Santa's Special 2016

The CHLR ran its first Santa Specials on Sunday - management allowed Santa trains to run on Sat PM after the serious industrial trains had been in action in the morning supplying kinderling to the good people of Kent and bird food to the feathered visitors to the county.

Here No.3 Kenny is seen in charge of the 2pm service near the current end of the line on the outskirts of Birds Nest.

The Cornus tree makes a great contrast in the grey winter light - Santa can't be seen in this shot - he's busy unwrapping presents in the enclosed carriage with the kids! 

Work continues on the extension

Despite the fog this weekend, work continued on the extension on the CHLR - ground works have now nearly reached Birds Nest which should help the re-stocking of the bird feeders.

Track laying may well be possible over some of the Christmas holidays with the PW team receiving double time, beer tokens for the new pub that is opening next to the CHLR and limitless mince pies.

The new 'end of the groundworks' has reached Birds Nest

As well as ground works, a large amount of tree felling was required!

The road is claer for the next phase - more track on order from t'suppliers

Sunny autumn light

Before the storm, the line was bathed in great sunlight - here PhilPot our PW driver chats to Pat the Postman as they meet on their early morning duties.

and below, Number 2 Jessie brings the early morning passenger working along the line

Birds food trains continue despite bad weather

The CHLR made sure the local wildlife was fed during the recent Storm Angus by running bird seed trains to fill up the local feeder - here we see N0.3 sporting its new plates as it leads the seed train up the line.

Wood Train Highlights from 061116

Kindling Trains busy on the CHLR

Busy day on the railway today - aside from the usual Sunday passenger services, we have been running a number of wood trains to meet rising customer demand.

Right into the evening!!!!!!

The flowers are out

Its summer time on the CHLR - just look at those Roses and Clematis - rumour is that the drivers have been know to stop occasionally to take cuttings!

Junction station opens

After lots of work involving clearance and supporting groundwork, the station is now open.

A proud General Manager  surveys the new station area

The evening train is eased into the station area by Jessie

Tree clearance continues

More trees were cleared today as part of the re-alignment at Junction.

Jessie propels a long train of timber to Woodyard for processing

It will soon be possible to re-align the station area.

Preparation starts for re-aligning Junction

Philpot has an early start with the PW boys, it time to start work on creating the space for the station and goods yard at Junction.

Tree clearance begins!

Watch here for progress updates

A trip down the line - initial line formation

Just for the record and as a form or surveying (LOL!), we ran a video camera up and down the line in its initial guise at phase 1 - out from Junction station, through Depot & Woodyard and terminating at Bridge in its original position before the bridge and extension of phase 2 was put in place.

Enjoy - we will do another once we have phase 2 and 3 open through to Bird Table station

VIDEO TO BE INSERTED HERE

More pictures of Wood supply operations earlier this summer

Here we see tinder supply operations at CHLR early in 2016 - this is the site of Junction station where the narrow gauge line meets the standard gauge and goods are transferred across. When compared to later pics I'll load up, you can see these pics show the original line of the railway at junction prior to the building of the platform, station and goods area - at this stage it was a case of getting something up and running to serve our customers!

The tinder season was upon us - Spring 2016

As the winter draws to an end, the railways tinder loads increase as whilst the woodburners of Kent start to cool down for summer, the wood suppliers need to replenish their stocks - so the railway's staff and rolling stock kick into action to ensure deliveries are maintained.

Lola starts the day with a line clearing train to check clearances ahead of longer trains

Jessie joins in with a sizeable single truck load

High winds cause PW team extra work

This Friday the PW team were doing their early morning inspection run of the line and found the high winds had brought down a number of branches onto the line.

General Manager Bob has hitched a ride down with Driver Philpot and Pick Pete to inspect the damage - Pete enjoys a woodbine before starting work!

CHLR are pleased top announce that it didn't take the PW team long to deal with the blockage and by 0900 the line was clear and open for business.

Pick Pete checks the load is secure before giving Philpot the right away (and finish off his next Woodbine!)

October 2015 - CHLR in new ownership begins operations

Welcome to the CHLR

After the completion of phase 1 groundworks, track laying and a visit from the officials of the Railway Inspectorate (the father in law!) the Castle Hill Light Railway began revenue earning operation on a cold but clear day on the 17th October.

Here are a couple of pictures to whet your appetite of things to come. The first train was a scrap train from the recycling yard down the north end of the line to Junction station.

We will start to update you on happenings at the line which whilst has its roots firmly in an industrial past, will start to develop a complimentary passenger and freight operation in the comings months.

(Wee Yin (now loco No.1 Lola) heads a scrap train from the recycling yard northward pass Wood Yard halt. Jock the driver who came with the loco from a narrow gauge railway in Shetland, has settled in Kent as a member of the team on the CHLR)