Beeches Light Railway - 22 June 2013

I was fortunate enough to receive an invitation to visit The Beeches Light Railway, in northern Oxfordshire. This private garden railway has steep gradients (1 in 22) and tight curves (80 ft radius), so what better steam locomotive to run on it than one from the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway?
Built in Glasgow in 1889, number 19 is the only Darjeeling locomotive to have left India. It retains its 1889 wrought iron boiler and it hauls Darjeeling-style carriages built by the Festiniog Railway at Boston Lodge Works.


Doing some preliminary shunting, Max from Wamuran in Queensland, driving a 1957 Simplex.

Raising steam at the depot

Carriage shunting with a 1994 Hunslet. Directions given by the owner, Adrian Shooter.



Coaling up

Replica Sandy River Model T railmotor

Getting ready for the first run

On the Paddock Loop

The DHR-style station, Rinkingpong Road

Storming up the 1 in 22 on the Garden Loop