Latest news with #miniaturerailway
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Grand reopening of Basildon Miniature Railway sees touching station tribute
A MUCH-LOVED and long-closed miniature railway has officially reopened to residents following an emotional event over the weekend. The Basildon Miniature Railway, in Pitsea's Wat Tyler Country Park, has been painstakingly restored since falling into disrepair and closing in 2019. On Sunday, councillors, volunteers and excited south Essex residents gathered at the rural railway to mark its much anticipated return. Pride - Dan addressed residents at the railway's grand reopening (Image: Dan Harrison) In a moving tribute to lead volunteer Dan Harrison's recently-passed father and former Mayor of Basildon, David Harrison, the railway's station was named in the late councillor's honour. We're now on WhatsApp! Join our new channel at to get all the latest breaking news and exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone. Dan, who helped lay the original track as a teenager in the 1980s and has led the effort to regenerate the railway, said: 'Yesterday was the official reopening of the railway where the station was named after my late father, David Harrison, who served on Basildon council for over 50 years. 'Dignitaries from the local authority attended a ceremony to cut the cake and ribbon. 'Thank you to my family, especially my mum, the council, especially the park staff and my amazing volunteers. 'I'd like to also thank Hastings Miniature Railway and and Ropley Miniature Railway for their support.' Passion - The railway has been carefully restored by Dan and his team of volunteers (Image: Dan Harrison) Over the past five years, Dan and his team of dedicated volunteers have given hours of their free time to the project of revitalising the neglected railway. It is one of the longest of its kind anywhere in Essex and offers passengers a scenic journey through Wat Tyler Country Park. Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council, was one of those in attendance on Sunday. He said: 'I was honoured to join the Deputy Mayor of Basildon and the Harrison family for the official opening of the Basildon Miniature Railway. 'It was a privilege to stand alongside the wife and son of former councillor David Harrison who have worked tirelessly over the past few years to get the railway renovated and reopened. Their dedication, together with the brilliant efforts of all the volunteers and council officers, has brought this much-loved attraction back to life. 'The railway is buzzing every day with families bringing their children to enjoy Wat Tyler Park. Read more Volunteer behind Basildon miniature railway restoration issues heartfelt thank you Watch: Basildon's reopened miniature railway welcomes first passengers Appeal for volunteers ahead of Basildon Miniature Railway's imminent reopening 'I am looking forward to working with the team to see how we can support plans to extend the track, add stations and create even more fun along the way.' Tribute - The railway's station was named after Dan's late father (Image: Dan Harrison) Mr Callaghan went on to encourage residents who have not yet visited the railway to do so and said that he has nominated Dan for the Alf Dove Award for an outstanding contribution to the local community. The award seeks to recognise significant contributions made by individuals to the wellbeing of the community in Basildon.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Retired rail engineer, 64, builds a £2,000 50ft-long functioning railway in his back garden
A retired rail engineer spent £2,000 building a 50ft-long functioning railway in his back garden. Adrian Backshall, 64, first started the project during the pandemic in 2020, shortly after he and his wife Ruth, 58, moved into their new home in Willington, East Sussex. Mr Backshall used scraps and found objects to create his impressive miniature railway including an old rail trolley which dates back to the Victorian era. The trolley car was rescued from an old siding and kept in his garden initially as an ornament, while the scrap track and sleepers were bought from a heritage railway in Sussex. He then built a frame and roof and mounted it on the old tracks, creating a carriage that seats between four and five people - making a fully-functioning rail line. Initially, the track was around 30ft-long, but this March, Mr Backshall extended it by a further 20ft. It now runs down nearly the entire length of the garden and has two stops: the patio and the shed. Overall, Mr Backshall, who spent 40 years working as a cable jointer for British Rail and Network Rail, estimates he has spent around £2,000 on the rail line. Mr Backshall said: 'We had this old rail trolley because it had been dumped in our previous garden - and my former railway boss Bob said we had to save it. 'So then when we moved here and had more outdoor space Ruth suggested I build a track for it. 'I did that using some scrap tracks and it meant I could just push it up and down the garden. 'But when Covid hit, and nobody could do anything, Ruth and I decided I should jazz it up.' During the pandemic, Mr Backshall built the train carriage - which is fitted with seats, glass windows, and a wood burner for winter. In his first designs, the former engineer had to stand outside his train to get it to run - by winding a wheel that pulled a cable attached to the carriage. But he soon fitted it with a 12 volt solar-powered winch which he can operate from inside the carriage - meaning the train moves by itself. He said: 'That was really quite exciting when we first trialled it. We have neighbours and friends over and I can tell them to just flip a switch, and suddenly they go, 'Oh God, it's moving!'. The couple, along with dogs Mabel and Gladys, moved into their property three years ago and, remarkably, it was Ruth's idea to make use of the garden space. Mr Backshall's most recent development was to extend the length of the rail track - meaning it now reaches the patio at the bottom of his garden. He said: 'It's fun because it's like a proper railway now. You can get on at the top of the garden and get off at the patio.' The couple's two dogs, Sybil and Gladys, are also fans of the creation. 'The dogs absolutely love it,' Mr Backshall said. 'They're in there, our friends are in there. Sometimes people call me and say their grandchildren live near and would love to try. 'It's just fun to do something quirky.' And Mr Backshall's wife couldn't agree more and revealed it was her idea originally. She previously told MailOnline: 'It was my idea in the first place, I like it, it's different and it keeps him occupied'.
