The Gretton family opened their stately home to the public in 1953. This appealed to adults but the owners felt they needed more attractions for children. In 1957 they acquired two second-hand David Curwen locos, six coaches and some track. The Stapleford Miniature Railway opened in 1958.
I’m glad to say it is still going strong today. It’s operated by the Friends of the Stapleford Miniature Railway in collaboration with the Gretton Family and is open two weekends a year.
I have read a lot about it but I hadn’t visited… until today.
I’m pleased I did, there were a number of really impressive locos in operation and a regular service. It’s a super miniature railway running for 2 miles through a lovely park. I saw a heron, swans and at one point there was even a group of geese and goslings on the line.
I went for three rides, took lots of photos and enjoyed some tasty cakes.
What a pity it’s only open twice a year!
The stationFully operational signal gantryIn the 1960s there were two models of ocean going liners that carried passengers on the lakeRunning alongside the lake, approaching Lakeside stationExiting the tunnnel heading back to the ‘central station’The other tunnel portal, heading toward the lakeThe White Heron, a David Curwin loco built in the winter of 1961/62A Curwen Atlantic, built 1948 and sold to the SMR in 1957A 1:5 scale model of New York Central 6019, a 4-8-4 Niagara class locoA guest loco owned by Jim Nutty. An unmodified standard Curwen Atlantic w/n 1149. Originally built for Exmouth Miniature railway it has visited SMR for a number of years. Another guest loco, not a Curwen. Originally from Southend, it ran on a line supplied by Cromar White around a sunken pool next to the pier. The site is now part of the Adventure Island complex.Very simple rolling stock.FRom the main station access to the line is controlled by a tokenFolding water craneA PW wagonWhile I was photographing White Heron one of the SMR team offered to let me sit in it and took my photo. That made my day. Thank you!
Thanks to Steve Purves and Colin Peake for the background information on the two Atlantic locos.
Good to see you managed to get to this hidden gem Steve. There is some history there too with the park being developed on similar lines to Longleat and in the 70s I understand ther were lions roaming around. In the 60s an episode of the Avengers was filmed there and canbe found in YouTube. When I went with Mrs. Woody a few years ago there was a high class wedding going on at the hall. There were booted and suited ‘greeters’ at the gates guiding arrivals to the wedding or railway. With the window wound down I could hear the guys asking wedding or railway. When I got to the head of the que the guy just looked at me and said railway to the right. I ask you! Do I look like I can’t be a wedding guest?
Apologies for the self promotion but if you are in the area again have a look in at Rocks By Rail where I volunteer which has operational days on selected weekends and bank holidays. Just search for Rocks By Rail for the website and Facebook page. There are a few videos about the place in my YouTube channel if you need a cure for insomnia – just search Woody’s Modelling Diary. The one about shunting may actually be of interest.
Woody
Hi Woody
Great story about the wedding! I’m pleased they removed the lions. Passengers sat in miniature railway coaches would be easy prey 🙂
I passed a sign to Rocks by Rail on my way to the SMR and I thought ‘Ah, that’s where it is’. It’s definitely somewhere I want to visit, it will scratch my ‘industrial railway’ itch…
All the best
Steve
Steve's Narrow Gauge Railway Adventure 
Good to see you managed to get to this hidden gem Steve. There is some history there too with the park being developed on similar lines to Longleat and in the 70s I understand ther were lions roaming around. In the 60s an episode of the Avengers was filmed there and canbe found in YouTube. When I went with Mrs. Woody a few years ago there was a high class wedding going on at the hall. There were booted and suited ‘greeters’ at the gates guiding arrivals to the wedding or railway. With the window wound down I could hear the guys asking wedding or railway. When I got to the head of the que the guy just looked at me and said railway to the right. I ask you! Do I look like I can’t be a wedding guest?
Apologies for the self promotion but if you are in the area again have a look in at Rocks By Rail where I volunteer which has operational days on selected weekends and bank holidays. Just search for Rocks By Rail for the website and Facebook page. There are a few videos about the place in my YouTube channel if you need a cure for insomnia – just search Woody’s Modelling Diary. The one about shunting may actually be of interest.
Woody
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Hi Woody
Great story about the wedding! I’m pleased they removed the lions. Passengers sat in miniature railway coaches would be easy prey 🙂
I passed a sign to Rocks by Rail on my way to the SMR and I thought ‘Ah, that’s where it is’. It’s definitely somewhere I want to visit, it will scratch my ‘industrial railway’ itch…
All the best
Steve
LikeLike