Beer Heights Light Railway

Beer Heights Light Railway

Steam locomotive 'Claudine' running round its train at the terminus.
Dates of operation	14 July 1975–Present
Track gauge	7 1⁄4 in (184 mm)

File:Beer Heights Light Railway Turntable.jpg

Steam locomotive 'Mr P' on turntable.

The Beer Heights Light Railway operates 1 mile (1.6 km) of minimum gauge 7 ¹⁄₄ in (184 mm) track at Beer, Devon, England. It is part of Pecorama, an exhibition owned by Peco.

Overview

The official opening was by Rev. W.V. Awdry on 14 July 1975, 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 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'.

The line is notable for its high standard of presentation to the public and for the fine views obtainable from it. It is home to eight steam locomotives designed on narrow gauge principles.

Locomotives

The railway currently has eight steam locomotives, two diesel and one electric. 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. Other locomotives also visit during the 'Loco Week' and 'Bank Holiday Weekend Gala' in August.

Operational:
Number	Name	Wheel Arrangement	Notes		Arrived
O&EBR 1	Otter	2-4-2 + T	Built at Western Steam, Privately Owned	Steam	2004
3	Dickie	0-4-2 + T	Built by David Curwen, Wiltshire	Steam	1976
4	Thomas II	0-4-2ST + T	Thomas II (Original), Built by Roger Marsh	Steam	1979
5	Linda	2-4-0ST+T	Mainline Hunslet, rebuilt by TMA Engineering, Birmingham	Steam	1983
6	Jimmy	Bo-Bo	Severn Lamb, Stratford-On-Avon	Diesel Hydraulic	1986
7	Mr.P	2-4-2T + T	Built in Beer Works	Steam	1997
8	Gem	0-6-0 + 4T	Romulus (heavily modified - Engerth tender arrangement)	Steam	1999
9	Claudine	2-4-4T	Single Fairlie, Built at Beer Works	Steam	2005
10	Alfred	Bo-Bo	Tram style, Built at Beer Works	Battery Electric	2003
11	Ben	Bo-Bo	Freelance, Built at Beer Works	Diesel Mechanical	2015

Under overhaul or construction:
	Samastipur	0-4-2T	Exmoor	Steam	1999

External links

• Beer Heights Light Railway website