The Barnards Miniature Railway has sent RailAdvent a short update on behind the scenes at the popular miniature railway.

Maintenance

The Barnards Miniature Railway has a fleet of 11 Mardyke built MK3 carriages, sourced from the Barleylands Miniature Railway and Pentney Park Railway.

Since their arrival they have been repainted into Blue & Grey. It has been decided that they are to be sold to accommodate space for new coaches yet to arrive.

5 are already for sale on their official website – FOR SALE – Barnards Miniature Railway

The new coaches currently undergoing construction are a fleet of 6 CMD narrow-gauge style coaches, of-which there are already 15 running in passenger traffic on the line.

In addition to this, work continues on the railways extensive wagon fleet.

This includes a Saxa Salt covered wagon, which has been serviced and fully repainted, a tanker wagon which has been repainted into a green and white Castrol tanker wagon, and a narrow-gauge style guards’ wagon, repainted into Southern Railway brown.

Barnards Miniature Railway is in the process of installing a semaphore-based signalling system into our main station Burtonshaw, as well as block sections for the double track mainline to the second station along, Belvedere.

A new 30-lever frame is being installed to operate signals within the Burtonshaw ‘station limits’. Work also continues on the new Pardoe Lane Signalbox, which allows movements in and out of the locomotive storage yard.

Operations

The Barnards Miniature Railway has also launched its 2023 operating timetable. The railway is open every other Sunday from May to October, as well as some Thursdays during half team and the summer holidays. When the railway runs on a Thursday, the gardens are open to the public as well, book tickets via the National Garden Scheme.

On Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th July, the railway holds its annual summer gala. Featuring a mix of steam and diesel locomotives, resident and visiting locomotives alike, demonstration freight workings, miniature traction engines, and shuttle services, it is always a popular event for visitors.

So why not take a visit to Barnards during their 2023, their timetable and ticket donation price can be found here.