Place cursor on yellow bar to activate menu
Severn & Wye Timeline Part 5
The Rise of the Dean Forest Railway
1970-2000
February 1970
The Dean Forest Railway Preservation Society is formed and initial operations start at Parkend. In an interesting co-incidence, this site's designer is born in the same month.
23rd October 1971
The first steam day is held at Parkend, with brake van rides over 200ft of line.
1970 - 1978
The society purchases several locomotives, including GWR Prairie tank 5541 and a Hunslett 0-6-0 saddle tank which is christened "Wilbert" after the Rev. W. Awdry. However, the uncertainty of the fate of the remaining line forces the Society to move to Norchard.
The last goods traffic on the S&W ceases in 1976, and the line begins to fall into a state of disrepair
January 1978
With Norchard now ready for operations, the Society relocates from Parkend.
Easter 1978
The first public operations at Norchard take place, with a carriage finally replacing the brake van.
1980-83
The purchase of Norchard site is agreed. British Rail announces that it now longer requires the branch and the DFR enters into negotiations to buy the line. The process is slow and during this period the the Society converts to a Private Limited Company. However the efforts are starting to pay off; in 1983 the company is presented with the Sykes Memorial Trophy for being the most significantly improved Tourist Attraction in the region.
1986
Services are extended to the outskirts of Lydney.
1991
Services are extended to St Mary's Halt, then known as "Lydney Lakeside".
1994
Class 57XX 0-6-PT no 9642 comes to the DFR from the Swansea Vale Railway. This engine is not owned by the DFR, but by the South Wales Pannier Group.
1996
Lydney Junction is re-opened and the "Push to Parkend" begins in earnest. Taff Vale Railway No 28 is transferred to Norchard for rebuilding.
1996-2000
Progress on the Parkend extension is slower than expected, with capital being the principle hurdle. In order to optimise services on the line, not only have Parkend and Whitecroft stations have to be rebuilt, but a second platform at Norchard is required. It is also decided to re-open Lydney Town.
Backup Links