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Meet the Engines

We have a wonderful fleet of narrow gauge & miniature engines here at Lappa Valley, all with their own story and history behind them. We are lucky enough to have engines designed by some of the foremost railway engineers in the industry.

Many of our visitors, both young and old, have their favourite engines – which one is your favourite?

Zebedee No. 1

Stopped. Undergoing Overhaul

  • 15-inch gauge railway
  • 0-6-4 tank locomotive
  • Designed by David Curwen
  • Built for Lappa Valley in 1974 by Severn Lamb of Stratford-upon-Avon
  • Fully rebuilt in 1991.
  • Presently undergoing major rebuild and will hopefully return to steam in 2024.

Muffin No.2

Available for service

  • 15-inch gauge railway
  • 0-6-0 tender locomotive
  • Designed by David Curwen
  • Built 1967 by Berwyn Engineering of Chippenham
  • Muffin was formerly based at the Longleat Safari Park and was the second steam locomotive to arrive at Lappa Valley in 1976
  • Last rebuilt in 2017/18.

Ruby No.3

Stopped for overhaul.

  • 15-inch gauge railway
  • 0-4-2 tank locomotive*
  • 1997 – Built by Exmoor Steam Railway and spent the her early life working at the now closed Brocklands Adventure Park, originally named Dennis.
  • When Brocklands closed, returned to Exmoor and re-gauged to 12.25″
  • 2014/15 – Rebuilt and re-gauged once again back to 15″ gauge for us by Exmoor Steam Railway of North Devon.
  • Summer 2015 – Arrived as part of our 40th anniversary celebrations and was named ‘Ruby’ by our visitors

* tender is carried for air brake system. water is provided via the side tanks

Ellie No.4

Available for service

  • 15-inch gauge railway
  • 0-4-2 tank locomotive*
  • Built as 12.25″ gauge in 2006 by the Exmoor Steam Railway
  • Originally built for a private garden railway, the locomotive was only ever steamed a handful of times
  • Ellie returned to her builders at Exmoor where she remained until the winter of 2016-17 when Ellie was rebuilt and re-gauged to work at Lappa Valley, where she arrived in August 2017

* tender is carried for air brake system. water is provided via the side tanks

D5905 'City of Derby'

Available for service

  • 15-inch gauge railway
  • The City of Derby joined us in 2017
  • Built in 2003 by the Markeaton Park Light Railway, it is based on a British Railways Class 23 Baby Deltic
  • Powered by a 2.8L Isuzu turbo diesel power unit with hydraulic transmission
  • Rebuilt during 2019/20 over a period of 14 months in house at Lappa Valley

Arthur

Available for service

  • 15-inch gauge railway
  • Built in 1952 for use in a mining or quarry environment
  • Worked at the Longleat Safari Park railway for a number of years before coming to Lappa Valley
  • The engine was rebuilt here at the railway in 2011
  • Formerly known as ’Pooh’ and renamed ’Arthur’ in memory of a late team member
  • Arthur is primarily used for works trains and shunting duties. It is rare for Arthur to work a passenger train

City of Truro

Available for service

  • 15-inch gauge railway
  • Built in 2023 by Alan Keef Ltd of Ross on Wye, Joined Lappa Valley in time for our 50th Birthday Celebrations in 2024.
  • Powered by a Perkins diesel enigne.

Eric

Available for service

  • 10¼ inch gauge railway, Newlyn Downs Branch line
  • 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic powered by a Perkins 22 bhp 3 cylinder engine.
  • Designed and built in 2008 by Alan Keef Ltd of Ross-on-Wye
  • Named after the founder of Lappa Valley, Eric Booth
  • Overhauled and repainted in 2021

The Duke

Available for service

  • 10¼ inch gauge railway, Newlyn Downs Branch line
  • 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic powered by a Perkins 22 bhp 3 cylinder engine.
  • Designed and built in 2014 by Alan Keef Ltd of Ross-on-Wye
  • Arrived at Lappa Valley in 2021 – entered service 2022.
  • Originally built for and operated at the now closed Wells Harbour Railway, Norfolk.

Duke of Cornwall

Stopped - Pending overhaul

  • 10¼ inch gauge, Newlyn Downs Branch line
  • 4 – 4wPH with a 1600cc Ford Crossflow petrol engine
  • Designed by David Curwen
  • Built in 1981 by Severn Lamb of Stratford-upon-Avon
  • Originally based at a railway on Carlyon Bay beach, near St Austell
  • Relocated to us in 1998.

125/HST

Available for service

  • 7¼ inch gauge railway, Woodland Railway
  • 4-4wPH Honda petrol single cylinder, 6.5 bhp
  • Built in 1980 by Mardyke Miniature Railways of Rainham
  • Modelled on the British Railways Class 43 (High Speed Train / HST)

APT

Available for service

  • 7¼ inch gauge railway, Woodland Railway
  • 4w-4wPH Honda petrol single cylinder, 6.5 bhp
  • Built in 1982 by Mardyke Miniature Railways of Rainham
  • Modelled on the British Railways Advanced Passenger Train (APT)
  • APT had new power bogies (wheelsets) in 2018.
  • Rebuilt with new engine and pump in 2021.

Victoria

Available for service

  • 7¼ inch gauge railway, Woodland Railway
  • 0-4-4-0 Battery Electric locomotive
  • Built in 2009 by Martyn Redfearn & Brian Biggs
  • Arrived and entered service in 2020.
  • Rebuilt over the winter of 2023 and converted to Battery Electric power from diesel electric.

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