Draft:Grantchester Woodland Railway

• Comment: We'll need significant coverage in multiple independent sources. qcne (talk) 13:57, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

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Grantchester Woodland Railway (Cambridge and District Model Engineering Society - C&DMES)
Locale	Grantchester, Cambridge, England
Preserved operations
Preserved gauge	7+1⁄4 in (184 mm), 5 in (127 mm) and 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm)

The Grantchester Woodland Railway is a 7+1⁄4 in (184 mm), 5 in (127 mm) and 3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) narrow gauge passenger railway, in the Newnham area of Cambridge, close to Grantchester. It is affiliated to the Narrow Gauge Railway Society. Indicators of the significance of the railway include a TheTrainLine URL giving details of how to get there using national rail services.

The railway is run by members of the Cambridge & District Model Engineering Society (all of whom give their time on an unpaid voluntary basis). Approximately 20 steam engines are in use, plus 2 electric engines. The railway is fully signalled, with two signal boxes. There is also a level crossing and a footbridge. An independent blog gives detailed information about how train trips are organised, with a number of illustrative photos.

The area within which the tracks are located covers about 2 acres, approximately half of this being quite densely wooded. Various routes can be followed by trains, but a typical journey extends over about half a mile (taking about 10 minutes). There is a large grassy area in the centre of the rail circuits, suitable for events such as parties or other gatherings.

Engine servicing area

Early History

The Cambridge & District Model Engineering Society (C&DMES) has a history extending back over eighty years, since it was formed in 1938 (by fifteen people in the Cambridge area with a common interest in Model Engineering). Early meetings were held in the Old Railway Band Room, off Argyle Street. Of course, activities were disrupted by the war, but the Society gradually expanded afterwards, with Alderman H C Banham being elected as the first President in 1948. As the Society started to flourish, the need for a physical base became pressing. The Headmaster of Chesterton School kindly made the metal workshop available during some evenings. In 1950, however, premises were acquired in Union Road - rather limited and primitive, but it became the first HQ of the Society. The first track was laid down shortly afterwards, on land in Cam Road, Chesterton (kindly provided by the President).

A major step forward was taken in 1958, when (during planning for an exhibition in the University Examination Hall) negotiations were started for moving to the present site in Newnham. By the spring of 1959, the initial track had been completed and a clubhouse erected. On June 20th that year, Sir Vivian Fuchs officially opened the site. This makes the miniature railway one of those with the longest history of continuous public use. Facilities and attractions were progressively added during the following years. These activities included the planting of many trees and shrubs, and generally transforming the environment into the current highly attractive set-up.

Recent Developments

After more than 20 years of use, the original elevated track required extensive repair and it was decided to replace it with a more ambitious ground level track. This multi-gauge (7¼in, 5in & 3½in - ie 184, 127 & 89 mm) track, approximately oval in plan and with a station-avoiding loop, gave a continuous run of about a quarter of a mile. Steaming bays, access to which was gained via branch sections and turntables, allowed easy preparation and servicing of locomotives. A footbridge, level crossing for vehicles, station and signalling system completed the railway scene. A second dual-gauge (5in and 3½in) line was constructed on raised steel piers and runs along the southern boundary of the site to provide an out-and-back ride. In 1995, a new section was opened, in the form of an elevated 16 mm & 32 mm gauge garden (model) railway. The engines that run on these tracks may be steamed using butane gas, meths or coal. Battery-powered locomotives are also used.

Track layout

There has also been extensive progress with respect to buildings and facilities on the site. On 16th May 1992, the original Clubhouse and Workshop, together with their contents, were destroyed by fire. The whole of the following year was filled with raising funds and reconstruction work. The Club now owns a substantial Clubhouse made of blockwork with timber cladding and was re-roofed after about 25-years. This provides a better and much more comfortable accommodation than previously. The secondary timber building, which was formerly a store and was used as a temporary Clubhouse during the reconstruction, had now become the new workshop and was fitted out as time and funds permitted. Further workshops and storage space were added as suitable buildings became available.

In the early 2010s the Society was offered land to the north of the Fulbrooke Road site. A loop was constructed, turning the track into a figure 8 and extending it by approximately a thousand feet, to over a third of a mile. The new loop included a flat-(diamond) crossing and the opportunity was taken to re-signal the entire track. This was done with fully interlocked, microprocessor-controlled LED signals. A second engine preparation area was built, with handling facilities that include a traverser with a scissor lift. This is helpful for transferring locomotives into and out of trailers. The garden railway was also enhanced at this time, changing a bigger dual gauge (32 mm and 45 mm) and moving it to a more prominent location. It now attracts a lot of interest during public running days.

A view of the model (garden) railway set-up

In the mid-2010s, there were several further developments, with a visit by the Branch Line Society (BLS) in 2015. During this period, the field to the south of the site was bought by the University Tennis Club. Fortunately, a 15 m wide strip adjacent to the site was added to the Society's lease, with the plan being to construct a parallel line along the southern boundary. While drawing up the planning application for this extension, a coach storage shed was added. This allowed for the ground level storage of coupled rakes of coaches, reducing the time and physical work required to prepare for and tidy up after a public running session. The so-called Southern Loop and the new carriage shed were completed in the early 2020s - delayed due to the pandemic.

In 2022, the steaming-up bays, which had been in place since the early days of the ground level track, were deemed to be time-expired. The area was extensively remodelled, including replacing the turntable with a traverser to provide both access to the 'bays' and also a loading/unloading facility of variable height. The departure platform area was changed, providing a dual purpose 'refuge' for locomotives on public running days and second departure platform used for Club running.

As part of the ongoing management and development of the site, approximately 1000 trees were planted, both individually and to form a hedge, along the new southern boundary. An attractive feature of the site is the apple and other fruit trees that have been planted around parts of the Southern Loop.

The Present Day

The site is currently open to the general public on the second Sunday of each month between April and October. Trains run continuously throughout the day, with tickets for a round trip currently costing £2.50. On any given day, there are several steam engines in operation.

Train approaching footbridge

The carriages have no roof, but there is a bench in the centre to sit astride. They're equally suitable for adults and children. Each carriage is approximately eight feet long. Car parking is available nearby and light refreshments are obtainable. Steam engines and train rides are perhaps the most prominent attractions, but the interests of members cover the whole range of Model Engineering - traction engines, clocks, marine engines, mill engines - in fact whatever can be modelled in working or static form.

Informal meetings of members are held on Thursdays and Sundays throughout the year, although access is also possible on other days of the week. Not only are track facilities available to members, but there is also a wealth of good advice for the novice. There are currently about a hundred active members, but more are always welcome.

External links

• Official site

Category:7¼ in gauge railways in England Category:Miniature railways in the United Kingdom