Forest Light Railway

The Forest Light Railway is a preservation line.

## History

The railway opened in the late 1800s as a means of delivering coal from Eversleigh Colliery to Apple Green Junction, this train would be delivered by one of three tank engines built in the late 1890s, also referred to "The Original Engines", who would arrive on the railway in 1910.

The service of coal exports was the main source of traction on the Forest Light Railway until the interest in transporting goods from Castle Croft by rail for a better mode of transport was in high demand. This was due to the roads being rendered inefficient in adverse weather conditions such as heavy snow. So the line was extended to Castle Croft as well including a station at Eversleigh itself. This would be completed by 1935 with only set back being protests one of which being attempted sabotage by the newly founded 'Anti Railway Gang'.

This new purpose of the railway would continue throughout the first half of the twentieth century until 1963 when the line was threatened with closure following a serve incident at the colliery when a sink hole opened up resulting in one of the three engines and it's trucks to fall in. It also didn't help that Dr Beeching was beginning to axe many lines and as a result; the colliery closed and the remaining two engines were sold. The sunken engine was never recovered.

At first it seemed to be the end of the railway until a few months later that same year. A number of the locals campaigned to keep the line opened due to how much the railway was relied on. Some of which who would form 'The Forest Light Railway Preservation Society'. One of whom, was a Mr Wendell Harris, the father of current manager, Brian Harris.

After another few months of campaigning and fundraising, the society were able to purchase the line from British Railways and run it themselves not just for goods, but also for regular passengers and enthusiasts.

On the 5th October, an SECR P class named Pavan, arrived on the railway to help with the restoration along with a couple former GWR wagons. By 1964, the Forest Light Railway was back up and running.

One year later on November 6th 1965, the FLR purchased its second engine; a GWR 101 class tank engine named Sadie, upon arrival was given minor repairs as well as a closed cab.

From there, Pavan was assigned to passenger services while Sadie was assigned to goods work. Sadie would often pull short coal trains to the colliery at Eversleigh. The sink hole had been filled in two years during the restoration two years prior and the colliery was now back in operation.

In the mid 1970s, the colliery purchased their own engine named Magnus, due to the increase of work on the railway and the construction of a turntable and sheds at Apple Green Junction. Magnue became Eversleigh Colliery's private engine, however but he would only leave the colliery with special permission. Pavan and Sadie would still pull coal trains from the colliery and still handle the regular work.

Meanwhile, another engine would arrive to help with construction on the turntable and carriage and wagon department. A Fowler 3F Jinty from the Someset and Dorset Joint Railway named Someset. Once construction was complete in 1979, Someset would become station pilot at Apple Green Junction.

In 1981, Brian Harris became manager of the railway after his father: Wendell Harris retires. One of his first acts as manager, was installing a passing loop and goods shed at Cranford. Around this time, a Hunslet Chest class tank engine named Dom arrives on the railway after being found on a siding near the Main Line. After reciving a light overhaul, (Consisting of minor repairs such as new bearings and vacuum brakes), he was assigned to help with the loop installment. After completion, Dom returned to the workshops for a full overhaul and would return to service in 1983.

The trio of tank engine work well together, with Pavan being the main passenger engine, Sadie being the goods engine and Dom being the mixed traffic, pulling both goods and passenger services.

## Engines

### Current

* Dom
* Pavan
* Sadie
* Magnus (privately owned)
* Somerset
* Alice

### Former

* The 3 Original Engines
* Rai (trialled)

## Stations

* Apple Green Junction
* Cranford
* Wootton Halt
* Eversleigh
* Castle Croft