Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway
| Locale | South Yorkshire, England |
|---|---|
| Dates of operation | 1978–still operating |
| Track gauge | 7 1⁄4 in (184 mm) and 5 in (127 mm) |
Thorne Memorial Park Miniature Railway is a 7 1⁄4 in (184 mm) gauge and 5 in (127 mm) gauge miniature railway built in 1998 in Thorne, South Yorkshire, England, operating on two loops within the park.
Born in the late 1970s out of an idea to form a society to further the aims of those with an interest of model engineering. The then "Doncaster Model Engineering Society" built its track at the rear of the most famous railway place on earth, "Doncaster Plant Works". Birthplace of Mallard, Flying Scotsman, Green Arrow, Cock of the North to name a few.
The group laid 900 feet of 5-and-7 1⁄4-inch gauge (130 and 180 mm) ground-level track. Only five years later, they were dismayed to be told after all this hard work had been done that below the top soil, underneath the track bed lies "The Works" dumping ground of blue asbestos boiler lagging. At the end of the 1984 operating season, and with winter approaching the opportunity arose to consider the next move. Well somebody moved it, the track that is. Only problem was they forgot to tell the group about it, the whole of the track disappeared, removed by a person or persons unknown.
The group then met at a local factory, a members home and a country pub until an approach to Thorne Parish Council in 1996, to see if they wanted a miniature railway in their local park, was welcomed by the council. Plans were submitted and the appropriate permission was given. The council offered the use of a very solid brick building a former World War II air raid shelter, with power and a nearby water supply, a better start could not have been wished for. The building is now the locomotive depot, which was recently adapted by the addition of a 3-foot-high (0.91 m) steel end door for the rolling stock to gain access to it.
The first stage of the venture at Thorne was completed by late July 1998, with a 600-foot (180 m) loop of dual 5-and-7 1⁄4-inch gauge (130 and 180 mm) ground-level track with a 100-foot-long (30 m) branch line to the preparation area and locomotive shed. In 2000 the Doncaster Model Engineering Society became the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society Limited. A second loop of 7 1⁄4-inch gauge (180 mm) track was laid in 2003–04, with a diamond crossing connecting the two. More recent work to the loco shed has seen the installation of a 3-foot (0.91 m) steel door to enable locomotives and rolling stock to be taken out directly on the track. Installation of fencing at the Thorne Central Station area provides a new central platform.
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