 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
TheHarlington Locomotive Society,[1][2] also informally known as theHarlington Miniature Railway, is a trestle railway about half a mile in length through an old orchard in the village ofHarlington,London Borough of Hillingdon,Greater London.
The track's site, set in an orchard, was donated to the society many years ago,[when?] and is east of theHigh Street,Harlington.[3]
The club has a large circuit of track of both5 in (127 mm) and3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) gauge incorporating a small tunnel, aclubhouse with kitchen and workshop, powered steaming bays and a brick built station andsignal box. It has some resemblance to theParkreisen of theBRD and thePionerbahn of theDDR, though the facility is for the use of adult hobbyists and does not have the didactic purpose of training potential future railway employees.
Service facilities are located in the centre of the western loop of the track. Locomotives are steamed there and then switched into the running line on aturntable. A facility for checking boiler pressure performance is located here.
As early as the 1950s, the railway incorporated a treadle operated signalling system to regulate the traffic. The weight of the wheels operated the treadles, which caused the signal behind to change to red and being cleared to green at the next treadle along the line.
Besides a membership scheme it is frequently open to the public on the second and fourth Sundays of each month between April and October and trips are afforded for a relatively small charge.[4]
The route encircles the orchard, and is of a figure eight shape, though the arms of the "8" do not cross. Both3+1⁄2 in (89 mm) and5 in (127 mm) gauge locomotives can be run on the line, which isdual gauge. The passenger cars which straddle the line are of 5 in gauge.
The local area had many engineering companies (or companies employing engineers) including theGramophone Company (later a division ofEMI), theAeolian Company's Factory andFairey Aviation and the engineering facilities ofHeathrow Airport are near at hand. These companies provided an extensive potential membership base that has provided a willing and expert membership. Most of the surrounding land has been developed as relatively low cost housing, and the HLS pays deference to the history of the local area, before urbanisation, one ofmarket gardens andorchards, serving London, whilst finding a novel use as a leisure facility.
Coverage in the specialist railway and children's press is longstanding, andArthur Mee'sChildren's Newspaper carried a long article about the railway in the 1950s.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)51°29′18.6″N0°26′3.92″W / 51.488500°N 0.4344222°W /51.488500; -0.4344222