Miniature Railways - Colin Peake's Photographs
Windmill Farm Railway
14th April 2008
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In the company of Miniature Railway World webmaster Peter Bryant I visited the Windmill Farm Railway at Burscough in Lancashire on Saturday 12th April. We were met at the Burscough Bridge station by Craig Gluyas who showed us around the railway and even removed one or two items from the sheds for us to inspect.

When we arrived it was raining heavily so it was straight into the sheds to see some of the treasures stored here. Owner Austin Moss has ammassed a historical collection of 15" gauge material over many years, some of which is working, some under restoration and some in need of major work. Almost every mainstream builder of stock and most major lines are represented.

Starting in the museum and shed area delights included the rather home-brewed 'Black Smoke', a steam outline loco built in Oxfordshire. Also stored here at present is the Ravenglass loco 'Bonnie Dundee'. Other loco include Austin's battery Black 5, and the operational locos 'Sian', 'Red Dragon' and the Severn Lamb 'Rio Grande'. A peek in the workshops found ex-Fairbourne 'Katie' and Austin's in-build atlantic from a multitude of different parts.

As the rain cleared Craig pulled some stock from the shed for a better look. This included the half-built saloon coach and the last intact Jaywick railway coach. Inside we found a multitude of historic stock including ex-RHDR coach frames, the last surviving Porthcawl railway coach (itself ex-RHDR) and a Minirail coach modified to a railcar at Blaise Castle.

The operational stock was just as interesting, hailing from Liverpool Garden Festival, Dudley Zoo and German exhibition railways. The Dudley Zoo artic coaches feature an interesting propelling cab for use in push-pull fashion on the out and back line at Dudley that had no loops.

Steam power was provided by Exmoor built 2-6-2T 'St Christopher', a fine machine built for operation on the WFR. Trains every half hour were well patronised by families, some of whom spent some time on the play area in the tranquil setting of Lakeview station at the far end of the line.

My thanks to Peter and Craig for making this a special day.

(the collection runs to two pages, I was camera-happy!)
'Black Smoke' seen in the museum.
'Black Smoke' seen in the museum.
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 Signs from Steamtown Carnforth adorn the walls.
Signs from Steamtown Carnforth adorn the walls.
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 More Steamtown signs.
More Steamtown signs.
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A view of 'Bonnie Dundee's' Cab.
A view of 'Bonnie Dundee's' Cab.
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 The battery powered Black 5 built by Austin Moss.
The battery powered Black 5 built by Austin Moss.
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 'Sian',sits in the shed awaiting her next duty.
'Sian',sits in the shed awaiting her next duty.
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The much-rebuilt Rio Grande 2-8-0, ex-Cleethorpes with the body from Longleat.
The much-rebuilt Rio Grande 2-8-0, ex-Cleethorpes with the body from Longleat.
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 In the workshop we see the frames of 'Katie' under restoration.
In the workshop we see the frames of 'Katie' under restoration.
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 Austin's under-construction atlantic, a mix of designs.
Austin's under-construction atlantic, a mix of designs.
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The Eaton Estate sawmill wagon.
The Eaton Estate sawmill wagon.
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 The frames from former battery-powered 'Foxglove'.
The frames from former battery-powered 'Foxglove'.
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 Open wagon with Fairbourne 4w coach chassis.
Open wagon with Fairbourne 4w coach chassis.
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A close-up of the axlebox.
A close-up of the axlebox.
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 Lister 'Gwril' ex-Fairbourne.
Lister 'Gwril' ex-Fairbourne.
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 The under-construction saloon coach, real luxory on 15
The under-construction saloon coach, real luxory on 15" gauge!
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Inside the saloon coach, you can just about stand up in the clerestory.
Inside the saloon coach, you can just about stand up in the clerestory.
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 The former Jaywick 18
The former Jaywick 18" gauge saloon coach.
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 Inside is a shadow of it's former self, must have been comfy.
Inside is a shadow of it's former self, must have been comfy.
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Around the other side more restoration is required.
Around the other side more restoration is required.
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 8 seat bogie coaches built for a line in Canada but now in store.
8 seat bogie coaches built for a line in Canada but now in store.
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 'Goram' the ex-Blaise Castle railcar with Minirail parentage.
'Goram' the ex-Blaise Castle railcar with Minirail parentage.
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The railcar from the other end.
The railcar from the other end.
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 The coach section started life as a Minirail coach at Longleat.
The coach section started life as a Minirail coach at Longleat.
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 The unusual bogie design under Goram.
The unusual bogie design under Goram.
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The ex-Porthcawl/RHDR coach.
The ex-Porthcawl/RHDR coach.
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 Seats from a former Ravenglass 4w coach
Seats from a former Ravenglass 4w coach
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 Bassett Lowke coach chassis in need of a lot of work.
Bassett Lowke coach chassis in need of a lot of work.
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'Konigswinter' ex-Cleethorpes shunts stock back into the shed.
'Konigswinter' ex-Cleethorpes shunts stock back into the shed.
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 'Katie's' old boiler on an ex-RHDR Theakston wagon chassis in the yard.
'Katie's' old boiler on an ex-RHDR Theakston wagon chassis in the yard.
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 'Blue Pacific' a unique vertical boilered pacific.
'Blue Pacific' a unique vertical boilered pacific.
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The two Jaywick coach chassis outside the workshop.
The two Jaywick coach chassis outside the workshop.
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 A view of the station area at the farm end.
A view of the station area at the farm end.
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 'St Christopher' is the resident Exmoor Steam Railway loco.
'St Christopher' is the resident Exmoor Steam Railway loco.
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A view of St Christophers cab.
A view of St Christophers cab.
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 The Windmill Farm Railway logo on the cabside.
The Windmill Farm Railway logo on the cabside.
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 St Christopher's builders plate.
St Christopher's builders plate.
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St Christopher's nameplate.
St Christopher's nameplate.
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 Steam pipe arrangement on the Exmoor loco.
Steam pipe arrangement on the Exmoor loco.
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 A head on view ready for departure for Lakeview.
A head on view ready for departure for Lakeview.
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A tightly squeezed in Fairbourne coach - don't open the doors!
A tightly squeezed in Fairbourne coach - don't open the doors!
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 One of eight former Liverpool Garden Festival coaches on-site.
One of eight former Liverpool Garden Festival coaches on-site.
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 The bogie under the Liverpool coaches.
The bogie under the Liverpool coaches.
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Former German exhibition railway coaches at the frm station.
Former German exhibition railway coaches at the frm station.
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 The automatic couplers between the German coaches.
The automatic couplers between the German coaches.
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 The nifty hidden handbrake lever under the end seat.
The nifty hidden handbrake lever under the end seat.
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The guards/driving cab of the former Dudley Zoo artic stock.
The guards/driving cab of the former Dudley Zoo artic stock.
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 St Christopher returns from a run to Lakeview.
St Christopher returns from a run to Lakeview.
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 The next run was cab-first, seen here on arrival at Lakeview.
The next run was cab-first, seen here on arrival at Lakeview.
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© 1998-2009 Colin Peake - All copyrights rest with the Author
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