Miniature town train to resume service following new agreement

A family favourite miniature railway is to resume service after a new agreement has been reached.

There and Back Light Railway, which is operated by Husband and Wife team Steve and Naomi Purves, has signed an agreement with Melton Mowbray Town Estate to return the train in Wilton Park to operational condition.

The team who regularly exhibit their engines at local events will be taking over the day-to-day operation of the 500m long 10.25” gauge miniature railway.

The railway, which has been out of use since mid-2019, has history dating back to 1968 when it was originally installed in Hamworthy Park in Dorset. When the railway closed in 1975 it was relocated and installed in its current location and has been a staple of many summers in Melton Mowbray.

The train at it's original home of Hamworthy Park in Dorset. Photo: Supplied.

Speaking of the news Steve said: "We are delighted to be able to bring this much loved attraction back to the people of Melton. We have a busy calendar of events with our portable railway business this year but are committed to running the Melton railway as much as we possibly can. We want to work towards opening every weekend and during the week in school holidays."

The train in Wilton Park is hoped to get moving again for the Easter holidays. Photo: Supplied.

He added: "We have a plan that if this year goes well there will be a rolling program of upgrades and improvements. We cannot however do this alone and we are looking to recruit some enthusiastic volunteers to help us run both railways. No experience necessary and full training will be given!"

The locomotive will be checked over and will be externally restored to its original 1968 condition along with the second passenger carriage which will be reunited with the train.

It is hoped to have all the work complete in time to reopen the railway amongst much fanfare over Easter weekend 2022,.

The team will be looking for enthusiastic volunteers to help run both the TBLR and the Wilton Park Railway during the 2022 season, if you fancy joining please get in touch via there website by clicking here.