Narrow Gauge Railway

The Narrow Gauge Railway, also known as the Quarry Railway, is a 2 foot gauge steam railway running for approximately 1.5 miles through woodland and fields.

The journey starts at the station near the visitor centre, travels through pretty woodland, until it reaches the sandstone quarry.    After a pause for visitors to take in spectacular views across the Sussex Weald, the journey continues through woodland and alongside fields, where our horses often graze.    Finally, having completed a loop of the woodland, the train reverses the short distance down the incline to come to a stand back at the station.

The Narrow Gauge Steam Railway has two steam locomotives, and one diesel, as well as an assortment of passenger carriages and goods wagons. One of the carriages has wheelchair space, and a ramp is available at the station.

Tourska

Tourska a Narrow Gauge 0-6-0 engine built in Poland in 1957 by Fabryka Kotlow. The engine is currently resident at Hollycombe after extensive restoration and operates on the Narrow Gauge Railway

Jerry M

Jerry M is a Hunslet Saddle Tank steam engine built in 1895.  Her working life was spent at the Dinorwic Slate Mines near Llanberis in North Wales.   She was originally named Vaenol, but was later given the name of a successful racehorse belonging to the quarry owners.  Jerry M came to Hollycombe in 1967

Caledonia

Caledonia is a Barclay Well Tank steam engine built in 1931 and also used at the Dinorwic Slate Mines. She came to Hollycombe in 1968

Jack

Jack is a Diesel Mechanical locomotive which was used to haul munitions at the underground munitions store at RAF Chilmark in Wiltshire. This loco is now used on maintenance trains, for shunting the yard, and for demonstration goods on gala days.

View from quarry

The train stops at the quarry, from where a tremendous view over the Sussex Weald can be seen (weather permitting!!).

Miniature railway

The miniature stean railway is always popular with our visitors. Although originally aimed at the children, it seems that the adults find it just as attractive!

The railway is a continuous loop of about one third of a mile in length and the tracks are set at 7.25 inch gauge.  You will be amazed by the power of the tiny locomotives as they haul both adults and children around the scenic route.

The station is located at the end of the fairground, near the sawmill. Trains pass along side the fairground and picnic area, around a loop near the Gallopers, and back past the engine shed to the station. The journey takes about 4 minutes.

The miniature railway is supported by members of the Liphook Modellers Club who have a clubhouse at Hollycombe.

Bob

Bob is an 0-4-2T built by an enthusiast near Maidenhead in 1981 to the Tinkerbell design. She was presented to Hollycombe by Mr R.C.U. Corbett. This loco has been used at Hollycombe for many years and is currently the main locomotive used on the miniature railway.

Pauline

Pauline is a Romulus 0-4-0 Tender locomotive, built by Bennett Bros of Bristol in 1990. The Romulus is a freelance design based on typical narrow gauge proportions. This is a popular design for small 7.25 inch locos, as it has very simple valve gear, which is all accessible for maintenance, it has plenty of power for a small engine, and it is an easy design to drive.

Jennifer

Jennifer, is a freelance design with vertical boiler built in 1995 by Robert Millard for a private railway near Southampton and was originally named Meon after the river near where it worked. The loco has a two cylinder vertically mounted engine with chain drive to the front axle and coupling rods providing the drive to the rear axle. It is now used regularly at Hollycombe as well as being taken to other railways.

Tess

Tess is a scale model of a narrow gauge Bagnall 0-4-0ST industrial Saddle Tank. She was built by a model engineer from Farnborough, completed in 1984. She is now privately owned and is used to supplement Hollycombe's own locomotives. Tess also makes appearances at other railways, the first being to Swanley in Kent on 1st September 2001.



Standard Gauge Railway

The Standard Gauge railway is back in steam operation with the visiting Société John Cockerill 0-4-0 VBT locomotive, Yvonne.

Yvonne

The VBT (Vertical Boiler Tank) locomotive, was built in Belgium in 1920 and worked in Brussels Gas Works as a shunter until 1967, returning to the UK in 1987 for extensive overhaul. Yvonne has been seen on various railways in the Midlands, but the Railway Weekend will be its first venture to the South of England.