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Miniature Steam:
Basingstoke & District Model Engineering Society
(Viables Craft Centre Model Railway)
- Opening Your Eyes to 3.5" & 5" Locos!
Miniature steam can be seen all over Britain from the Exmoor Steam Railway (pictured above) in the West and the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway in the East...
'Black Prince' on the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway - 15" gauge - 27/02/2003
'Samson' on the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway - 15" gauge - 27/02/2003
...they're everywhere! Both of these railways have a gauge of about 15" - but you can get smaller Railways!
The railway I want to tell you about is my local small gauge railway located at 'The Viables Craft Centre' (Basingstoke & District Model Engineering Society) in Basingstoke just off the Viables roundabout, all the trains that run there are a mixture of 3.5" or 5" steam and Diesel locos, from the mighty 'U' Class, to the speedy Stirling Single and all the others in between. The track circuit is over 1000ft of elevated track about 2ft off the ground, the railway runs along embankments, cuttings, through a tunnel, up a steep climb and back through to the station.... Great Stuff! The locomotives are all privately owned and most were built by their owners. Each owner runs their own locomotive during public runnings, they also maintain and look after it in their own time. The owners do not get paid, they do it for the enjoyment they receive. The loco owners are all members of the Basingstoke District Model Engineering Society, which provide insurance for the locos if there was an accident or damage done etc. However, the locos are perfectly safe, as their boilers are pressure tested every couple of years.
Peter fuelling his Great Central loco 'Jersey Lill' (5"guage) at the viables station in 1996 - capable of hauling 8 or more people!
Peter stoking the firebox of #2 'Conway' in preparation for the 1km run ahead. this 3.5" loco is very popular with the younger children due to it being similar to 'Thomas the Tank Engine!' - or so they say!
The Steam trains at the Viables, like any full sized one, run on coal and water (except if they are diesels, then they run on batteries or Petrol!), most of these engines take about 20 - 25 minutes to reach working pressure in their boilers. They'll be in steam all day for rides* (11.00am +). You can stand and watch the driver (& fireman!) fuel the hungry firebox (above!), and top the engine up with water. Every driver runs to a running order and usually spends 1-2 hour shifts running their loco on the main line. So there will usually be a steam engine in service* to ride on! So come down to the Viables, experience the power of 3.5"/5" locos, smell the soot and savour the steam! Come and visit us now! (See below for next Public Running date.)
5" SR. Lord Nelson class no. 857 'Lord Howe' at Viables. 17/05/2003
Runnings This Year (2004):
Date of Running |
| Sunday 2nd May |
| Sunday 6th June |
| Sunday 4th July |
| Sunday 5th September |
| Sunday 3th October |
 Sunday
21st November |
| Saturday 5th December |
Click HERE to get a map to their site!
(First train 11.00am - last train 4.00pm - late/early commers welcome!)
~~{Saturday October 25th Public Running has been cancelled. Webmaster}~~
Prices for 2004!
1 Round Trip ~ 50p
3 Round Trips ~ £1.30
*The steam locomotives are subject to availability on the day - any steam loco may be substituted at short notice by an electric/diesel locomotive due to a sudden unavailability.
See Basingstoke & District Model Engineering Society's website for more in-depth information
#2 'Conway' emerging from the tunnel,
Want more info? Want directions to Viables?
Contact stephen.newell@steamland.com
All photos (except top) Stephen Newell