The Saltburn Miniature Railway is a gauge railway at Saltburn

Saltburn-by-the-Sea

Saltburn-by-the-Sea is a seaside resort in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England. The town is around east of Middlesbrough, and had a population of 5,912 at the 2001 Census.-Old Saltburn:...

, in Redcar and Cleveland

Redcar and Cleveland

The borough of Redcar & Cleveland is a unitary authority in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England consisting of Redcar, Saltburn-by-the-Sea, Guisborough, and small towns such as Brotton, Eston, Skelton and Loftus. It had a resident population of 139,132 in 2001, and is part of the Tees...

, 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...

.

History

The railway opened in 1947 as a tourist attraction. It was originally a simple out-and-back line with a station at each end. During 1953 the line was adapted to allow the simultaneous operation of two trains, though without the provision of a passing loop

Passing loop

A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...

. Instead, a single siding was provided into which one train had to reverse to allow the other to pass by.

During the 1980s the operation of the railway was taken over by an Association of supporters, all of whom are volunteers. A decision was made to extend the railway, relocate one terminus completely, and provide new sidings and engine sheds. This major project, known on the railway as 'The Big Transformation' took place between September 2000 and April 2003.

Route

The line runs north from Cat Nab Station (by the beach) for about ½ mile inland to Forest Halt, where there is a woodland walk and gardens. There is a run around loop at each end of the line and an engine and rolling stock depot

Motive power depot

Motive power depot, usually abbreviated to MPD, is a name given to places where locomotives are stored when not being used, and also repaired and maintained. They were originally known as "running sheds", "engine sheds", or, for short, just sheds. Facilities are provided for refuelling and...

 near the mid point.

Locomotives

Prince Charles is the only serviceable mainline locomotive on the railway, and has been the principle engine continuously since 1953. However, the new operators have provided a light engine for works trains, and have also obtained a new mainline engine, Flying Scotsman, although this locomotive requires considerable work before it will be in a serviceable condition. Meanwhile, there are visiting steam locomotives at the railway for most summer seasons, providing additional motive power, and additional interest for visitors.

Locomotive Name or Number	Locomotive Type	Year of Building	Year of Arrival at Saltburn	Builder	In service?	Notes
Former Locomotives
No 7	2-4-0 Petrol	circa 1930	1947	Parkinson	No - withdrawn 1948	Steam outline. Operated the first season, but only that season.
Blacovesley, but renamed Elizabeth	4-4-4 T Diesel	1909	1948	Bassett Lowke	No - withdrawn c 1960	Steam outline. Previously operated at Blakesley Hall Railway. Now restored to original condition and has revisited the SMR.
Current Locomotives
Prince Charles	4-6-2 DE	1953	1953	H N Barlow	Yes	Steam outline (streamlined), painted apple green, principle engine.
George Outhwaite	0-4-0 T DH	1994	1994	SMR Assoc	Yes	Steam outline, painted red, shunting & works engine.
Flying Scotsman - No 4472	4-6-2 DH	1972	2006	Artisair	No	Steam outline, painted LNER green, undergoing heavy reconstruction.

Other rolling stock

The passengers carried in the first season (1947) were obliged to sit in freight wagons - scale model 7-plank open wagons, with crude cross-bar seats fitted. However, for the 1948 season the railway acquired two bogie passenger coaches with reversible seats whose backs could be tipped to allow the passenger to face the direction of travel. In 1953 the railway took delivery of four new passenger coaches, each seating 16 passengers (in 4 compartments of 4 seats each); at a subsequent, but unknown, date the two earlier coaches were withdrawn. When the current operators took over the line they made temporary use of the last two serviceable coaches of 1953 vintage, though these have since been withdrawn. There are now four passenger coaches, all of modern build and metal construction. Three are enclosed, and one is open. Three of these coaches have exterior platforms for a guard or guards to travel upon.

The 1948 coaches operated with a replica brake van

Brake van

Brake van and guard's van are terms used mainly in the UK, Australia and India for a railway vehicle equipped with a hand brake which can be applied by the guard...

, since withdrawn. Today the railway has three works wagons - a general works truck, a tanker truck, and an air compressor wagon.

External links

• Aerial view of route
• Aerial view of Cat Nab Station
• Aerial view of locomotive and carriage depot
• Aerial view of Forest Halt