Dates of operation 1986–Present Headquarters Leadhills | Track gauge 2 ft (610 mm) Locale Scotland | |
Similar Museum of Lead Mining, Alford Valley Railway, Scottish Industrial Railway, Keith and Dufftown Railway, Caledonian Railway (Brechin) | ||
A ride on the leadhills and wanlockhead railway scotland
The Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway, a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, is laid on the trackbed of the former Leadhills and Wanlockhead Branch of the Caledonian Railway which led off the main line between Carlisle and Glasgow at Elvanfoot.
Contents
- A ride on the leadhills and wanlockhead railway scotland
- Overview
- Operation
- Bus replacement
- Locomotives
- Rolling stock
- References
Overview
The "preserved" section runs from Leadhills for about 1 kilometre (0.6 mi) towards Wanlockhead and is the highest adhesion railway in the UK. The rack and pinion Snowdon Mountain Railway is higher. Trains are currently diesel worked with the locomotive propelling the train up hill away from Leadhills.
The original railway closed in the late 1930s shortly after the mines in Wanlockhead had closed.
The railway currently stops at the border of South Lanarkshire and Dumfries and Galloway.
Operation
Trains operate on the push-pull principle as there are no run round loop facilities at the end of the run. Movements within the main station site at Leadhills are controlled from the reconstructed signal box which contains the original lever frame from Arrochar and Tarbet signal box.
Bus replacement
For two weeks during July 2016 the railway operated an extended service, connecting with local bus routes, as the road between Wanlockhead and Leadhills was closed for repairs.
Locomotives
Most locomotives are fitted with air brakes to allow them to operate passenger trains.
Rolling stock
The railway maintains four air-braked coaches for use on its passenger trains. Three of the coaches are mounted on ex-peat wagon underframes, the fourth is mounted on the chassis of a former Simplex locomotive.
There are many wagons around the railway including the ubiquitous Hudson skip wagons and examples from RNAD.
