The steam loco Prince Charles arrived at the Dudley Zoo Miniature Railway in 1954 It was based on the LMS Class 5 design and probably built by G& S Light Engines of Stourbridge in 1949. it ran until 1957, before a period of storage until 1960 when it was loaned to Fairbourne's miniture railway until 1962. It had ended up in use at the Evesham Vale Light Railway by January 2003. ^[38]

The steam loco Katie and some new carriages had joined the fleet by 1956. ^[39] Katie was sold to the Fairbourne Miniature Railway in 1965. ^[40] EW Twinings produced a 2-4-2 steam locomotive, Katie, based on a colonial narrow gauge design; joined in 1956.

A double ended diesel powered locomotive joined 1957; with 1960 and 1961 by two further N\A internal combustion powered locos, the 1961 unit being an 0-4-2 steam outline loco called Clara.^[41]

4 coach petrol-electric railcar (humidly the RapidoRail unit Les Aderson) came in the 1980s.^[42]

The diesel unit Les Anderson was one the last units to use the line and was sold when the line closed in 1992.^[43]

Some parts of the diesel rolling stock went in to storage. Some by then badly derelict ex-Flamingoland, Dudley Zoo and Rhyl railway RapidoRail railcars were in long-term storage in a UK rail depot owned by the near by Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway during 2012. ^[44]^[45]^[46]^[47]^[48]^[49] The DZR one is the Les Anderson (of Minirail fame) RapidoRail articulated railcar set.^[50]^[51]^[52]^[53]^[54]^[55]

Facilities

It included 3 miniature platforms, 2 bridges, 2 sidings and a engine shed (which was little more than a over long garden shed).^[56]^[57]^[58]

The signaling system was turned off after over 40 years use.^[59]^[60]^[61] ^[62]^[63]^[64]

Route

The 1 mile ran through a wooded area from the Brown bear ravine to the Castle Hill Tecton entrance^[65]^[66]^[67] It emerged in to the hillside forest on several occasions, but kept on being cut back for technical reasons ^[68]^[69].

^[70] (1938).
^[71] (1968-70).
^[72] (1964-68).
^[73] (1971).
^[74] (1992).

Land train

A popular land train called Dotto now runs the zoo section of the former rout and recently gained a new 'Locomotive' driving unit.^[75]

Refs

[1] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[2] ttp://www.photobydjnorton.com/RailwayPictures/DZR_KatieAppMainTerminus.jpg

[3] ttp://industrialgwent.co.uk/ukmidlands/Dudley%20Zoo%201954.jpg

[4] ttp://www.flickriver.com/photos/trainsandstuff/sets/72157629457108986/

[5] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/land-train/

[6] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/miniature-railway/

[7] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/1938-miniature-train-arrives/

[8] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/land-train/

[9] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/miniature-railway/

[10] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/1938-miniature-train-arrives/

[11] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/

[12] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[13] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/

[14] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[15] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/

[16] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/

[17] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[18] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[19] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/

[20] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[21] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[22] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[23] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[24] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/

[25] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/

[26] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/land-train/

[27] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/miniature-railway/

[28] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/1938-miniature-train-arrives/

[29] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/land-train/

[30] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/miniature-railway/

[31] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/1938-miniature-train-arrives/

[32] ttp://www.photobydjnorton.com/MinatureRailways.html

[33] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/land-train/

[34] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/miniature-railway/

[35] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/1938-miniature-train-arrives/

[36] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[37] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[38] ttp://www.stephensonloco.org.uk/sls_jacobs4.htm

[39] ttp://www.photobydjnorton.com/MinatureRailways.html

[40] ttp://www.photobydjnorton.com/MinatureRailways.html

[41] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[42] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[43] ttp://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html

[44] ttp://o9modeller.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/rails-to-sands-sequel.html

[45] ttp://s9.zetaboards.com/MRW_Forums/topic/7339186/1/

[46] ttp://s18.photobucket.com/user/Colpeake/media/o9modeller/Cleethorpes2012010.jpg.html

[47] ttp://s9.zetaboards.com/MRW_Forums/topic/7329874/1/

[48] ttp://gn15.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8451

[49] ttp://s9.zetaboards.com/MRW_Forums/topic/7339186/1/

[50] ttp://o9modeller.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/rails-to-sands-sequel.html

[51] ttp://s9.zetaboards.com/MRW_Forums/topic/7339186/1/

[52] ttp://s18.photobucket.com/user/Colpeake/media/o9modeller/Cleethorpes2012010.jpg.html

[53] ttp://s9.zetaboards.com/MRW_Forums/topic/7329874/1/

[54] ttp://gn15.info/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8451

[55] ttp://s9.zetaboards.com/MRW_Forums/topic/7339186/1/

[56] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/land-train/

[57] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/miniature-railway/

[58] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/1938-miniature-train-arrives/

[59] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/land-train/

[60] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/miniature-railway/

[61] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/1938-miniature-train-arrives/

[62] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/land-train/

[63] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/miniature-railway/

[64] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/1938-miniature-train-arrives/

[65] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/land-train/

[66] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/tag/miniature-railway/

[67] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/1938-miniature-train-arrives/

[68] ttps://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/394929/291107/10/101325

[69] ttps://www.flickr.com/photos/trainsandstuff/7080325333

[70] ttps://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/394929/291107/12/100734

[71] ttps://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/394929/291107/10/101325

[72] ttps://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/394929/291107/13/101329

[73] ttps://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/394929/291107/13/100765

[74] ttps://www.old-maps.co.uk/#/Map/394929/291107/10/101322

[75] ttp://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/

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@@ Line 7: / Line 7: @@
 It was rebuilt and simplified after World War 2, which meant so the train had to run in reverse on the return journey with the guard acting as look out for the driver. <ref>http://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/</ref> The line opened at Whitsun in 1947 as a 15"gauge line with the removal of the balloon loop. Initially a petrol powered railcar based on a GWR 'Flying Banana' prototype joined in 1947. A US steam outline internal combustion engine loco joined in 1948. <ref>http://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html</ref>
-The steam loco ''Katie'' and others joined in the 1950s. <ref>http://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/</ref> The [[EW Twinings]] produced a 2-4-2 steam locomotive, ''Katie'', based on a colonial narrow gauge design; joined in 1956.
+The steam loco ''Katie'' and others joined in the 1950s. <ref>http://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/</ref> The [[EW Twinings]] produced a 2-4-2 steam locomotive, ''Katie'', based on a colonial narrow gauge design; joined in 1956.<ref>http://www.dudleyzoo.org.uk/throwback-thursday-8/</ref>
 A double ended diesel powered locomotive joined 1957; with 1960 and 1961 by two further N\A internal combustion powered locos, the 1961 unit being an 0-4-2 steam outline loco called ''Clara''.<ref>http://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html</ref>
 In 1968 Trevor Guest eventually sold the ailing railway to the Zoo and some roiling stock was sold off.<ref>http://ngruk.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/15-minimum-gauge-railways-chronology.html</ref>