RUTLAND RAILWAY MUSEUM
Rutland Railway Museum, now trading as Rocks by Rail: The Living Ironstone Museum, is on part of a former Midland Railway mineral branch line north east of Oakham, in Rutland. The museum offers an open-air site dedicated to recreating an ironstone tramway system in its entirety from the extraction of iron ore from a 'first cut' quarry face reproduced in the quarry viewing area to the exchange sidings with the BR rail head. The museum aims to preserve and operate industrial locomotives and mineral wagons from local quarry railways as well as artefacts related to quarry railways in general.
The museum site is based on a typical 1950's or early 1960's quarry system when both steam and diesel power was evident in the industry. The branch line linked to the Melton Mowbray to Oakham main line at Ashwell Signal Box. Exchange sidings were once located at the museum serving three separate private quarry railway systems associated with the extraction of iron ore. The museum site was known locally as Cottesmore Iron Ore Mines Sidings.
The concrete tipping dock built for Cottesmore quarries has been conserved, along with the locomotive running shed from Woolsthorpe Quarries in its entirety. Also present at the museum is the Simon Layfield Exhibition Centre which comprises three roads of locomotive/wagon exhibits and related displays concerning former local quarry railways. Also on display at the museum is Hawthorn Leslie locomotive "SINGAPORE", Works No.3865, built in 1936. This locomotive was exported to Singapore Royal Navy Dockyard and was captured in February 1942 by the Japanese during World War II. The locomotive features superficial bullet and shrapnel damage sustained during air raids on the dockyard from Japanese aircraft.
The museum operates passenger rides on a three quarter mile length of track and occupies an area of nearly 9 acres. Passenger rides are provided in restored brake vans, typical of those formerly used in freight trains in the area.
I have to add that the 'Santa Specials' on the railway are the best I've ever seen and my grandchildren absolutely loved them. The museum is well worth a visit.
These pictures are published for pleasure/information/research purposes only and are not for sale or copy under any circumstances. Information in captions has been researched as thoroughly as possible but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
PLEASE NOTE : IMPORTANT MESSAGE : Please be aware that I do not sell copies of ANY of my pictures, DO NOT email copies to viewers or allow re-posting on other sites. Neither do I wish to enter into correspondence with any individual or group regarding my pictures or their captions. All comments reflect my personal opinions and I am not prepared to discuss these with anyone or to spend the rest of my life answering inane questions. I apologise for this disclaimer but I'm afraid it has been forced upon me. I have no wish to offend anyone and I hope you will continue to enjoy my pictures at your leisure.
Read MoreThe museum site is based on a typical 1950's or early 1960's quarry system when both steam and diesel power was evident in the industry. The branch line linked to the Melton Mowbray to Oakham main line at Ashwell Signal Box. Exchange sidings were once located at the museum serving three separate private quarry railway systems associated with the extraction of iron ore. The museum site was known locally as Cottesmore Iron Ore Mines Sidings.
The concrete tipping dock built for Cottesmore quarries has been conserved, along with the locomotive running shed from Woolsthorpe Quarries in its entirety. Also present at the museum is the Simon Layfield Exhibition Centre which comprises three roads of locomotive/wagon exhibits and related displays concerning former local quarry railways. Also on display at the museum is Hawthorn Leslie locomotive "SINGAPORE", Works No.3865, built in 1936. This locomotive was exported to Singapore Royal Navy Dockyard and was captured in February 1942 by the Japanese during World War II. The locomotive features superficial bullet and shrapnel damage sustained during air raids on the dockyard from Japanese aircraft.
The museum operates passenger rides on a three quarter mile length of track and occupies an area of nearly 9 acres. Passenger rides are provided in restored brake vans, typical of those formerly used in freight trains in the area.
I have to add that the 'Santa Specials' on the railway are the best I've ever seen and my grandchildren absolutely loved them. The museum is well worth a visit.
These pictures are published for pleasure/information/research purposes only and are not for sale or copy under any circumstances. Information in captions has been researched as thoroughly as possible but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed.
PLEASE NOTE : IMPORTANT MESSAGE : Please be aware that I do not sell copies of ANY of my pictures, DO NOT email copies to viewers or allow re-posting on other sites. Neither do I wish to enter into correspondence with any individual or group regarding my pictures or their captions. All comments reflect my personal opinions and I am not prepared to discuss these with anyone or to spend the rest of my life answering inane questions. I apologise for this disclaimer but I'm afraid it has been forced upon me. I have no wish to offend anyone and I hope you will continue to enjoy my pictures at your leisure.
