Welcome to the forest of dean local history society website. Disused railway tunnels in the forest of dean flickr. The society that operates the line started steam locomotive. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. The history of the dfr society and its achievements in the first 25 years can now be. Based on the edwardian colour postcards issued by tilleys of ledbury, it presents a vivid portrait of the dean how it was 100 years ago. The coal industry nationalisation act, of 1946, specifically exempted the forest of dean, due to its unique form of ownership and history, allowing freemining privileges to. The steam train ride was very pleasant and enjoyed by young and old, a truly memorable day for our family. Most of the forests railway lines, too, have closed. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading lost railways of the forest of dean. Reissued in 1966 as a facsimile the edition included nicholls 1866 work iron making in the olden times. The dean forest railway, and exsevern and wye railway lines. These tramways were of a variety of gauges from 3ft 6in to 4ft. Indeed, our first ever book, published in 1994, was edwardian dean in colour.
The locomotives listed below are normally based on the dean forest railway but do visit other heritage railways. The forest of dean railway also ran towards cinderford and its nearby collieries, branching. A weeks holiday in the forest of dean was first published in the 1880s and facsimile copy was prepared and published in 20 by holborn house publishing. The forest of dean railways and tramways railuk forums. Two pocket books about the forest of dean roger farnworth. We have been there almost every year since the year 2000. The dean forest railway is the railway in gloucestershire where wilbert works. The line was relatively short lived and closed in 1916. Dean forest railway lydney 2020 all you need to know. Forest of dean lines and the severn bridge written by parkhouse, neil published by lightmoor press stock code.
The archaeology and history of world war ii in the forest of dean and west gloucestershire occasional p by putley john. The coal industry nationalisation act, of 1946, specifically exempted the forest of dean, due to its unique form of ownership and history, allowing freemining privileges to continue intact. Forest of dean lines and the severn bridge written by parkhouse, neil published by lightmoor press. A heritage railway running through the forest of dean run by volunteers. The second provides a guide to the various coal mines in the forest. Horse operated, they were later converted into railways worked by locomotives and, later rail books free uk postage on orders above. Forest of dean our range of local history books reflects our own deep interest in the forest of dean in west gloucestershire and its history. Dont forget to click that bell and check out our merch on ebay or access the books on amazon or goodreads, all links are above. The route was part of the former severn and wye railway which ran from lydney to cinderford. The forest of dean in west gloucestershire is an area rich in history, both industrial and in its transport.
The forest of dean central railway was a mineral railway line designed to connect certain collieries in the central part of the forest of dean to a new dock at brimspill on the river severn. This was latterly done by the coleford railway company in 1883. During that time we have enjoyed exploring a number of the different railway routes in the forest and have begun to realise just how complex a network of tramways supported the. Other locomotives also visit the dean forest railway for events or periods of hire. Oct 05, 2019 in the autumn of 2019 we spent a week in the forest of dean. The great western railway in dean by paar h w and a great selection of related books. This is a website dedicated to the railways of the forest of dean past and present mostly past in gloucestershire, united kingdom. The forest of dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the. Later developments in the forest railway system included the forest of dean central railway company which was created under an act of parliament in 1856. Aug 31, 2018 i have recently encountered two small books, both of which are facsimile editions of much older books. In fact passenger traffic on the severn and wye line ceased in 1929, way before the effects on the railway system of the beeching cuts in the 1960s. The great western railway in dean by h w paar abebooks. Dean forest railway thomas the tank engine wikia fandom. A weeks holiday in the forest of dean the first appears in the featured image above.
The next scheme of note to propose running up the valley from awre was the dean forest, monmouth, usk and pontypool railway a lengthy, good quality crosscountry route which was placed before parliament in 1845 and promptly rejected. An act of parliament received the royal assent on 5 may 1826. A history of the railways of the forest of dean part one. Books covering the history of the forest of dean, gloucestershire. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Our membership is still growing and we are proud of the way we fulfil our mission of helping people to enjoy and know more about the rich local history of our area. The museum is located through the shop at norchard, and being on the ground level is accessible to all visitors, elderly and wheelchair users included. This website provides a window to much of that history, as well as highlighting resources to. Dean forest railway preserved british steam locomotives. Railways of the forest of dean railways of the forest of dean. We regularly have special events such as visits from thomas the tank engine, bygone branchline days and sanata specials for xmas. The first historian of the forest, nicholls book covers its history, topography and culture. He also details the contemporary forest of the 1850s. All books set in forest of dean district on the global book map. We now have 5 stations along the line with great walks and local pubs accessible from many. The forest of dean railway was a railway company operating in gloucestershire, england. Forest of dean websiteearly collieries, tramways and railways in the forest of dean.
Lightmoor press forest of dean lines and the severn bridge. With the closure of these industries and cheaper foreign imports the railways closed, and the forest is now a network of foot and cycle. Forest of dean, gloucestershire, england, uk places. Front cover for the book an historical survey of the forest of dean railways. Aug 31, 2018 prior to the introduction of standard gauge railways in the forest of dean there was an extensive network of tramways or tramroads. Cinderford, forest of dean, figure seen and photographed. The mineral wealth in the area brought developments in the transport network, through canals, horse and muletram roads, and steam railways. Mar 30, 2020 the railways of the great war by colette hooper with michael portillo published by bantam press, london, 2014. The list includes those still to be restored as well as those which are operational. A visitor to the area prior to the first world war would have found the forest surrounded by railways on all sides and several penetrating the centre of it. The severn and wye, forest of dean railway and coleford branch all. Our party of 9 was well catered for, the cream tea delicious with cups of tea in abundance served by very friendly staff.
Part two of a history of the railways of the forest of dean. The following sources have been used in the preparation of railways of the forest of dean. More recent shots from the preserved line from lydney junction, via norchard, to parkend. In 20 the museum published rails through the forest a 200page book of photos. Bibliography, railways of the forest of dean website. The first is a 19th century guide to the forest of dean for early holiday makers.
I came across two books about the forest which are both quite small. The forest railway system primary function was always the carrying of freight traffic, with passenger traffic being of secondary importance. Based on the edwardian colour postcards issued by tilleys of ledbury, it presents a vivid portrait of the dean how it was 100. Welcome to the website of the forest of dean local history society, the oldest society in the county. Lightmoor press books forest of dean lines and the severn. The rapid economic development of the coal and iron mining industries during the late 18th century led to demands for improved transport links from the forest to the rivers wye and severn, where the coal and iron ore could then be transhipped for the onward journey to the customer. Today the district is a popular base for visitors seeking to explore the ancient forest and neighbouring wye valley. It was taken over by the south wales railway in 1851 and the gwr in 1863. We found 27 books set in forest of dean district and 25 others set nearby. Horse operated, they were later converted into railways worked by locomotives and, later still, both also provided passenger services for the benefit of local inhabitants.
It was authorised by parliament in 1856, but serious difficulties were encountered in raising the money to build it. The industrial history of the forest of dean is such that the intensity of activity was high throughout the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The ancient rights were put on the statute books in the dean forest mines act 1838, the only public act to affect private individuals. We chose the dean forest railway as an 80th birthday treat for a family member, and we certainly werent disappointed. A large tract of woodland and waste land there was reserved for royal hunting before 1066 and survived into the modern period as one of the principal crown forests in england, the largest after the new forest.
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