Caldecotte Miniature Railway

Caldecotte Miniature Railway
Commercial operations
Name	Caldecotte Miniature Railway
Built by	Milton Keynes Model Engineering Society
Original gauge	7+1⁄4 in (184 mm)5 in (127 mm)3+1⁄2 in (89 mm)
Preserved operations
Stations	One, 'Caldecotte'.
Length	860 yards (786 m)
Commercial history
Opened	2005

Caldecotte Miniature Railway (CMR) is a 3.5, 5 and 7.25 inch miniature railway run by the Milton Keynes Model Engineering Society (MKMES) located in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. It is one of the few miniature railways in the UK which offers rides for passengers who are wheelchair users, with a specially built coach.

The railway runs every Sunday between the start of April and the end of October. Steam is often used to provide rides.

History

Opened in 2005 by the MKMES, a small 'out and back' track was laid, which raised funds for the railway to construct their permanent raised level, dual gauge 3.5 / 5 inch track which was then subsequently used as the railways main track for providing rides. Construction started a few years later on a ground level dual gauge 5 / 7.25 inch track, which was completed in 2012, with locomotive Hagrid completing the first circuit on 25 March, before the railway was officially opened by the then mayor of Milton Keynes, Catriona Morris, on 1 April, with Gas fired steam locomotive 'Nutty' hauling the first passenger train. The opening of the 7.25 track allowed the society's larger locomotives, which had been in store for 5 years, to be used on passenger trains once again.

The railway

The 7.25 railway is an oval which is 840 feet in length (making a ride 1680 feet). The station, which is accessed via a crossing, features a turntable, sidings and two platforms which trains can arrive or depart from. Immediately leaving the station, the main yard can be seen on the right, which has multiple steaming bays and sidings, as well as the main engine sheds. Another notable feature of the railway is the Blue 'Truss' bridge which spans a drainage gap for the field. The bridge was constructed to carry the raised level track but was later widened to allow the ground level trains to use it too.

Locomotives used

Trains are often hauled by a variety of visiting members locos, with the 'home' locomotives being Hagrid and Katie, which are both petrol powered, Matilda, a battery electric engine, and steam locomotives Sylvia and Pollyanna, both being Romulus design engines.

Locomotive name	Locomotive type	Design name
Hagrid	Petrol	Freelance design
Katie	Petrol	Freelance design
Sylvia	Steam	Romulus
Pollyanna	Steam	Romulus
Matilda	Battery electric	Freelance design

Regular events

The railway holds a number of regular events throughout the year, notable events being their traction engine rally and charity day, both being held in the summer months. The railway also holds Halloween trains at the end of October and Santa trains in mid- December.