Come and take a trip on the Bekonscot Light Railway! Opened in 2001, this short narrow gauge line weaves its way behind the model village, encircling a cottage garden, passing over the pond and returning to the terminus. There is a charge of 90p per person for a trip on this short, but pretty, line. There is no need to book; trains run on demand throughout the day.
The BLR runs every weekend, bank holiday and local school holiday between February and October 2009. To check local school holiday dates, contact us.
Enthusiast information
The BLR is built to a gauge of 7.25 inches, with four locomotives that haul trains. Rather than the normal sort of 'miniature' railway often found at tourist attractions, this has been built as a 'minimum gauge' line, using the largest trains possible. This is based on the concept of Sir Arthur Heywood's estate railways of the late 1800s, about which more information can be found here.
The BLR has been laid partly on the route of Bekonscot's original internal narrow-gauge railway, used by the contractors during construction in 1928. We dug the remnants of this line up in 2001, and realised the possibilities of bringing a minimum gauge railway to Bekonscot. Roland Callingham, Bekonscot's founder, was an enigmatic and industrious gentleman who we like to think would approve of our innovation.
Our trains are not 'miniature', nor are they scale models. They are full-size (albeit small) narrow-gauge prototypes. The drivers don't sit behind the locos, they sit inside or on them. All trains are battery powered, due to the line's route proximity to a residential area. These trains are built for rugged commercial use; and not just passengers. Plain track was purchased, whilst points and turntables were designed and constructed by the Bekonscot team. With the extension of the line open for trials in 2005, the railway will perform a vital goods delivery service between our stock sheds and retail outlets; something that Sir Arthur Heywood and Roland Callingham would be proud to see. If you're interested in miniature railways, you may enjoy Miniature Railway World - a directory and forum for enthusiasts.
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