Colne Valley Railway
The Colne Valley Railway is a heritage railway based in Castle Hedingham near Halstead in Essex , England. The railway consists of a 0.8 km long railway line with a completely reconstructed station, signal box and station area.
The station was part of the former Colne Valley and Halstead Railways , which was built between April 1860 and May 1863. Passenger transport ceased in December 1961, freight also ended in 1965, and the line was demolished a year later.
Museum railway and steam locomotive operation
Today a museum railway is operated; the steam locomotives have become a tourist attraction.
The original "Hedingham Station" was a mile away and was dismantled brick by brick and rebuilt in its current location. The signal box came from Cressing. The bridge over the River Colne came from Earls Colne in 1982.
Despite its brevity, Colne Valley is home to three ex-mainline locomotives.
Steam locomotives
- London Midland and Scottish Railway 4-6-0 LMS Class 5 "Black Five" Class Nos. 45163 and 45293. Currently under restoration
- Southern Railway (UK) 4-6-2 SR Merchant Navy Class No. 35010 "Blue Star". Unrestored.
- British War Department 0-6-0ST “Austerity” No. 190 and 200. No. 190 Operating No. 200 Currently under restoration
- Avonside Engine Company 0-4-0ST "Barrington". Unrestored.
- Hawthorn Leslie and Company 0-4-0ST No. 1. Unrestored.
- Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 0-6-0ST No. 60 "Jupiter". In restoration
Diesel locomotives
- British Rail 0-6-0 British Rail Class 03 nos. D2041 and D2184. In operation.
- Royal Admiralty 0-4-0 No.YD43. Exhibition only.
- Andrew Barclay 0-4-0DM No. 349/41. In operation.
- D2700 0-4-0DM built by North British Locomotive Co. Ltd., Glasgow 1955 No. 27426 (on loan)
Various diesel railcars
- British Rail Class 121 Nos. 55033 and 54287. In service.
- British Rail Class 141 nos. 141108 (55508 + 55528). In operation.
- British Rail train bus number 79978
Web links
Coordinates: 51 ° 59 ′ 44.9 " N , 0 ° 34 ′ 54.5" E