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| Skegness miniature railway. | |
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| Topic Started: 26 Sep 2007, 04:36 PM (2,289 Views) | |
| little 'un | 7 Jan 2009, 10:34 PM Post #31 |
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Porter
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Hello, I have read the posting here with a great deal of interest. As a child in the early 80’s I spent a number of family holidays visiting Skegness. The majority of my time was spent watching or riding on the Skegness miniature railway. There were four locos at this time. 1 Big ‘Un. This engine was, at the time, used through the week. Only one loco running, with a one man operation. i.e. driver and fair collector. 2 and 3 Fisherman and I think Sea Breeze (as mentioned earlier in the post although I do not recall this name) These two engines were very similar in appearance. I do remember that there were slight differences. Skegness was so much busier on weekends that the railway was more fully staffed and two engines ran the line. The large passing loop and a token system were used. Stations were manned with ticket collectors. I remember that the car park end at Tower Esplanade had a ticket office and gate at the end of the platform. 4 Little ‘Un. This was a tiny battery engine. It pulled a truck on which sat the driver and one passenger. There was a sign at the Princes Parade (Fairy Dell) end of the line saying children could drive the train. My father enquired for me and I remember distinctly returning to the line after services had finished and being allowed to drive Little ‘Un the length of the line and back (I can’t remember how much it cost). The owner sat behind me instructing me as we went. I know I have a photo of this momentous childhood achievement somewhere and will endeavour to find and share it. I have seen on this sight and others that Ivor came from the Skegness miniature railway. This engine was not running when I visited Skegness. However it is very similar in appearance to Big Un. Are these two engines different or the same with a change of name and paint? As a further recollection, I remember the then owner telling my father that the line had previously been longer and had run onto the beach. The previous owner had reported derailments due to sandcastles etc. How true this is I don’t know but the postcard images above show that the beach section certainly existed before my visits. Colin these are great images thankyou. |
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| Bob | 22 Jan 2009, 06:04 PM Post #32 |
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Porter
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I purchased the four coach articulated set of coaches from Jeff Price which came from Skegness. This must have been ten years ago at least. I intended to use them with The Empress on a new line to be built at a local garden centre. However, the plans came to nothing and the coaches were stored outside for a few years until I eventually broke them up. They had wood frames which were badly rotted. These coaches were clearly based on the Ian Allan design and they were very heavy. I have never seen such worn wheels! They literally had a flange on both sides. I still have the bogie frames if any one is interested. Bob. Weston MR. |
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| penrose | 27 Jul 2009, 08:01 PM Post #33 |
Manager
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In case anyone is interested (and for historical records I suppose!) the remains of one set of the Skegness carriages, since ex. Jeff Price and Bob Bullock, are now in Cornwall, where the set will (eventually) be "rebuilt". |
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Charles O'Mahoney Penrose Light Railway, Cornwall | |
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| colinpeake | 25 Aug 2009, 09:44 PM Post #34 |
MRW Digest Editor
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In the course of looking for something else I stumbled over this picture of the Dove loco 'Commodore Vanderbilt' at Skegness: http://skegnesshistory.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/minature_steam_train.gif Colin |
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Colin Peake MRW Digest Editor Miniature Railways - Colin Peake's Photos | |
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9:11 PM Nov 25
