Nearholmer Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 (edited) The weather is generally chilly, we are all more or less confined to barracks, so I propose that we cheer ourselves up by thinking about seaside narrow gauge railways - sun, sand, sea, rides on small trains. What models/layouts do we have, and what prototypes can we highlight? A few guiding principles: - these should be railways or tramways that exist or existed purely for 'seaside' activities, leisure or industry, rather than "serious" railways that terminate at, or run beside the sea; - any motive power is permitted; - anywhere in the world; - pier railways are included; - none of those bloomin' awful rubber-tyred Dotto-train things that seem to have supplanted most beach railways. EDIT: scope latterly expanded to include railways on small holiday-focused islands (we're thinking things ranging from a rock with a seagull perched on it, up to a few hundred square miles here, not huge slabs of land). I'll start us off with a not very good photo of the Volks Electric. - Edited March 12, 2021 by Nearholmer 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 You haven't excluded them so here is Clevedon miniature railway in 1962. I am on the train! The sea is just behind the bank on the left. Donkeys are in the field on the right. Punch & Judy were often in the same field. 11 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 Well .......... since we're mentally on holiday here, a bit of slackness is permitted. Miniatures included. Anyone got any photos of the Wells Harbour Railway? That sits right at the boundary between NG and miniature IMO, and is very "seasidey". Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Metropolitan H Posted February 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 13, 2021 Sorry haven't got a picture of the Wells Harbour line - or the Wells and Walsingham - but I can offer the following 10 1/4 inch gauge line pictured in 1963, which is (was) closer to your origins. Southsea Miniature Railway. Regards Chris H 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Alex TM Posted February 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 13, 2021 HI everyone, While it is not really 'my thing' I cannot help but have been impressed by the former Kerr's Miniature Railway in Arbroath (take thermals and waterproofs in summer), and the Wells and Walsingham line. I had more of an opportunity to chat with folk and the latter, and found the crews to be engaging. Regards, Alex. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Vigor Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 The Cuckmere Haven railway, beach shingle, East Sussex. Hurst Castle, military narrow gauge railway, Hampshire. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted February 13, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 13, 2021 13 minutes ago, Metropolitan H said: Sorry haven't got a picture of the Wells Harbour line - or the Wells and Walsingham I’ve got some of both but they are on the laptop. I’ll try to post them later. Andi (currently posting from my phone) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 (edited) Generally, the French were a lot better at this sort of thing. But, we did have the Rye & Camber Tramway. Edited February 13, 2021 by Nearholmer 10 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Vigor Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Hythe Pier Railway, electric traction, 2 foot gauge, Hampshire. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 Hythe Pier is a really excellent one. Heres a very good German ‘fischereibahn’, like the ones at Dungeness, but with sand and trees, which beat unrelieved shingle and a nuclear power station. http://www.bahn-in-pommern.de/feldbahn/fldv18_b.htm 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Vigor Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Fayles Tramway, ball clay, to Goathorn Pier, Purbeck, Dorset. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Vigor Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Seaton Tramway, 3' 9" gauge, electric traction, East Devon. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Vigor Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Pentewan Railway, 2' 6" gauge, china clay, Cornwall - linked St. Austell to the coastal port of Pentewan. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 Goodness knows how long ago on the Lincolnshire Coast - the print is quite faded, and I think c1978, but I can’t remember - maybe before that. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Vigor Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Many years ago, a short narrow gauge railway operated on the eastern bank of the Keyhaven River, Keyhaven, Hampshire. It linked a small boatbuilding yard to the river and was used to transport boats in cradles from the yard to the water. I only ever saw it derelict. Man hauled? 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 10 minutes ago, Paul H Vigor said: Seaton Tramway, 3' 9" gauge, electric traction, East Devon. Never ridden on it there, but I did at the Crumbles at Eastbourne. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 (edited) Soller Tramway, Majorca. Right along the top of the beach - perfick! Edited February 13, 2021 by Nearholmer 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cctransuk Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 14 minutes ago, Nearholmer said: Goodness knows how long ago on the Lincolnshire Coast - the print is quite faded, and I think c1978, but I can’t remember - maybe before that. Fading somewhat reduced. John Isherwood. 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neil Posted February 13, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 13, 2021 Is this what you had in mind? 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 (edited) Brilliant - exactly the sort of railway I'm thinking of! There was a really cracking Dungenessque layout in a mag that I read recently, maybe NG&IRM; I think a winner at an Expong challenge. We did have a few horse-worked ones in Britain, although again nothing to really rival France, but here's a picture of one of ours https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Tram_Terminus,_Barmouth_Ferry.jpg IIRC, The Pwlhelli & Lanbedrog, which sounds made-up, was another one, and Douglas Bay probably qualifies, even if it lacks the essential sandy/shingly-ness. Edited February 13, 2021 by Nearholmer Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nearholmer Posted February 13, 2021 Author Share Posted February 13, 2021 My own seaside railway model-building ground to a halt thirteen years ago, with this coach part-finished, although I did treat myself to the new loco in the interim. Refreshment deliveries already sorted. 7 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 I've got a few to throw in here, many of them long departed, or the locos moved elsewhere. I'm not sure which order these will come in, but they include: Wells Harbour Railway Southport Lakeside, Lowestoft Fleetwood More in another post Stewart 13 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 (edited) Weston super Mare, & Southport again. Stewart Edited February 13, 2021 by stewartingram 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Blackpool Zoo, Lytham St.Annes. Stewart. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted February 13, 2021 Share Posted February 13, 2021 Fairbourne in 1997. Check out that sunshine! 10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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