Alderney Railway

Alderney Railway

The Alderney Railway was constructed in the 1840s by the British Government to haul Stone from the Eastern end of

Vulcan Brewry 0-4-0 Diesel loco 'Elizabeth' ((C) Picture Courtesy of Sbrobinson)

the Island to build a Breakwater and Victorian Forts.
It opened in 1847 and is one of the oldest railways running in the British Isles.

The first ever official passengers were Queen Victoria and Prince Albert on the 8th of August 1854, their train was Horse drawn.

It carried on hauling quarry trains until the out break of World War 2.
After World War 2 the Line was re-laid, but did not open to the public until the mid 1970s.
It started off with a Wickham Trolley set. In 1982 a Bagnall 0-4-0ST named J.T.Daly was purchased from Chatham Dockyard along with two open Wagons which had two makeshift roofs to give some protection.
The Locomotive remained at the Alderney Railway until 1990, when it was decided to sell the loco because of it’s limited use and High maintenance cost, It now resides at the Pallot Steam Museum in Jersey!
Before J.T.Daly left in 1990, Vulcan Drewry 0-4-0 Diesel Locomotive Elizabeth arrived in 1985 and is still the main motive power of the Alderney Railway.

In 1987 the railway received two 1938 ex London underground Tube coaches from the North Downs Railway.

Sadly in 2000, it was found the Coaches had succumbed to Corrosion from the Sea Air. They were sent back to England and scrapped.
In 2001 the Old Tube cars were replaced by new ones, dating back to 1959. These have Aluminium Bodies, so shouldn‘t suffer from the Sea Air.

The line today runs for less than it’s original full length, although the line is still in tact right to the end of the Breakwater! The line runs now from Braye Road Station to Mannez Quarry Station, a distance of nearly 2 miles.
Trains are normally hauled by Elizabeth, although the Railway does have another loco, a 1958 built Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 Diesel loco Molly 2.

At Mannez Station there is also a Miniature Railway which runs for 400yrds.

Line Length: 2 miles/400yrds

Opeating Dates: Selected Dates through the Year, see website for more details http://www.alderneyrailway.com/timetable.htm

Website: http://www.alderneyrailway.com

Operational Locomotives:

• Vulcan Drewry 0-4-0 Diesel loco Elizabeth
• Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0 Diesel loco Molly 2 (Under Restoration, although intact.)
• Wickham Trolley and trailers

Miniature locos:

• Roanoke 0-4-0 petrol loco Alec Tucker

Track Plan of Braye Road Station:

1. Station Building, which houses a gift shop
   

   Track plan of Braye Road Station (Click to Enlarge)

2. Low Platform
3. High level Boarding, alighting Platform
4. Line to Mannez Quarry Station
5. Braye Road
6. Disused line to the Breakwater

(Not accurate!)

Gallery:

Braye Road Station

The Breakwater

J.T Daly at the Pallot steam museum

(c) All pictures above are Courtesy of Sbrobinson.