User:Matt.peat

Brookside Miniature Railway

Brookside Miniature Railway is a 7 1/4" Gauge Railway that runs Steam and Diesel Locomotives.

Located in Poynton, Cheshire. The railway runs round a 1 mile circuit around the grounds of the Brookside Garden Centre. Established in the 1970's as a small 5" gauge railway running from the main station to the then car park and back, the railway has now expanded into a large 7 1/4" circuit, running around the garden centre. Some major earthworks have had to be completed in order for the railway to run through the grounds.

Prices and Opening times

The railway runs all year round on Saturday's with Steam and Diesel operating and on Sunday's with two Steam Locomotives working the trains. During School Holidays's the railway runs during the week with only Diesel locomotives working the trains.

Tickets are at a cost of £1.50 each, all classes. A special offer ticket of £11 is avaliable which gives a 10 ride ticket which saves £3.

Route

The railway starts at Brookside Central, the main terminus of the railway. The railway runs over the main road that leads into the car park and down past Romany's Restruant and play area, where our Hunslet 0-4-0 'Katie' is on permanent display. The railway then crosses the river and down under the main entrance of the Garden Centre through a tunnel. Coming out of the 1st Tunnel is a 60ft cutting, the steepest part of the line at a 1 in 36 gradient. At the top of the cutting the railway curves up towards the eastern side of the Garden Centre, passing the Pottery and Aquatic centre's, as a result the railway crosses two level crossings. Carrying on, the railway snakes through where the sheds and conservatories are and rounds to the Summit of the line, stood at 9ft above the main station. At the summit, the railway now slowly descends through a wooded cutting and round past the railway's engine and carriage sheds and down towards the 2nd tunnel. Once emerging out the tunnel, the railway passes into the newest part of the line, crossing a 'diamond crossing' the railway must pass over itself in order to carry on. Over the river again, the railway runs round the edge of a basin and then down towards the 3rd tunnel. Once out the 3rd tunnel, a temporary station is in place. It is only open once the 'traditional country fair' is open, this is normally open during peak times. The railway now carries on back towards the main station, crossing the river and back over itself again. Still descending on approach, a set of points which depict the routes into the platforms. The railway then crosses back over the river and into the main station.

Locomotives

The railway is proud to have an established Steam and Diesel fleet.

The railway has 5 Steam Loco's. All Exmoor builds. Aswell as 3 Diesel loco's all with an American Outline.

The Steam Locomotives are:

. An 0-4-2 Exmoor Side tank locomotive. . An 0-4-2 Exmoor side tank locomotive. . An 0-4-2 Exmoor side tank Locomotive. . An 2-4-2 Exmoor side tank Locomotive. An 0-4-2 Exmoor side tank locomotive.
 * Amy Louise
 * Jean
 * Jane
 * Billy May
 * Jeremy.

The Diesel Locomotives are:

Mighty Max A Petrol Hydraulic Locomotive. Based on a Canadian Railway Pacific Locomotive. Miss Katie A Petrol Hydraulic Locomotive. Based on an American Southern Pacific Locomotive. Sir RichardA Petrol Hydraulic Locomotive. Based on an American Southern Pacific Locomotive.