# Great Whipsnade Railway

The Great Whipsnade Railway, also known as The Jumbo Express, is an English, 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge heritage railway that operates within ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, England.

## Overview

Construction of the railway started in 1970 and the initial line opened on 26 August 1970. The line provided rides within the animal enclosures and an additional attraction in its own right. Originally called the Whipsnade and Umfolozi Railway, it began as a short line running from near the children's zoo. It was later extended to form a loop through several paddocks. The railway is now over a mile in length.
The line was built using track and equipment purchased from the Bowaters Paper Railway in Sittingbourne, Kent, which was the last steam-operated narrow-gauge industrial railway in the United Kingdom. The GWR now has four steam and five diesel locomotives. All passenger trains are steam-hauled and services commence at midday, with train departures every half hour with the last train departing Whipsnade Central one hour before Whipsnade Zoo closes for the day.

## The route

The railway is a single loop with one station, known Whipsnade Central. Trains normally travel clockwise around the loop. Leaving the station, they travel east under a foot bridge, passing the children's play area and farm on the left. They then cross a road at a level crossing controlled by an automated warning system. The track curves to the right and descends slightly, passing the emu paddock on the right, and the train yard and engine shed on the left.
The track then curves more sharply to the right before straightening and passing the first elephant paddock on the left. The route crosses a wide footpath used to move the elephants between paddocks; this crossing is equipped with barriers. The line passes the elephant and Asian rhino paddocks on the right before crossing another road and entering the Passage through Asia paddocks containing Bactrian Camels, Yak and Pere David Deer.
The track crosses a big ha-ha and turns right, passing through the deer park (also known as Cut throat paddock) and the Przewalski horses on the right. The track slopes downhill before passing through a short tunnel, into the Africa paddock on the left which contains Gemsbok, Ostrich and common Zebra and Lake Daedelus. The track curves more sharply to the right and climbs uphill to a level crossing before reaching the station. This level crossing has gates and is staffed while trains are running.

## Locomotives
### Steam locomotives

* Steam locomotives 'Excelsior' and 'Superior' at Whipsnade Central Station
* 'Excelsior' moves light engine between the yard and Whipsnade Central Station
* Fresh from a heavy general overhaul rebuild, 'Superior' at Whipsnade Central Station
| No. | Name | Builder | Class | Type | Works Number | Built | At GWR | Notes |
| 1 | Chevallier | Manning Wardle | | 0-6-2T | 1877 | 1915 | No | Built for the Chattenden and Upnor Railway, purchased by the Bowaters Paper Railway at Sittingbourne in 1950, worked the first passenger train at Whipsnade in 1970. Sold to Bill Parker in 2006. |
| 2 | Excelsior | Kerr Stuart | Brazil | 0-4-2ST | 1049 | 1908 | Yes | Newly built for the Bowaters Paper Railway, arrived at Whipsnade in 1970. Mainly runs during the summer holidays. |
| 3 | Conqueror | W.G.Bagnall | | 0-6-2T | 2192 | 1922 | No | Built new for the Bowaters Paper Railway, arrived at Whipsnade in 1970. Sold in 1994. Now part of the Vale of Rheidol Railway Museum collection. |
| 4 | Superior | Kerr Stuart | Baretto | 0-6-2T | 4034 | 1920 | Yes | Built new for the Bowaters Paper Railway, arrived at Whipsnade in 1970. |

### Diesel locomotives

* Diesel locomotives Hector and Victor
| No. | Name | Builder | Type | Works Number | Built | At GWR | Notes |
| 3 | Sgt Blast | Baguley drewry | 4wD? | 3780 | ? | Yes | Arrived in 2008 |
| 8 | Victor | John Fowler | 0-6-0DM | 4160005 | 1951 | Yes | Built for a failed groundnuts scheme in Africa, sold to British Portland Cement Co.'s works at Lower Penarth, Glamorgan. Sold to the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway in 1968, arrived at Whipsnade in 1972. |
| 9 | Hector | John Fowler | 0-6-0DM | 4160004 | 1951 | Yes | Built for a failed groundnuts scheme, sold to British Portland Cement Co.'s Lower Penarth works. Sold to the Welsh Highland Railway in 1968, arrived at Whipsnade in 1975. |
| 10 | Mr. Bill | Ruston Hornsby | 4wDM | 221625 | 1944 | No | Built for the Royal Navy Armaments Depot Broughton Moor military railway. Arrived at Whipsnade in 1992. Named after Sir William McAlpine. |
| 11 | Edward Lloyd | Ruston Hornsby | 4wDM | 435403 | 1961 | No | Built for the Nettleton Top iron ore mines. Arrived at Whipsnade in 1970. Sold to the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway in 1972. |
| 5 | | Motor Rail | 4wDM | 5060 | | No | Built as a 3 ft (914 mm) gauge locomotive for the London Brick Company. Arrived at Whipsnade in 1971. Sold in 1983 to Alan Keef. |
| 6 | L116 | Motor Rail | 4wDM | 5606 | 1931 | Unknown | At Whipsnade in 1976. |

### Battery Locomotives

| No. | Name | Builder | Type | Works Number | Build | At GWR | Notes |
| 7 | | Wingrove & Rogers | 4wBE | 1393 | 1939 | No | At Whipsnade in 1976 |