Downs Light Railway
| Downs Light Railway | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Type | Private |
| Locale | The Downs School, Colwall, Herefordshire, England |
| Coordinates | 52°05′14″N 2°21′10″W / 52.087310°N 2.352882°WCoordinates: 52°05′14″N 2°21′10″W / 52.087310°N 2.352882°W |
| Stations | 1 |
| Website | www |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1925 |
| Owner | Downs Light Railway Trust |
| Technical | |
| Track length | 0.75 mi (1.21 km) |
| Track gauge | 9 1⁄2 in (241 mm) |
| Old gauge | 7 1⁄4 in (184 mm) |
The Downs Light Railway is the world's oldest private miniature railway, with a track gauge of 9 1⁄2 in (241 mm). The railway is located within the private grounds of The Downs School in Colwall, near the town of Malvern in the English Midlands. It is owned by the Downs Light Railway Trust.
The Downs Light Railway is one of only two railways to be operated by children, and the only one by those aged between 7 and 13 years, as an educational extra-curricular activity.
The railway was built and opened in 1925 by Geoffrey Hoyland (Headmaster) as a 7 1⁄4 in (184 mm) gauge railway, for the principal purpose of education. The railway was regauged during the 1930s to the larger gauge of 9 1⁄2 in, to allow for new locos to be used on the line. After Geoffrey Hoyland left the school, the railway was allowed to deteriorate until it became unsafe to use by the late 1960s.
During the 1970s, restoration work began by former pupils of the school, most notably James Boyd. In 1983, the railway was handed over to the Downs Light Railway Trust, who became responsible for its ownership, preservation and operation.
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