Seafront miniature railway re-opens with new improvements

The popular hastings Miniature Railway in Hastings Old Town has now re-opened.
Hastings Miniature railway re-opens 2 SUS-200607-102452001Hastings Miniature railway re-opens 2 SUS-200607-102452001
Hastings Miniature railway re-opens 2 SUS-200607-102452001

The well loved attraction celebrated its first day of the lockdown restrictions easing today, Saturday July 4, with a triple first.

The railway took advantage of the lockdown to invest in both its infrastructure and its locomotives.

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As well as the first day of operations since lockdown, the railway used its new turntable at the western end of the line, at Marine Parade station, on passenger trains for the first time.

It also saw the first ever service run with its brand new battery electric loco Falcon, built on site by line owner Dan Radcliffe at the railway’s Rock-a-Nore workshop.

Generations of children and families have enjoyed riding on the railway, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2018.

The line runs from the boating lake Marine Parade Station to Rock-a-Nore and also uses miniature steam locomotives to pull trains on the 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge tracks.

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The line originally ran from Rock-a-Nore to the Stade but was expanded to Marine Parade in 1959.

The railway went into decline in the 1980’s when some locomotives were sold.

In August 2010 the railway had an official re-opening after extensive rebuilding and restoration work. the railway has resumed the operation of a two-train service at busy periods. The passing loop was restored at East Beach Station, and in 2010 two trains passed each other for the first time in twenty-one years.

In April 2012 the railway was presented with the Railway of the Year award by the Ten and a Quarter Inch Gauge Railway Society.

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