Beer Heights Light Railway
Template:More citations needed Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox rail Template:Beer Heights Light Railway RDT
The Beer Heights Light Railway was a Template:Convert minimum-gauge Template:RailGauge railway at Beer, Devon, England.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Part of Pecorama, an exhibition owned by Peco,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> it closed in November 2025.
Overview
The official opening was by Rev. W.V. Awdry on 14 July 1975,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> at which time it offered a return ride from "Much Natter" station via a balloon loop. Subsequently, it was almost doubled in length by construction of the "Devil's Gorge" extension which involved a very considerable cutting and tunnel, and the complex track layout also includes a more recent steeply-graded branch line to "Wildway Down". The station at Deepwater was revamped in late 2014 and reopened in July 2015 as 'Deepwater Halt'. <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
The line was notable for its high standard of presentation to the public and for the fine views obtainable from it.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was home to eight live steam locomotives designed on narrow gauge principles.
It closure, for financial reasons, was announced in November 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Locomotives
The railway currently had eight steam locomotives, two diesel and one electric.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> A locomotive called 'Finn MacCool' also visited every summer (usually July – September) from the Belfast and County Down Miniature Railway Society, Northern Ireland, to help out in the peak season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other locomotives also visited during the 'Loco Week' and 'Bank Holiday Weekend Gala' in August. A list of locomotives is below:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
| Number | Name | Wheel Arrangement | Notes | Power source | Arrived | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Dickie | Template:Whyte | Built by David Curwen, Wiltshire | Steam | 1976 |  |
| 4 | Thomas II | Template:Whyte | Thomas II (Original), Built by Roger Marsh | Steam | 1979 | |
| 5 | Linda | Template:Whyte | Mainline Hunslet, rebuilt by TMA Engineering, Birmingham. Replica of Ffestiniog Loco. | Steam | 1983 | |
| 6 | Jimmy | Bo-Bo | Built Severn Lamb, Stratford-On-Avon | diesel hydraulic | 1986 | |
| 7 | Mr.P | Template:Whyte | Built in Beer Works | Steam | 1997 |  |
| 8 | Gem | Template:Whyte | Romulus (heavily modified – Engerth tender arrangement) | Steam | 1999 | |
| O&EBR 1 | Otter | Template:Whyte | Built at Western Steam, Privately Owned | Steam | 2004 | |
| 9 | Claudine | Template:Whyte | Single Fairlie, Built at Beer Works | Steam | 2005 | |
| 10 | Alfred | Bo-Bo | Tram style, Built at Beer Works | Battery Electric | 2003 | |
| 11 | Ben | Bo-Bo | Freelance, Built at Beer Works | LPG / Petrol Mechanical | 2015 | |
| 12 | Jools | Template:Whyte | Heavily rebuilt from Samastipur. | Steam | 2018 |
