3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) (prior to 1868) 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) Brunel gauge (1868 to 1872) 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge (from 1872)
Preserved operations
Stations
5 open
Length
4+1⁄4 miles (6.8 km)
Preserved gauge
4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Commercial history
Opened
1813
1868
Converted to 7 ft 1⁄4 in (2,140 mm) Brunel gauge
1872
Converted to 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Closed
1977
Preservation history
1970
The Society is formed
1971
First open day at Parkend
1978
First open day at Norchard
1983
The Duke of Gloucester visits
1986
Route purchased from BR
1991
Norchard to Lakeside opened
1995
Lakeside to Junction opened
2001
Lydney Town opened
2002
Norchard to Tufts opened
2003
Tufts to Whitecroft opened
2006
Parkend opened by Princess Anne
2012
Whitecroft opened
Headquarters
Norchard
The Dean Forest Railway is a 4+1⁄4-mile (6.8 km) long heritage railway that runs between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.
The route was part of the former Severn and Wye Railway which ran from Lydney to Cinderford. The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and bought the trackbed and line from British Rail in 1986, reaching Lydney Junction in 1995 and Parkend in 2005.[1] Trains are operated by both steam and heritage diesel locomotives, and heritage diesel multiple units.
The Dean Forest Railway has been given the former Panteg and Griffithstown railway station building. Its removal was completed in June 2016, and is expected to be placed at the new upcoming Speech House Road.
CrossCountry are now providing a combined fare for travel to Lydney mainline station (on CrossCountry services only) and then onto the Dean Forest Railway.[2][3]
The Dean Forest Railway plans to extend its heritage services a further 2+1⁄2 miles (4.0 km) through/into the middle of the Royal Forest at Speech House Road (close to the nearby Beechenhurst Visitor Attraction), bringing the line to a total of about 6+3⁄4 miles (10.9 km) in length.[4] In 2016, DFR's director of civil engineering and director of development Jason Shirley announced plans to expand the railway to Cinderford. The project's status as a strategic regional development means that a large proportion of the estimated £8million cost could be met by Government funding.[5]
^"Dean Forest Railway History". Dean Forest Railway website. Dean Forest Railway. Archived from the original on 15 December 2011. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
^"A combination of rail and add-on discounted ticket to Dean Forest Railway". National Rail Enquiries. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
^"Trains to the Dean Forest Railway". CrossCountry. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2012.
^"Dean Forest Railway History". Dean Forest Railway website. Dean Forest Railway. Archived from the original on 23 July 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2012.
^"Dean Forest Railway announces 7 years to Cinderford". Unseen Steam. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
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service today. However, many have found an active retirement on heritage railways in Britain, with around 87 examples being classed as preserved. Another...
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P & B Loco Group. Jones 2014, pp. 181–183. Jones 2014, p. 183. DeanForestRailway. Jones 2014, pp. 186–7. Jones 2014, p. 153–155. Jones 2014, p. 187–189...
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