Hastings Miniature Railway
Encyclopedia
The Hastings Miniature Railway is a gauge miniature railway
located on the seafront at Hastings
, a seaside resort, town, and ancient cinque port
, in East Sussex
, England
. Opened in 1948, it remains a popular tourist attraction to the present day. The line was re-opened in the summer of 2011 after a period of reconstruction and restoration, which coincided with a forced closure of the eastern part of the line, to facilitate building work on a new art gallery adjacent to the railway.
had a great interest in miniature railway locomotives generally, and acquired several locomotives of assorted gauges. One was a gauge model Great Western Railway
pannier tank which Howey had rebuilt as an 0-6-0
tender locomotive named 'Firefly'. He also acquired a scale model Royal Scot
engine of the same gauge. Although these engines were of too narrow a gauge for his railway, they did briefly operate after the second world war on a short length of track re-gauged for the purpose, near New Romney. They also operated (particularly Firefly) near Dymchurch, on a section of gauge track established alongside the main gauge running lines just before the outbreak of war, and continuing there until 1947. They were then relocated to St Leonards-on-Sea
where Howey operated a small miniature railway for less than a year. Local complaints led to the line being relocated to Hastings and sold to Ian Allan and Jim Hughes, which was the beginning of the Hastings Miniature Railway, opening in 1948.
, an urban area of old Hastings, dominated by the fishing industry, and the line ran from here along the beach (known locally as 'The Stade') to a railway station near the lifeboat
station. This station has variously been named East Hastings Station, East Beach Station, and East Beach Street Station. For a while in the 1950's (possibly into the 1960's) scale model buses were operated alongside the station in a similar manner to the Kerr's Miniature Railway
today.
In 1959 the line was extended to a new terminus at Marine Parade, provided with a single-platform station and run-round loop, and taking the full extent of the line to a little over 600 yards. The original station, now at the centre of the line, was retained, and provided passing facilities for two trains travelling in opposite directions. Rock-a-Nore station had one platform, a waiting shelter, a water-tower, a double-road engine shed, and a three-road carriage shed, including the main running line which passed through this shed, but was also available for storage of rolling stock at night. A second platform was later provided (by the addition of a concrete island between the main platform and the run-round loop), and a turntable was installed around 1960, having previously been sited at East Hastings.
The line was operated by scale model steam locomotives, particularly 'Firefly', the engine with the most celebrated and long-lived association with the railway. Diesel locomotives later operated, of which the most well-known was 'Uncle Jim', operating from 1968 to 1989. Through the bulk of this period, these two locomotives provided the regular service, and it is 'Firefly' and 'Uncle Jim' who were iconically depicted on the railway's advertising hoarding at Marine Parade.
There have been occasional visiting locomotives on the railway. Victoria, a scale LMS Jubilee Class
4-6-0
, operated trains on the railway in 1978 for just one weekend, on the occasion of the naming of the diesel locomotive 'Uncle Jim' (see above).
The new owners removed most final traces of the now disused East Beach Station (a single platform remains on the landward side of the running line) and removed the passing loop at this location, bringing an end to the possibility of two-train operation. The remaining locomotives were sold, and a new steam-outline diesel-powered locomotive (Swee' Pea) was purchased from the Alan Keef
engineering company in Herefordshire
.
In 2008 the railway's old passenger carriages (still in regular use) were repainted in a standard livery (they had previously been painted assorted colours since the late 1980s) and a new railway logo was applied. Twelve passenger carriages were then available - seven in the main articulated set, and five spare vehicles. The locomotive Swee' Pea was rebuilt to a less angular design.
In 2010 the railway had an official re-opening after extensive rebuilding and restoration work. Two new locomotives were added to the fleet, and construction began on a fourth engine, to enter service in 2011. Swee' Pea was repainted in a black livery, and the carriages were rebuilt, with new bodies on the original underframes. Two full rakes of carriages are now provided, and the railway has resumed the operation of a two-train service at busy periods. To facilitate this, the passing loop has been restored at East Beach Station, and in 2010 two trains passed each other for the first time in twenty-one years.
In early 2011 there has been extensive work at Rock-a-Nore Station, which has seen a vast improvement in presentation, and the restoration of much of the historical layout, features, and facilities of this station. The turntable has been reinstated, and the original two-road engine shed brought back into use. A new engineering workshop has been constructed and the platform lengthened.
Ridable miniature railway
A ridable miniature railway is a ground-level, large scale model railway that hauls passengers using locomotives that are models of full-sized railway locomotives .-Overview:Typically they have a rail track gauge between and , though both larger and...
located on the seafront at Hastings
Hastings
Hastings is a town and borough in the county of East Sussex on the south coast of England. The town is located east of the county town of Lewes and south east of London, and has an estimated population of 86,900....
, a seaside resort, town, and ancient cinque port
Cinque Ports
The Confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic series of coastal towns in Kent and Sussex. It was originally formed for military and trade purposes, but is now entirely ceremonial. It lies at the eastern end of the English Channel, where the crossing to the continent is narrowest...
, in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Opened in 1948, it remains a popular tourist attraction to the present day. The line was re-opened in the summer of 2011 after a period of reconstruction and restoration, which coincided with a forced closure of the eastern part of the line, to facilitate building work on a new art gallery adjacent to the railway.
Early history
The railway entrepreneur Captain J.E.P. Howey, who built and owned the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch RailwayRomney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is a gauge light railway in Kent, England. The line runs from the Cinque Port of Hythe via Dymchurch, St...
had a great interest in miniature railway locomotives generally, and acquired several locomotives of assorted gauges. One was a gauge model Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
pannier tank which Howey had rebuilt as an 0-6-0
0-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels...
tender locomotive named 'Firefly'. He also acquired a scale model Royal Scot
LMS Royal Scot Class
The London, Midland and Scottish Railway Royal Scot Class is a class of 4-6-0 express passenger locomotive introduced in 1927. Originally having parallel boilers, all members were later rebuilt with tapered type 2A boilers, and were in effect two classes.-Background:Until the mid-1920s, the LMS...
engine of the same gauge. Although these engines were of too narrow a gauge for his railway, they did briefly operate after the second world war on a short length of track re-gauged for the purpose, near New Romney. They also operated (particularly Firefly) near Dymchurch, on a section of gauge track established alongside the main gauge running lines just before the outbreak of war, and continuing there until 1947. They were then relocated to St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
where Howey operated a small miniature railway for less than a year. Local complaints led to the line being relocated to Hastings and sold to Ian Allan and Jim Hughes, which was the beginning of the Hastings Miniature Railway, opening in 1948.
Stations
- Rock-a-Nore Station is the headquarters of the railway. Originally it had one platform, later developed to two; it has now returned to a single platform. A turntable was installed around 1960, and removed around 1980. In 2011 the turntable was restored. The station has always featured a station building, engine shed, carriage shed, and sidings. Since 2011 it also features a purpose-built engineering workshop. The station is located in the fishing industry's area of Hastings, and is surrounded by fishing net houses, fishing boats, and the fishermen's church and museum.
- East Beach Street Station was the original western terminus of the line from 1948 to 1959. Also known as 'East Beach Station' and as 'East Hastings Station', it featured two platforms (one to the north of the running lines, and one central island platform) and a station building. After the line was extended westwards in 1959, East Beach Street became a through station, and was equipped with signals to permit two-train operation. The station closed around 1970. The central island platform was removed in 1981 and the passing loop was removed in 1990. However, in 2010 the passing loop was restored, and trains now pass each other at this location again. One platform (the northern platform) is still in place. The station is located on the beach, near the lifeboat station.
- Marine Parade Station has been the western terminus of the railway since 1959. There is a single platform (to the south of the running line), a large station building and ticket office, and a run-round loop. The station is located in the centre of the tourist area of Hastings, on the main coast road, and is surrounded by hotels, attractions, rides, amusements, and restaurants.
Operation from 1948 to 1990
The railway's headquarters and engine sheds were constructed in 1948 at Rock-a-NoreRock-a-Nore
Rock-a-Nore is an urban area of Hastings, stretching from the Old Town area along Rock-a-Nore Road between the cliffs and the beach...
, an urban area of old Hastings, dominated by the fishing industry, and the line ran from here along the beach (known locally as 'The Stade') to a railway station near the lifeboat
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways....
station. This station has variously been named East Hastings Station, East Beach Station, and East Beach Street Station. For a while in the 1950's (possibly into the 1960's) scale model buses were operated alongside the station in a similar manner to the Kerr's Miniature Railway
Kerr's Miniature Railway
thumb|alt=Station|StationKerr's Miniature Railway is a gauge railway situated adjacent to the east coast mainline railway to Aberdeen, in West Links Park Arbroath. It is the oldest miniature railway in Scotland, having first opened for business in 1935...
today.
In 1959 the line was extended to a new terminus at Marine Parade, provided with a single-platform station and run-round loop, and taking the full extent of the line to a little over 600 yards. The original station, now at the centre of the line, was retained, and provided passing facilities for two trains travelling in opposite directions. Rock-a-Nore station had one platform, a waiting shelter, a water-tower, a double-road engine shed, and a three-road carriage shed, including the main running line which passed through this shed, but was also available for storage of rolling stock at night. A second platform was later provided (by the addition of a concrete island between the main platform and the run-round loop), and a turntable was installed around 1960, having previously been sited at East Hastings.
The line was operated by scale model steam locomotives, particularly 'Firefly', the engine with the most celebrated and long-lived association with the railway. Diesel locomotives later operated, of which the most well-known was 'Uncle Jim', operating from 1968 to 1989. Through the bulk of this period, these two locomotives provided the regular service, and it is 'Firefly' and 'Uncle Jim' who were iconically depicted on the railway's advertising hoarding at Marine Parade.
Former locomotives
- Firefly, built H.C.S. Bullock, in 1936 (as GWR 0-6-0PT No 3007); rebuilt 1945 by RHDR engineers as 0-6-0 tender locomotive. This engine is perhaps the one most closely associated with the Hastings Miniature Railway, having operated there from the opening of the line in 1948 until 1984, when it was sold to the Kerr's Miniature RailwayKerr's Miniature Railwaythumb|alt=Station|StationKerr's Miniature Railway is a gauge railway situated adjacent to the east coast mainline railway to Aberdeen, in West Links Park Arbroath. It is the oldest miniature railway in Scotland, having first opened for business in 1935...
in Scotland. Having been the principal engine at Hastings, it has retained that role (and the original number, 3007) in Scotland, where it still runs today.
- Royal Scot, built Bassett-LowkeBassett-LowkeBassett-Lowke was a toy company in Northampton, England, founded by Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke in 1898 or 1899, that specialized in model railways, boats and ships, and construction sets...
in 1938, a 4-6-04-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
tender locomotive No 6100, being a scale model of LMS Royal Scot Class 6100 Royal ScotLMS Royal Scot Class 6100 Royal ScotLondon Midland and Scottish Railway Royal Scot Class 6100 Royal Scot is a preserved British steam locomotive.- History :...
. Purchased in 1947 from the Marquess of Downshire by Captain J.E.P. Howey. This locomotive was steamed by the eccentric Howey in his living room, causing enormous damage to the property. The engine operated at Hastings for many years from the line's opening in 1948, until spring 1975 when it was sold, and appears in many historic photographs. It was later relocated to the Oakhill Manor Railway. Subsequently exported to the United States of America, the locomotive returned to England in 2002 and now operates at the Royal Victoria RailwayRoyal Victoria RailwayThe Royal Victoria Railway runs for around through Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley, Hampshire, England, with views of Southampton Water...
.
- Hampton Court, built Twinings Models, in 1939 (as a simple 4-4-24-4-2 (locomotive)Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
design), supplied to Dudley Zoo Railway as a third engine there. After running on railways at CleethorpesCleethorpesCleethorpes is a town and unparished area in North East Lincolnshire, England, situated on the estuary of the Humber. It has a population of 31,853 and is a seaside resort.- History :...
, LowestoftLowestoftLowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
, and HunstantonHunstantonHunstanton, often pronounced by locals as and known colloquially as 'Sunny Hunny', is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, facing The Wash....
, the engine came to Hastings in 1958 and was rebuilt by Jim Hughes as a GWR Saint ClassGWR 2900 ClassThe Great Western Railway 2900 or Saint Class were a class of 4-6-0 steam locomotives for passenger train work. Number 2925 Saint Martin was later rebuilt as the prototype Hall Class locomotive, and renumbered 4900.-Prototypes:...
4-6-04-6-0Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
tender engine No 2943, Hampton Court. The engine was sold in 1974 and moved to the Stapleford Miniature RailwayStapleford Miniature RailwayStapleford Miniature Railway is a historic steam locomotive-hauled gauge railway at Stapleford Park, Stapleford near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England....
, where it continues to operate.
- Uncle Jim, built J. Hughes, in 1968, a 4-4wDM (no number). Uncle Jim provided diesel motive power at Hastings, and ran from 1968 to 1989. The locomotive was the first to be constructed at Hastings, and wore a blue and yellow livery, and later a deep maroon livery with gold lining-out, and still later a deep green livery. For a while the engine ran in bare-metal silver. It provided a simpler means of operation than the traditional steam locomotives. The locomotive still operates today at Knebworth Park Miniature Railway in HertfordshireHertfordshireHertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
.
- Western Meteor was a 'Meteor' type diesel locomotive which operated on the railway from 1979 until 1982.
- MIS-NAT was a bizarre central-cab diesel engine, of unusually ugly proportions. It operated on the railway from 1982 to 1990 and was replaced by Swee' Pea. Never popular, and known to locals as the 'Mecano engine', it appeared to be made out of spare parts.
There have been occasional visiting locomotives on the railway. Victoria, a scale LMS Jubilee Class
LMS Jubilee Class
The London Midland and Scottish Railway Jubilee Class is a class of steam locomotive designed for mainline passenger work. 191 locomotives were built between 1934 and 1936...
4-6-0
4-6-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles in a leading truck, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels. This wheel arrangement became the second-most popular...
, operated trains on the railway in 1978 for just one weekend, on the occasion of the naming of the diesel locomotive 'Uncle Jim' (see above).
Operation since 1990
During the 1980s there was a decline in the railway's fortunes and operations. Sidings at Rock-a-Nore were lifted or allowed to become overgrown, and facilities became shabby. The line was sold, and a significant change began, with fortunes rising again from 1990 onwards.The new owners removed most final traces of the now disused East Beach Station (a single platform remains on the landward side of the running line) and removed the passing loop at this location, bringing an end to the possibility of two-train operation. The remaining locomotives were sold, and a new steam-outline diesel-powered locomotive (Swee' Pea) was purchased from the Alan Keef
Alan Keef
Alan Keef Ltd is a British narrow gauge railway engineer which manufactures, overhauls and deals in narrow gauge locomotives, rolling stock and associated equipment....
engineering company in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
.
In 2008 the railway's old passenger carriages (still in regular use) were repainted in a standard livery (they had previously been painted assorted colours since the late 1980s) and a new railway logo was applied. Twelve passenger carriages were then available - seven in the main articulated set, and five spare vehicles. The locomotive Swee' Pea was rebuilt to a less angular design.
In 2010 the railway had an official re-opening after extensive rebuilding and restoration work. Two new locomotives were added to the fleet, and construction began on a fourth engine, to enter service in 2011. Swee' Pea was repainted in a black livery, and the carriages were rebuilt, with new bodies on the original underframes. Two full rakes of carriages are now provided, and the railway has resumed the operation of a two-train service at busy periods. To facilitate this, the passing loop has been restored at East Beach Station, and in 2010 two trains passed each other for the first time in twenty-one years.
In early 2011 there has been extensive work at Rock-a-Nore Station, which has seen a vast improvement in presentation, and the restoration of much of the historical layout, features, and facilities of this station. The turntable has been reinstated, and the original two-road engine shed brought back into use. A new engineering workshop has been constructed and the platform lengthened.
Current locomotives
| Number | Name | Locomotive type | Wheel arrangement |
Builder | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | Swee' Pea | Steam-outline diesel | 0-6-0 0-6-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-6-0 represents the wheel arrangement of no leading wheels, six powered and coupled driving wheels on three axles, and no trailing wheels... DH |
Alan Keef Alan Keef Alan Keef Ltd is a British narrow gauge railway engineer which manufactures, overhauls and deals in narrow gauge locomotives, rolling stock and associated equipment.... Engineering |
1990 | Rebuilt around 2007. |
| Jerry Lee | Diesel hydraulic | 4w DH | Shepperton Metal Products | 1968 | Previously 'Meteorite'. Arrived at Hastings in 2010. Rebuilt 2011. | |
| 3 | Firefly 2 | Steam | 0-4-0 0-4-0 Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-0 represents one of the simplest possible types, that with two axles and four coupled wheels, all of which are driven... T |
Arrived at Hastings in 2010. Named in honour of the line's original steam engine (see above). | ||
| Speedy Fizzle | Diesel Hydraulic | 4w-4wDH | Radcliffe Valentine Miller (RVM) | 2010-2011 | Locomotive construction almost complete. | |