In late 2014, the idea for Grittenham Light Railway was born over a cold cider on a sunny day at the local pub, while reminiscing with my late father, Dennis, a former crew member and Euston driver. We discussed the possibility of building a miniature railway on my equestrian property. With three generations of train drivers in the family, I figured, why not follow in their footsteps—just in a miniature form?
A week later, we set our plans in motion, searching for second-hand locomotives. After visiting several 10¼-inch miniature railways for inspiration, we advertised for “dead or alive” 10¼-inch gauge locos, even though we weren’t quite sure what we wanted. It quickly became clear that the miniature railway community was tight-knit, with limited options available on the second-hand market. New locomotives in this gauge would take 4 to 5 years to build and come with a hefty price tag.
Determined, I reached out to various railway operators and learned a great deal, including the importance of patience. I stumbled upon an old Pacific locomotive, a 4-6-2 built by Mr. Thurston, for sale on eBay in the USA. Originally constructed in the UK, it had been exported to North Carolina. Purchasing the locomotive from the Amish community was a challenge, as they didn’t use electricity, mobile phones, or the internet. The deal included old track, which I scrapped, but the locomotive itself needed significant restoration. This was the spark that ignited my journey into the world of 10¼-inch miniature railways.
Soon after, I received a call from a company in the miniature railway scene about the sale of items from the late Bob Symes, a renowned TV director and producer known for shows like Tomorrow’s World and Land (1965). I happily acquired several items, though the old track was only good for scrap.
I was filled with determination, ready to pour my heart and soul into this project. After all, I had built two dry food production factories; how hard could a miniature railway be? However, tragedy struck when my father suffered a stroke and passed away in June 2015. That day, my world came to a standstill.
In the months that followed, I struggled to maintain my enthusiasm for the railway while managing a food factory with 14 employees and trading in the US markets until the early hours. I remember dozing off one summer morning in a mineral wagon on the traverser. Despite the challenges, the build was mostly enjoyable. I sketched some designs for signal boxes and enlisted a retired local bricklayer, a friend, to construct two charming signal boxes. They turned out beautifully—I just needed to keep the cider flowing that summer.
With the help of friends from a rugby club in South Wales, we built the stations inside a horse ménage building. I was so grateful for their hard work that I offered to sponsor the team’s next season's rugby tops. The railway, which wound around the equestrian property, became a rewarding endeavor, made even better with a dedicated team. I learned that 10¼-inch gauge railway work is not for the faint-hearted; it truly stands in a league of its own.
