Dean Forest Railway

Lydney, Gloucestershire

by Stuart Wilding

Click on either image to see a larger version

The Dean Forest Railway, a heritage railway runs on 4.25 miles of standard gauge track between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

The route was part of the Severn and Wye Railway. The heritage line started steam locomotive operations in 1971. Services were extended from Norchard to Lydney Lakeside in 1991, Lydney Junction in 1995/96, Tufts Junction in 2001, Whitecroft in 2003 and the Parkend extension was approved December 2005. Trains are operated by both steam and heritage diesel locomotives, and heritage diesel multiple units.

This railway has a lot crammed into a small length with a line with a number of stations, including one split in effect into a higher and lower level, allowing trains to be switched via points. The layout includes:-

• Lydney Junction station (Terminus)

• St Mary's Halt (Opened as Lydney Lakeside) Trains call on request towards Norchard/Parkend

• Lydney Town station    (local map )

• Middle Forge Junction - no station just ground frame where points are changed to go into Norchard High or Low Level Platforms. 450 yards from Norchard

• Norchard Low (Terminus) used at start and end of day and special events

• Norchard High Level station  (Norchard layout map )

• Whitecroft (Not open - station under construction)

• Parkend station (Terminus)

Norchard Station has a free museum, gift shop and café.

This is a picturesque line with a lot of photo opportunities, and as you will see from the links above (all pages within the Dean Forest Railways website) there is quite a bit of variation. They make a big thing about their station gardens as well.

Don't miss the old style level crossing gates, you won't come across these very often.

Further information Grid 

Location:	Dean Forest Railway, Lydney Gloucestershire
Ceremonial County:	Gloucestershire
Grid Reference:	SO 628042
Map Link:	Local area multimap regional access  multimap
Aerial photo:
Route(s):	4.25 miles of SG Track
Best Times to Visit:
E-mail:
Website:	own
Other useful websites:	wiki  Railways in the Forest of Dean
Nearby Locations:	Gloucestershire Attractions
Other Relevant pages:
Classification:	Railways	Date Updated: 07/2008

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