Birchley Railway, Kent, UK part I ... 10.25 inch gauge miniature railway скачать в хорошем качестве

Birchley Railway, Kent, UK part I ... 10.25 inch gauge miniature railway

Birchley railway resides in the grounds of a Grade II 17th Century house in Kent. In 1970, the owners of the house began to construct the 10.25 inch gauge miniature railway track in their 5.5 acre grounds. So, in 1970, Drummond decided to build the biggest, most show-stopping, fantasy scale miniature railway in their home's five-and-a-half acres of grounds. His idea was to turn into a lifelong obsession and even included digging a 202ft tunnel to allow his steam engines to pass under the property's drive. At first, Drummond put most of his efforts into developing a transportable circuit, which he would pack into an old London bus he bought specially for the purpose and take to local shows to give rides for charity. Then he concentrated on the railway in the grounds. He put down another 200ft of track, and, in 1980, set about his biggest engineering feat -- the tunnel under the drive. Drummond spent three years digging out the heavy clay soil that barred his route before installing old wartime Anderson shelters, which made a frame, and putting down concrete blocks to form the tunnel's sides. He then looped the track around the front gardens, making a run of a quarter of a mile, before creating an extension into the rear grounds to make a half-mile circuit in all. All the while Drummond was also expanding his stock of engines. He now has four -- all steam locomotives -- in his sidings. He also built a signal box -- a perfect replica of the type found on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway as well as a railway station and railbridge spanning the width of a large pond. Riding the Birchley railway today is a remarkable experience. The little steam train easily pulls three adults and six children as it trundles over the rails, enveloping passengers in a cloud of white vapour. The couple's children's friends were regular visitors and Drummond used his line for charity fundraising. This video depicts one of the final steam ups at Birchley railway, as Drummond and his wife Jennifer have decided it's time to downsize. Over the past 20 years, its been a joy to travel down to my in-laws, especially when the trains are out during open days to the public. Today though, was an opportunity for my very good friends Dietmar and Katia (from Germany) to visit Birchley, and to sample the magnificent house, grounds and railway.