The Gartell Light Railway - 30/10/11 - Part 3

The Gartell Light Railway is a 2ft gauge miniature railway which runs for 3/4 of a mile on part of the former track bed of the Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway near Templecombe. Opened in 1990 the line runs from the main base at Common Lane Station, climbing on a 1 in 32 gradient the line runs under itself the gradient then eases to 1 in 50 on the approach to Pinesway Junction Station. After leaving Pinesway Junction the line descends south on 1 in 132 gradient then starts climbing at 1 in 190 briefly and arrives into Park Lane Station. At present they are working on a northern extension from Pinesway Junction where the line will continue for another 200 yards to a new station. It is hoped the new extension will be opened in early 2012. We visited the line on one of their open days where there were trains running from 10:30 - 16:30 departing Common Lane every 15 minutes, this was being their last open day of the year.

Locos operating throughout the day were:

Ex- Southend Pier Railway Bo-Bo DH no.1 'Amanda' re-built by the GLR in 2000 to resemble a BR Class 33.
4wDH no.5 'Alison' built by Alan Keef ltd in 1993 (On station pilot duties)
0-4-2T no.6 'Mr.G' built by the North Dorset Locomotive Works in 1998, she is based on the W.G. Bagnall locomotive 'Polar Bear' which runs on the Amberley Museum Railway.
0-4-0TT no.9 'Jean' built by the North Dorset Locomotive Works in 2008

Shots included in this video are:

Amanda sits at Pinesway Junction Station whilst Mr.G bring the S&D Blue set up from Common Lane
Amanda departs and the signalman sets the road back, Amanda then arrives back to Common Lane Station.
Mr.G arrives into Pinesway Junction from Park Lane, Jean then arrives from Common Lane on the 'Pines Express'. Both locos then depart.
Amanda departs from Common Lane Station on the Midland Maroon set.
Mr.G runs round her train then moves it into position for her next trip.
Jean arrives into Common Lane Station on her last service train of the day, Alison then moves onto the empty stock and shunts it into the carriage sidings. Once the road is clear, Mr.G departs on the last return train of the day.

Filmed on a Panasonic HDC-HS60 HD Camcorder

Enjoy