Dean Forest Railway
© Garry Sparks
- Overview
- How to get there?
- Route
- Visitors
- Photographs
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The Dean Forest Railway Society, which acts as a support organisation for the railway, was originally formed in 1970 to preserve the Lydney to Parkend branch line. Operations at that time were centred on Parkend as British Rail had not set a date for closure.
With no immediate prospect of British Rail relinquishing ownership of the branch line and restricted by the space available at Parkend, the Society decided to seek alternative accommodation, eventually identifying land next to the branch line at the former Norchard Colliery. Together with land vacated by West Gloucestershire Power Station, this site had all the potential to become the Railway's centre of operations.
Norchard, as it would continue to be known, was acquired in 1974 and a lot of hard work followed before it was possible to stage the first open day in 1978. This time the length of running line was some 150 yards and not long afterwards more track was laid allowing push-and-pull trains to operate to Middle Forge, a distance of some 450 yards.
Visits by HRH The Duke of Gloucester in 1983, the GW150 Exhibition Train and the Broad Gauge loco Iron Duke in 1985, and by various film crews and TV personalities all helped enhance Norchard's reputation. British Rail finally announced closure of the line to traffic in the early 1980's and this decision enabled DFR to complete the purchase of most of the track and land in 1985.
A period of consolidation followed during which time the running line was extended twice more, first to Goatfield Curve and then to Thomas's Yard (just short of the main A48 level crossing). Train services finally crossed the main road in 1991 to terminate at St. Mary's Halt (then known as Lydney Lakeside).
It later went on to buy part of the redundant Lydney Junction site, situated adjacent to the town's station on the Gloucester to Newport/Cardiff main line, and to successfully apply for a second Light Railway Order to complete the link from the Junction to Parkend. It was to be 1995 before the former Severn & Wye station at Lydney Junction could be opened to DFR passenger trains. The junction site also provides the potential for additional preservation projects. Lydney Town station, just yards from the main A48 in the town, opened in April 2001.
In 2006 Parkend Station was re-opened to the first regular passenger trains since 1929 and the DFR returned to its birthplace.
| Directions by Road | From South Wales Process along the M4 to the Magor intersection and take the M48 towards the old Severn Bridge. Leave the Motorway at J2 and head up the A466 until the next roundabout, take the A48 towards Lydney. Keep on the A48 to Lydney, as you approach the town come off the A48 and take the High Street towards Lydney Town. Once in the town you will cross the Level Crossing, just after which, you will need to turn left onto the B4234. Norchard is a couple of miles north of the town and is signposted. From East and South West From the M5/M4 intersection near Bristol, take the M4 towards the Severn Crossing, at the bottom of the hill take the M48 towards Chepstow and the Old Severn Bridge. Leave the Motorway at J2 then follow the directions above. From Abergavenny and Marches At Abergavenny, take the A40 towards Monmouth and follow this until the A40 and A449 merge near Raglan. Continue on the A40 through to Monmouth, at the roundabout just past the town you will need to bouble back on yourself, then turn left at the lights. Cross the bridge and bear left onto the A4136 towards Coleford. Stay on the A3146 to Five Acres, then turn left onto the B4432 through Mile end and on to Broadwell. In the town turn left onto the B4226 and follow Speech House Road until the junction with New Road, turn right onto the B4234 and proceed south to Parkend and Norchard. From Birmingham and the North There are two options from this direction, the quickest being follow the M5 to J11 then follow the A40/A38 around Gloucester to Over. At Over take the A48 towards Chepstow and follow this through Westbury, Newnham and Blakeney to Lydney. Follow the directions to Norchard as above. The second option is to leave the M5 and the Junction with the M50, follow the M50 to Ross and the A40 to Monmouth, then proceed to Norchard as advised above |
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| Directions by Public Transport | By Train The Dean Forest Railway's Lydney Junction station is less than 10 minutes walk away from the mainline Lydney station. Catch a train to Lydney from the South Wales direction, exit Lydney station and walk north up the road toward our signal box. You will see the entrance to the Dean Forest Railway just before on your right. By Bus A regular bus service operates from both Gloucester and Chepstow, the travel times can be confirmed through the Travel Line website. |
| Map |
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| The are no 12CSVT locomotives currently resident at this site |
Note - Locos that show as resident may be based here but loaned to other sites, click on 'Loco' to view the most recent location
| Loco | Arrived | Departed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37402 | 23/04/1994 | 23/04/1994 | Visiting railtour |
| 37038 | 11/11/1995 | 11/11/1995 | Visiting Railtour |
| 37906 | 18/05/2001 | 28/05/2001 | |
| 37308 | 18/05/2001 | 03/06/2001 | Guest Loco |
| 37029 | 19/05/2001 | 19/05/2001 | Visiting railtour |
| 37263 | 27/01/2004 | 10/09/2012 | Moved to a new base |
| 37308 | 29/05/2012 | 12/07/2020 | Moved to a new home |
| 37227 | 30/08/2023 | 13/09/2023 | Guest Loco |
Click on Thumbnails below to see a larger image.
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