WORFIELD TIMES

HILTON VALLEY RAILWAY

SMITHS 1957

Railway Closes

1979

The Hilton Valley railway was a narrow gauge railway which was started and run by Michael Lloyd. The trains ran every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday fromEaster to the end of September. It attracted visitors in their thousands each Summer. On a fine weekend there could be 1,000-1,500 visitors. Stuart Gandy haskindly provided these images from the HVR Guide Book and postcards and has written these reminiscences."Even though it was 40 plus years ago that I was a regular visitor there, I remember it vividly. On a good weather Sunday, it was always packed. The man standingextreme right in the station picture used to run the little shop that was there with his wife, where you could buy the memorabilia. I seem to recall that they used to eitherlive at or run the pub that was on the opposite corner, the Black Lion. What made this railway different to many other miniature railways was that the locos were realsteam engines, not just diesel engines with steam train shaped covers on them, so you really did get the smells of steam too."

Railway Opens

1957-1979

Lorna Doone approaching Hilton

Engine Number 2 at Bradeney

Engine Number 2 just left Stratford Brook

Engine Number 2 passing Lawn Pastures

Engine Number 3 Leaving Bradeney Bridge

Engine Number 3

Engine Number 3 on its way to the

Photo: M. Cross. Loco 6 an 8hp petrolengined loco showing the possibilities ofseven and a quarter inch gauge