Take a walk down the line.
The first section of track that a visitor to the Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway sees is a road crossing across the drive down to Warren Wood. The track at present ends in the field to the right of the drive and to the left it goes to the Carriage Shed, Turntable and Main line.
Trains are brought up the line and then reversed via a point unto a siding, which in turn is split into two roads by another point. This allows the two rakes of carriages to be stored without the need for uncoupling them.
Following the line past the carriage shed entrance, the water crane, coal bunker and turntable become visible. Water from the roof of the shed is collected in a large tank and then fed to the water crane.
Locomotives on the main line or the siding can be serviced with water. The coal bunker is on the turntable siding, as locomotives come off the turntable they stop here to be replenished with coal.
This photograph was taken in mid-summer when the trees were in full leaf making the location very picturesque.
On this occasion No.5 Bredgar, No.2 Katie and No.6 Eigiau sit in front of the Engine Shed, by the turn-table.
Now into the Warren Wood Station complex, the main line disappears into the distance, the passing loop goes to the left of the Island Platform and a siding to the right into the Goods Stock Shed.
This was the original engine shed which had a 7 foot (2.1metre) turn-table immediately in front of it, a far cry from the 26 foot (8 metre) turn-table the railway has today.
To the left of the line is the Main Station Building and on the Island Platform a platform canopy.
Both these structures, as with all the wooden buildings on the line, were built by the group of enthusiasts themselves.
Beyond the Island Platform is the Warren Wood Signal Box, with three of the signal posts visible.
All Points and signals for Warren Wood are operated from here via the seven lever frame. The signal posts were also made on site to the railway's own design.
Leaving the Warren Wood Station behind the track descends the bank and a tight radius right hand curve to follow a line of trees on its left hand side.
To the right across the field is the entrance to a small disused chalk quarry.
This chalk quarry or 'hole' gives its name to the Halt at half distance along the line.
From the open field the line enters the woodland, not quite as dense now as it was prior to the 1987 hurricane.
Just into the wood and Chalk Hole Fall halt is on the right . The overhanging trees form a tunnel of greenery as the line disappears towards Stony Shaw Station.
The entrance to the halt is via a church style lych-gate from the adjoining field.
Still in the woods the line approaches Stony Shaw Station.
Here there is a passing loop and a siding which gives access to the Goods Shed, its decorative canopy overhanging the siding. On the left is Stony Shaw Signal Box with its nine lever frame used to control all the Station's signals and points.
The station building is on the platform to the right of the loop and to the rear of the station is a picnic area which in Spring is surrounded by a sea of bluebells.
Beyond the station is the end of the wood and the end of the line.
Twinned Railways
The Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway is now twinned with Le Chemin de Fer Touristique de la Vallee de l'Ouche
BWLR and You
Details of Opening Times/Dates, Driving courses, etc.
Video Clip
Watch a brief video of Locomotive No. 1 Bronhilde pulling into Warren Wood Station.
A History Lesson
The Bredgar & Wormshill Light Railway only has a short history extending back to the mid 1970's. But here is an imaginery history, the product of a fertile mind of what might have been .........
