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Glendale

40’0 X 2’0“OO” Gauge

"Glendale" is based on a fictional but probable preserved railway in the Peak District of England. The branch from the mainline was closed to passenger traffic in 1974 but remained open for goods traffic until 1993.

 

A group of enthusiasts bought over the station and goods yard in 1984 and slowly established a museum for their collection of locomotives.

 

In 1993, British Rail withdrew freight services, giving the preservation society the opportunity to purchase the line. A European tourism grant and public support ensured the line was secured and work began to acquire sufficient rolling stock to restart a passenger service. An added bonus was that a connection to the Main Line still remained.

 

By the beginning of 2000, a passenger service was running from Glendale to the end of the line. The trains were hauled by a variety of Locomotives, from "wee" steam engines such as Jintys, through to Class 20's.

 

Glendale village began to grow as a dormitory town and soon Class 156 and 158 units could be seen in the main station alongside preserved stock. Shortly afterwards, a freight service to the wood yard was reinstated and this resulted in some other small freight flows following, usually hauled from Glendale by one of the Society’s preserved mainline diesels.

 

The preservation society also likes to run “special” weekend events such as:

 

Thomas the Tank Engine and friends, Santa specials, Easter Bunny Specials and Train driving weekends.