Beer Heights Light Railway
{{More citations needed|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox rail
|railroad_name = Beer Heights Light Railway
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|image = Beer Heights Light Railway.jpg
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|image_caption = Steam locomotive 'Claudine' running round its train at the terminus.
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|start_year = 14 July 1975
|end_year = Present
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|gauge = {{railGauge|7.25in|lk=on}}
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{{Beer Heights Light Railway RDT}}
The Beer Heights Light Railway operates {{convert|1|mi|km|1|adj=off}} of minimum-gauge {{RailGauge|7.25in}} track at Beer, Devon, England.{{cite web| url=http://www.miniaturerailwayworld.co.uk/BeerHeights.html | title=Beer Heights Light Railway 7¼ inch | publisher= Miniature Railway World | location=UK | accessdate=26 August 2014 }} It is part of Pecorama, an exhibition owned by Peco.{{cite web | url=http://www.seatonbay.com/attractions/peco.html | title=Pecorama | publisher=Seaton Bay | accessdate=26 August 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140904112151/http://www.seatonbay.com/attractions/peco.html | archive-date=4 September 2014 |url-status = dead }}
Overview
The official opening was by Rev. W.V. Awdry on 14 July 1975,{{cite web | url=https://www.pecorama.co.uk/bhlr/?subpage=beer-heights-light-railway | title=The BHLR }} at which time it offered a return ride from "Much Natter" station via a balloon loop. Subsequently, it was almost doubled in length by construction of the "Devil's Gorge" extension which involved a very considerable cutting and tunnel, and the complex track layout also includes a more recent steeply-graded branch line to "Wildway Down". The station at Deepwater was revamped in late 2014 and reopened in July 2015 as 'Deepwater Halt'. {{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3EmOmGVUCc | title=Miniature Railway - Beer Heights | website=YouTube | date=20 March 2009 }}
The line is notable for its high standard of presentation to the public and for the fine views obtainable from it.{{cite web |url=http://www.pecorama.info/beer-heights-light-railway/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100713020140/http://www.pecorama.info/beer-heights-light-railway/ |archive-date=13 July 2010 |title=Beer Heights Light Railway}} It is home to eight live steam locomotives designed on narrow gauge principles.
Locomotives
The railway currently has eight steam locomotives, two diesel and one electric.{{cite web |url=http://www.pecorama.info/beer-heights-light-railway/our-rolling-stock/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522011931/http://www.pecorama.info/beer-heights-light-railway/our-rolling-stock/ |archive-date=22 May 2011 |title=Our Rolling Stock}} A locomotive called 'Finn MacCool' also visits every summer (usually July – September) from the Belfast and County Down Miniature Railway Society, Northern Ireland, to help out in the peak season.{{Cite web |url=http://www.pecorama.info/beer-heights-light-railway/the-bhlr-revealed/ |title=The BHLR Revealed |access-date=30 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030211345/http://www.pecorama.info/beer-heights-light-railway/the-bhlr-revealed/ |archive-date=30 October 2014 |url-status = dead }} Other locomotives also visit during the 'Loco Week' and 'Bank Holiday Weekend Gala' in August. A list of locomotives currently in use is below:{{Cite web |title=Our Trains |url=https://www.pecorama.co.uk/trains/ |access-date=2022-11-29 |website=Pecorama |language=en-GB}}
| class="wikitable" | |
| Number
!Name !Wheel Arrangement !Notes !Power source !Arrived !Image | |
|---|---|
| 3
|Dickie |{{whyte|0-4-2 | T}}
|Built by David Curwen, Wiltshire |Steam |1976 |File:Beer Heights Light Railway - geograph.org.uk - 1042869.jpg |
| 4
|Thomas II |{{whyte|0-4-2|ST|T}} |Thomas II (Original), Built by Roger Marsh |Steam |1979 | | |
| 5
|Linda |{{whyte|2-4-0|ST|T}} |Mainline Hunslet, rebuilt by TMA Engineering, Birmingham. Replica of Ffestiniog Loco. |Steam |1983 | | |
| 6
|Jimmy |Built Severn Lamb, Stratford-On-Avon |diesel hydraulic |1986 | | |
| 7
|Mr.P |{{whyte|2-4-2|T|T}} |Built in Beer Works |Steam |1997 | |
| 8
|Gem |{{whyte|0-6-0 | T}}
|Romulus (heavily modified – Engerth tender arrangement) |Steam |1999 | |
| O&EBR 1
|Otter |{{whyte|2-4-2 | T}}
|Built at Western Steam, Privately Owned |Steam |2004 |
| 9
|Claudine |{{whyte|2-4-4|T}} |Single Fairlie, Built at Beer Works |Steam |2005 | |
| 10
|Alfred |Tram style, Built at Beer Works |Battery Electric |2003 | | |
| 11
|Ben |Freelance, Built at Beer Works |LPG / Petrol Mechanical |2015 | | |
| 12
|Jools |{{whyte|0-4-2|T}} |Heavily rebuilt from Samastipur. |Steam |Arrived 1999, rebuild completed |2018 | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Beer Heights Light Railway}}
- [https://www.pecorama.co.uk/bhlr/?subpage=beer-heights-light-railway Beer Heights Light Railway website]
{{Ridable miniature railways in England}}
{{coord|50.69687|N|3.10215|W|type:landmark_region:GB_dim:100|display=title}}
Category:1975 establishments in England
Category:Railway lines opened in 1975
Category:Heritage railways in Devon
Category:Miniature railways in the United Kingdom
Category:7¼ in gauge railways in England
{{England-rail-transport-stub}}