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A
Review By Society Member Barry Loraine
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The 21st
September 2008 was fortunately one of the rare sunny and warm weekends this
year so I and the family set off not really knowing what to expect. Arriving
in the depths of the Kent/Sussex boarder the first impression of Birchley is
that this is an impressive property with an extensive garden, just right for
a large miniature railway….but it got better. As we parked by the driveway I
soon realised that we had just driven over a substantial tunnel. I soon
located the refreshment tent along with Mike and other TMNR members. I was
clear this railway was going to take some exploring. |
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We wondered
down to the 3-road station to see 3 TMNR engines sitting in front of a line
of TMNR Pullman coaches. What a fantastic sight ! |
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Soon after we
arrived they embarked on a triple headed run around the short track, short
still being quite long in this context. Later in the day I managed to
squeeze into a Pullman coach (I seem to have broadened in all directions
since those childhood trips at Butlins) and was taken for a run down the
branch line by George Coles from Northampton driving his TMNR |
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to the far end
of the garden which is heavily wooded. The only problem these 45 year
old machines seemed to have is with the gauge widening on one or two of the
tighter curves. Although Tri-ang supplied the TMNR engines with a track
pickup system remarkably similar to their smaller ‘00’ products utilising a
trackside transformer most if not all of the survivors have been fitted with
an on-board battery supply instead. The motors were originally driven at
40volts although rated at 36volts but George and others run theirs on
24volts from two internally mounted 12volt |
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batteries
and the turn of speed seemed perfectly adequate to me. In fact once I’d
managed to wriggle into the Pullman coach the ride down to the far end of
the line was extremely, and somewhat surprisingly, comfortable despite the
wood slatted seat which at first sight seemed a touch agricultural. |
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The line itself
is a credit to Drummond. Throughout the aluminium profiled rail which is
screwed to wood sleepers is mounted on a concrete base which in view of the
extent of the track layout is a remarkable feat of construction in itself.
The station has three lines two of which are served by a platform and the
atmosphere is added to by the signal box, turntable and engine
shed/workshop. Turning right from the station the line meanders through very
close fitting hedges before passing in front of the substantial house of
some character which is an attraction in itself whilst on the right |
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of the line are
attractive formal gardens which were stunning enough when we were there but
must have been an absolute triumph at the height of the flowering season.
From this point the line travels through manicured lawns before dropping
steeply down to a junction from where you can turn right aiming toward the
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tunnel or
continue straight on down the branch line. Picking up the branch line token
we travel along the edge of a densely wooded area passing close by the trees
at a number of points whilst gaining some speed. Eventually we arrive at the
end of the line passing another signal box we can continue on to another
turn table, take the left hand branch which in conjunction with the turn
table provides a run-round loop or take the right hand point up to the
loading ramp, an ingenious design in itself. |
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Once the engine
has turned and run around the train it pulls us back to the main junction,
needing some effort up the steep gradient, where the driver deposits the
token back on its post and rejoins the main circuit. Climbing through the
cutting into the entrance to the tunnel causes some trepidation and once
inside the long |
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curving and
extremely dark tunnel one could be forgiven for wondering what you have let
yourself in for. Apparently the longest of any tunnel on a UK miniature
railway it doesn’t fail to impress at 218 feet long no matter how many times
you travel through it. Emerging into daylight you trundle over a girder
bridge spanning an attractive pond before eventually turning right back into
the station. |
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The TMNR
members were supplemented on the track by Drummond and his merry band of men
driving two steam loco’s and a petrol hydraulic boxcab. There’s little that
I can put in writing that adequately conveys the atmosphere and enjoyment of
this treasure of a railway and the only way to find out what its really like
is to experience it for yourself but I have |
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included a range
of pictures below which may wet the appetite. |
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So my thanks to Drummond and of
course Mike and the other TMNRists who made for such an enjoyable day.
Review taken from Barry Loraine's
website:
www.5inchrail.com |
