Radwell Manor Railway
Encyclopedia
The Radwell Manor Railway was a gauge miniature railway situated in the village of Radwell
, near Felmersham
, in North Bedfordshire
, England
. It was built by Mr. H. W. Franklin, who was closely associated with the Bassett-Lowke
company of Northampton
, and whose products were often tested on its 0.75 mi (1.2 km) of track. The privately-run railway opened in 1920, and closed with the onset of the Second World War, around 1939.
, the RMR had a length of "all but 0.75 miles (1.2 km), and among its attractions are an up-to-date station, a tunnel, viaducts, embankments and cuttings ... and several over-bridges, together with a complete system of signalling."
The main viaduct was 65 feet (19.8 m) long, with four 16 feet (4.88 m) spans, and the embankment supporting it was 7 in 8 in (2.34 m) high The trackwork consisted of 13+1/2 lb/yd flat-bottom rail in 16 in 6 in (5.03 m) lengths, supported on steel sleepers.
Other features included sidings, engine and carriage sheds, a water-tower and a turntable.
design of three-cylinder Atlantic
, as ran on the North Eastern Railway
. It had 2.625 by 4.5 in (66.7 by 114.3 mm) cylinders, 11.5 inches (292.1 mm) driving wheels, a working pressure of 100 lb/in2, an overall length (engine and tender) of 11 in 9 in (3.58 m), and a working weight of 15 long cwt (762 kg). It could achieve a speed of 25 mph (40 km/h).
design. She had cylinders of 2.875 by 4.75 in (73 by 120.7 mm), driving wheels of 12.5 inches (317.5 mm), a working pressure of 120 lb/in2, and an overall length (engine and tender) of 8 in 6 in (2.59 m).
Radwell, Bedfordshire
Radwell is a hamlet in the Hundred of Willey in North Bedfordshire, England, on the River Great Ouse, about north west of Bedford.Administratively, it is often included with the neighbouring village of Felmersham, and the Civil Parish is sometimes known as Felmersham and Radwell.The hamlet has no...
, near Felmersham
Felmersham
Felmersham is a village and civil parish in the Bedford district of Bedfordshire, England, on the River Great Ouse, about north west of Bedford. As a civil parish, it includes the hamlet of Radwell, and is sometimes known as Felmersham and Radwell, and has a population of about 800, and is...
, in North Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, 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...
. It was built by Mr. H. W. Franklin, who was closely associated with the Bassett-Lowke
Bassett-Lowke
Bassett-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...
company of Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, and whose products were often tested on its 0.75 mi (1.2 km) of track. The privately-run railway opened in 1920, and closed with the onset of the Second World War, around 1939.
Layout
According to Wenman Joseph Bassett-LowkeWenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke
Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke was the son of Joseph Tom Lowke, a Northampton boilermaker and his wife, Eliza, and is noted for having founded the firm of Bassett-Lowke which specialised in producing construction sets, and model railways, boats and ships...
, the RMR had a length of "all but 0.75 miles (1.2 km), and among its attractions are an up-to-date station, a tunnel, viaducts, embankments and cuttings ... and several over-bridges, together with a complete system of signalling."
The main viaduct was 65 feet (19.8 m) long, with four 16 feet (4.88 m) spans, and the embankment supporting it was 7 in 8 in (2.34 m) high The trackwork consisted of 13+1/2 lb/yd flat-bottom rail in 16 in 6 in (5.03 m) lengths, supported on steel sleepers.
Other features included sidings, engine and carriage sheds, a water-tower and a turntable.
Loadstone
An adaptation of a RavenVincent Raven
Sir Vincent Litchfield Raven KBE was chief mechanical engineer of the North Eastern Railway from 1910 to 1922.- Biography :...
design of three-cylinder Atlantic
4-4-2 (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...
, as ran on the North Eastern Railway
North Eastern Railway (UK)
The North Eastern Railway , was an English railway company. It was incorporated in 1854, when four existing companies were combined, and was absorbed into the London and North Eastern Railway at the Grouping in 1923...
. It had 2.625 by 4.5 in (66.7 by 114.3 mm) cylinders, 11.5 inches (292.1 mm) driving wheels, a working pressure of 100 lb/in2, an overall length (engine and tender) of 11 in 9 in (3.58 m), and a working weight of 15 long cwt (762 kg). It could achieve a speed of 25 mph (40 km/h).
Highland Mary
A 4-4-04-4-0
Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 4-4-0 represents the wheel arrangement of four leading wheels on two axles , four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and no trailing wheels...
design. She had cylinders of 2.875 by 4.75 in (73 by 120.7 mm), driving wheels of 12.5 inches (317.5 mm), a working pressure of 120 lb/in2, and an overall length (engine and tender) of 8 in 6 in (2.59 m).