Heritage railway in Gloucestershire, England
The Dean Forest Railway is a4+ 1 ⁄4 -mile (6.8 km) long heritage railway that runs between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean , Gloucestershire .
The route was part of the former Severn and Wye Railway which ran from Lydney to Cinderford . The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and bought the trackbed and line from British Rail in 1986, reaching Lydney Junction in 1995 and Parkend in 2005.[ 1] Trains are operated by both steam and heritage diesel locomotives , and heritage diesel multiple units .
The Dean Forest Railway has been given the former Panteg and Griffithstown railway station building. Its removal was completed in June 2016, and is expected to be placed at the new upcoming Speech House Road .
CrossCountry are now providing a combined fare for travel to Lydney mainline station (on CrossCountry services only) and then onto the Dean Forest Railway.[ 2] [ 3]
The Dean Forest Railway plans to extend its heritage services a further2+ 1 ⁄2 miles (4.0 km) through/into the middle of the Royal Forest at Speech House Road (close to the nearby Beechenhurst Visitor Attraction), bringing the line to a total of about6+ 3 ⁄4 miles (10.9 km) in length.[ 4] In 2016, DFR's director of civil engineering and director of development Jason Shirley announced plans to expand the railway to Cinderford . The project's status as a strategic regional development means that a large proportion of the estimated £8million cost could be met by Government funding.[ 5]
Stations and Junctions of the DFR
Proposed future extension
Locomotives 1450 passes through Oakenwood, just north of Whitecroft.
9681 hauling goods into Parkend.
1450 masquerading as 1401 as part of DFR's Titfield Thunderbolt Weekend.
Steam Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Image No. 5541 GWR 4575 Class 2-6-2 T Operational. Built in 1928 and owned by the Dean Forest Locomotive Group. Boiler ticket expires end of December 2024. BR lined Green with late crest NCB No. 3880/WD 152 "Rennes"Austerity 0-6-0 ST Under Overhaul. Built in 1944. LMR Blue No. 2221 Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 ST Under Overhaul. Built in 1946. N/A No. 9681 BR(W) 0-6-0 PT GWR 5700 Class Operational; completed its overhaul in November 2022. Built in 1949 and owned by the Dean Forest Locomotive Group. BR Black (Early Emblem) No. 9682 BR(W) 0-6-0 PT GWR 5700 ClassUnder overhaul. Bought by the Dean Forest Locomotive Group in late 2018, having been partially overhauled under previous owners; the GWR Preservation Group Ltd. Built in 1949, 9682 was the 100th locomotive to leave Barry Scrapyard . BR Black No. 2147 "Uskmouth 1" Peckett and Sons 0-4-0 ST Operational. Built in 1952 and bought by the DFR, in 1971. DFR's first loco. Light Green No. 3806 "Wilbert" Austerity 0-6-0 ST Stored. Built in 1953 and arrived in 1973. Named after Rev. W. Awdry in 1987. Formerly G.B Keeling. Dark Blue with Red Lining No. 3823 "Warrior" Austerity 0-6-0 ST Stored. Built in 1954. NCB Red NCB No. 3889/NCB 65Austerity 0-6-0 ST Stored at Lydney Junction. Built in 1964. Departmental Yellow No 2411 (Gloria) Hunslet 50550 Class 0-6-0 ST Stored at Lydney Junction. Built in 1941. No 2413 Gunby Hunslet 50550 Class 0-6-0 ST Under overhaul. Built in 1941. Lined Black
Diesel and electric Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Year Image No. 4210127 Fowler 0-4-0 DM Diesel Shunter Stored awaiting overhaul. N/A No. 5622 "Don Corbett" Hunslet 0-4-0 Diesel ShunterOperational Departmental Yellow with Wasp-Stripe bufferbeams No. 6688 "Salty" Hunslet 0-4-0 Diesel Shunter Undergoing overhaul, Arrived from the Barry Island Railway in January 2009. Red with Yellow ends and Wasp-Stripes 1968 No. 08769 (D3937) "Gladys" BR 0-6-0 DE Class 08 Operational. Re-entered service in 2013. BR Blue with wasp stripes 1960 No. D9521 BR 0-6-0 Class 14 Operational BR Blue 1964 No. D9555 BR 0-6-0 Class 14 Away getting repairs BR Green 1965 No. E50619 BR Class 108 DMBSOperational BR Green 1958 No. M51566 BR Class 108 DMCL Operational BR Green 1959 No. M51914 BR Class 108 DMBS Operational BR Green 1961 No. M56492 BR Class 108 DTCL Operational BR Green 1960 No. M59387 BR Class 108 TSL Operational BR Green 1958
Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Image No. 1450 GWR 0-4-2T 1400 Class Undergoing overhaul; at the Severn Valley Railway . Built in 1935. Was resident from 2004 until early 2014. GWR green (as pictured) No. 9642 BR(W) 0-6-0 PT 5700 Class Undergoing overhaul. Resident from 1998 to 2004 when owned by the South Wales Pannier Group. Sold to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway in 2005. Built in 1946 BR Black (Early Emblem) No. 813 GWR Port Talbot Railway 0-6-0STStored awaiting repairs. Now at the Severn Valley Railway. Built in 1901. Was on hire for the 2004 season. GWR Green 1929-34 Livery No. 5521 GWR 2-6-2T 4575 Class Under overhaul at the Flour Mill. Built in 1928. Had running in tests during early 2007, before spells on the railway between 2010 and 2012, before returning briefly in October 2016 appearing as L150. London Transport Maroon, running as number L.150. No. 5538 GWR 2-6-2T 4575 Class Under overhaul at the Flour Mill. Built in 1928. No. 4953 "Pitchford Hall" GWR 4900 Class Operational. Spent its early years of Preservation at the DFR. Now at the Epping Ongar Railway . Built in 1929 BR Lined Black (Early Emblem) No. 4150 GWR 2-6-2T 5101 Class Restoration in progress at the Severn Valley Railway. Spent its early years of Preservation at the DFR 1974 - 1977. Built in 1947. BR Green 28 Taff Vale Railway O1 class Restoration in progress at the Gwili Railway. Was at the DFR in 1990s Built in 1897. GWR Green GWR 7800 Class 7812 'Erlestoke Manor' GWR 7800 Class Under Overhaul at Tyseley Locomotive Works , but based at the Severn Valley Railway. Spend its early years of Preservation at the DFR. Built in 1939 BR Green
Visiting Steam Locomotives Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Image Rocket (replica) Stephenson's Rocket Operational, Visited the DFR in 2010 Built in 1979. Yellow No1722 ‘Rocket" Peckett and Sons 0-4-0 ST Operational, visited the DFR for the DFR 50 gala in 2021. Built in 1926 Blue Rosyth No. 1 Andrew Barclay 0-4-0 ST Operational, visited the DFR in 2023. Built in 1914 Green WD 132 Sapper Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST Under Overhaul, Visited the DFR in 2011, 2015, 2017 and 2024. Built in 1944 WD Green 75008 Swiftsure Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST Operational, Visited the DFR in 2017 / 2018. Back at the DFR in June 2021. Dual Braked. Built in 1943 LMR Blue Jessie Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST Operational, and had visited the DFR for their Day Out with Thomas events as Thomas the Tank Engine . Also was on loan for most of 2006 in normal state. Having been working at Llangollen Railway for many years, 2019 saw a move to the Pontypool & Blaenavon Railway and return for the 2019 Gala. Return for the first half of the 2021 season. Built in 1937. Black with Wasp Stripes 401 Vulcan W.G Bagnall 0-6-0ST "New Standard 18" Operational, Visited the DFR in 2023 Built in 1951 Steel Company of Wales No. 30587 LSWR 0298 Class Static Display, Visited the DFR in 2009 for the Severn & Wye 200th Anniversary Gala and then in 2016 for the Flour Mill 20th Anniversary Gala. Built in 1874. BR Black with early emblem No. 30120 LSWR T9 Class Stored, Visited the DFR in 2016 for the Flour Mill 20th Anniversary Gala. Built in 1899. BR Lined Black with early emblem Met No.1 Metropolitan Railway E Class Undergoing overhaul, Visited the DFR in 2016 for the Flour Mill 20th Anniversary Gala. Built in 1898. Metropolitan Railways Red 41708 (1704) Midland Railway 1377 Class Non Operational, Visited the DFR in 1994 and when run as a half cab now at Barrow Hill Roundhouse . Built in 1880 BR Black with early emblem 47383 LMS Fowler Class 3F Static Display, Visited the DFR in 1995 now at Severn Valley Railway. Built in 1926 BR Green with early emblem No. 41312 LMS Ivatt Class 2 2-6-2T 1312 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2018 for the Royal Forest of Steam Gala. Built in 1952. BR Black with late emblem 1340 GWR_No._1340_Trojan Operational. Visited the DFR in 2023. Built in 1897 GWR Green 1369 GWR 1366 Class Operational. Visited the DFR in 1996 and 2023. Built in 1934 GWR Green with Shirtbutton Emblem 1466 GWR 1400 Class Under Overhaul at Norchard by Western Steam Engineering and due to return to traffic by 2023. Visited the DFR in 1995. Built in 1934 BR Green with early emblem No. 7754 BR(W) 0-6-0 PT GWR 5700 Class Undergoing overhaul. Visited the DFR in 1997 and 1998. Normally based at the Llangollen Railway. Built in 1930. BR Black (Early Emblem) No. 6412 BR(W) 0-6-0 PT GWR 6400 Class Operational. Visited the DFR in 1998. Normally based at the South Devon Railway. Built in 1934. BR Green City of Truro 3440 (3717) GWR 3700 Class, or City Class, 4-4-0 Non Operational, Visited the DFR in 1991 for the opening of St Marys Halt (then called Lydney Lakeside) and again in 2010 for 200th anniversary of the Severn & Wye Railway. Built in 1903 GWR Green GWR 7800 Class 7802 'Bradley Manor' GWR 7800 Class Undergoing repairs, at the Severn Valley Railway. Visited the DFR in 2006 for the opening of Parkend. Built in 1938 BR Green 3205 GWR 2251 Class Stored, at the South Devon Railway . Visited the DFR in 2001 . Built in 1946 GWR Green 5199 GWR 5101 Class Operational, at the Llangollen Railway. Visited the DFR in 2019 . Built in 1934 BR Black
Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Image No. 2145 Hunslet 0-4-0DM Diesel ShunterMoved to Tanet Valley Light Railway Green No. 3947 "Planet" (Formerly "Pluto") Hibberd 0-4-0 DM ShunterMoved to the Vale of Berkeley Railway in 2022 Green No. 08238 (13308 / D3308) "Charlie" BR 0-6-0 DE Class 08 moved to NYMR BR Blue with Wasp Stripes No. 08473 BR Class 08 Scrapped, Spares for 08734.But the chassis, cab, wheels and radiator still remain under tarpaulin. BR Blue No. 08734 BR Class 08 Undergoing Restoration. BR Blue No. D7633 BR Bo-Bo Class 25 Sold; awaiting overhaul; leaking header tank BR Two-Tone Green No. 31466 BR A1A-A1A Class 31 Sold now on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway EWS Maroon/GoldNo. 37263 BR Co-Co Class 37 Moved to the Telford Steam Railway BR Departmental Grey livery No. 37308 BR Co-Co Class 37 Moved to the Severn Valley Railway BR Blue No. 47524 BR Co-Co Class 47 Scrapped Rail_Express_Systems No. 73001 BR Bo-Bo Class 73 Sold; Operational BR Blue No. 73002 BR Bo-Bo Class 73 Sold; parts donor BR Large Logo Blue No.W50632 BR Class 108 DMCL Scrapped for parts BR Blue & Grey No.W52044 BR Class 108 DMCL Scrapped for parts BR Blue & Grey No. 1499 BR(W) British Rail Class 421 Scrapped 2012. South West Trains
Visiting Diesel Locomotives and Multiple units Number & Name Description Current Status Livery Image No.03145 British Rail Class 03 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2023 for the Diesel Gala. No. D2069 British Rail Class 03 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2019 for the Diesel Gala. Back at the DFR in 2021 Built in 1959. BR Green No. 09106 British Rail Class 09 Operational. moved to the DFR in 2024 harry needle railway company Orange D9537 British Rail Class 14 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2015 for the Diesel Gala. Built in 1965. BR Sand D8568 British Rail Class 17 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2017 for the Diesel Gala. Built in 1963. BR Green D8188/20059 British Rail Class 20 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2017 for the Diesel Gala. Built in 1961. BR Green D5343 British Rail Class 26 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2016 for the Diesel Gala. Built in 1959.. BR Blue 31130 "Calder Hall Power Station" British Rail Class 31 Operational, Visited the DFR for 2022 Diesel Gala. Railfreight grey 33012/ D6515 Lt Jenny Lewis RN British Rail Class 33 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2024 on railtour. Built in 1962. BR Green 33063/ D6583 R.J. Mitchell British Rail Class 33 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2019 for the Diesel Gala. Built in 1962. Railfreight Mainline Sector 37227 British Rail Class 37 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2023 for the Diesel Gala. BR Railfreight Metals 37510 'Orion' British Rail Class 37 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2024 for the Diesel Gala. Europhoenix No. 37 884 'Cepheus' British Rail Class 37 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2024 for the Diesel Gala. Europhoenix 37901 British Rail Class 37 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2022 for the Diesel Gala. Europhoenix D832 Onslaught British Rail Class 42 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2018 for the Diesel Gala. BR Green E6003 ( 73003) 'Sir Herbert Walker' British Rail Class 73 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2024 for the Diesel Gala. BR Green 79900 'Iris' British Rail Derby Lightweight Operational, Visited the DFR in 2016 and 2022 BR Green 150244 British Rail Class 150 Operational, Visited the DFR on 22.3.2014 with a through train from Gloucester to Parkend for the Multiple Unit Festival. FGW local DEMU unit 1001 British Rail Class 201 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2012 and 2019 with a rail tour from Hastings. Build 1957. BR Green No. 428 (4 TC ) British_Rail_Class_438 Operational, Visited the DFR in 2024 on a rail tour pulled by 33012/ D 6515 London Transport Maroon
For the 2001 diesel gala a number of diesel were display at Lydney Junction. These were
37029,37308,37906, D172, 47306, 56111, 60081, 66250 and 66524.
Coaches The main running set is a mix of BR Mark 1 and 2 stock. Two Mark 2 carriages were purchased by the DFR Society in 2018 so that the Mark 1s could be overhauled. In early 2020, all the Mark 1 and 2s were transferred ownership from the Forest of Dean Railway limited company to the DFR society, including XP64 number 4729.
Great Western Railway coaching stock Design Type Number Status Livery Notes image Collett StandardTK 5813 Static sale coach Chocolate and Cream Built in 1934 Used as sales coach to raise funds for DFLG Collett StandardTK 5863 Stored Chocolate and Cream Built in 1934 Formerly Used as volunteer accommodation coach Collett StandardBCK 7362 awaiting overhaul None Built in 1941. Restoration due to start when overhaul of loco 9682 is completed. Hawksworth (but to Collet Standard outline)Inspection Saloon W80943 Operational Chocolate and Cream Built in 1948
British Railways coaching stock Design Type Number Status Livery Notes BR XP64 TSO 4729 Stored Chocolate and Cream A grant is being sought to restore 4729 to service. BR Mk1 TSO 4862 Under Overhaul Maroon (upon completion) In the shed at Norchard BR Mk1 TSO 4891 Stored Chocolate and Cream BR Mk1 TSO 4980 Operational Maroon BR Mk1 TSO 4923 Operational Maroon Was Overhaul at williton on WSR in 2121 BR Mk1 CK 15984 Under Overhaul Chocolate and Cream Brought from Colne Valley Railway in 2022 BR Mk1 BSOT 9003 Operational Maroon BR Mk1 BCK 21129 Stored Chocolate and Cream BR Mk1 BCK 21267 To be accommodation Maroon To be used for volunteer accommodation initially with a view to possible passenger service in the medium term BR Mk1 BSK 34742 Operational Maroon Entered traffic for the first time in preservation in December 2018. BR Mk1 RMB 1803 Stored Chocolate and Cream BR Mk1 BG 80654 Static Maroon Used as part of cafe kitchen at Norchard. BR Mk2 TSO 5175 Operational Maroon Arrived at the DFR in November 2018. BR Mk2a TSO 5341 Operational Maroon Arrived at the DFR in July 2019. Dual Braked.
Ex coaching stock Design Type Number Notes Image Collett StandardAutotrailer Third 178 moved to the Severn Valley Railway. Hawksworth Autotrailer Third 238 moved to the Severn Valley Railway. Collett StandardBSK 1645 moved to the South Devon Railway. Collett StandardTK 5848 scrapped BR Mk1 BCK 21247 scrapped BR Mk1 SK 25602 scrapped BR Mk1 RMB 1829 moved to the East Lancashire Railway. BR Mk1 RBR 1665 moved to the East Lancashire Railway. BR Mk1 BG 81380 moved to the West Somerset Railway. BR XP64 SK 25509 scrapped Dec 2007. BR XP64 FK 13407 scrapped Jan 2013.
Coach type codes
Wagons There are lots different types of wagons at the DFR. Some are used for display and other for engineering works. Many of the wagons can be seen in sidings along the line. Sometime the DFR runs ride on fright trains where passenger can ride on the brakevans.
there are rake of dogfish ballast wagons and TTA tank wagons.
Brakevans Design Type Number Status Livery Notes Image SR 25 TonQueen Mary Brake 56303 Operational BR BrownDual Braked BR 20 TonStandard Brake 955224 Stored BR BrownLMS 20 TonStandard Brake 732268 Away being repair BR BrownLMS 20 TonStandard Brake 732400 awaiting repairs BR BrownBR 20 TonShark Brake DB993901 Operational BR BlackVacuum Braked BR 20 TonShark Brake DB993916 awaiting repairs BR DutchPiped for air GWR 20 TonToad Brake W68480 Operational BR GreyGWR 20 TonToad Brake 17488 Awaiting repairs GWR Grey Purchased from the GWR Preservation Group alongside Pannier 9682, arrived April 2019. Vacuum Braked
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51°44′53″N 2°32′38″W / 51.748°N 2.544°W / 51.748; -2.544