Ness Islands Railway
Encyclopedia
The Ness Islands Railway is a gauge miniature railway in Inverness
, Scotland
, opened in 1983.
Operating around a site in Whin Park, near the Ness Islands
, an area popular for recreation amongst tourists and the local population, the Ness Islands Railway markets itself as the most northerly public miniature railway in the United Kingdom
. The Sanday Light Railway
on the Island of Orkney is further north, but is no longer open to the public.
In the 1990s the Ness Islands Railway operated a fleet of replica diesel locomotives, representing in miniature assorted current locomotive designs of British Rail
. The locomotive fleet has since been rationalised, and there are now just two locomotives:
The railway features repeat loops, cuttings, and over-bridges, including a 140-foot iron bridge dating from 1837. It usually operates from Easter
to October, running at weekends, with a daily service during school holidays.
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, opened in 1983.
Operating around a site in Whin Park, near the Ness Islands
Ness Islands
The Ness Islands are situated on the River Ness, opposite the Bught Park, in the city of Inverness, Scotland. The first bridges to the islands were built in 1828, prior to their construction the only access to the islands was by boat...
, an area popular for recreation amongst tourists and the local population, the Ness Islands Railway markets itself as the most northerly public miniature railway in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The Sanday Light Railway
Sanday Light Railway
The Sanday Light Railway was a privately-owned minimum gauge railway on the island of Sanday, Orkney, Scotland.The railway was of gauge. Construction began in 2000 and the line closed at the end of 2006...
on the Island of Orkney is further north, but is no longer open to the public.
In the 1990s the Ness Islands Railway operated a fleet of replica diesel locomotives, representing in miniature assorted current locomotive designs of British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
. The locomotive fleet has since been rationalised, and there are now just two locomotives:
- Uncle John - Steam locomotive - 0-4-20-4-2Under the Whyte notation for the classification of steam locomotives, 0-4-2 represents the wheel arrangement with no leading wheels, four powered and coupled driving wheels on two axles, and two trailing wheels on one axle...
- Built 1988 (Forshaw) - Uncle Frank - Diesel locomotive - 4w4wDH - Built 1991 (Mardyke)
The railway features repeat loops, cuttings, and over-bridges, including a 140-foot iron bridge dating from 1837. It usually operates from Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
to October, running at weekends, with a daily service during school holidays.