Beer Heights Light Railway

Considered by many the finest 7¼ inch gauge railway in Britain, the B.H.L.R., first opened to the public on the 14 July 1975. Given PECORAMA's location, high on the hillside above the village of Beer, a ride on the railway offers wonderful views over Lyme Bay to distant Portland Bill.

Having been gradually extended over the years, the line forms a complex convoluted circuit now one mile in length, with the option of a shortened route for the busiest times.

In addition to a lengthy tunnel, the route includes bridges, passing loop, extensive sidings, one so steeply graded as to zig-zag down to the "Beer Mine", set in the hillside above Wildway Park, stocksheds and a large well-equipped workshop.

At the busiest times, service is provided by running up to three train sets and four locomotives at once. Smooth operation during such times is assured by our fully automatic fail-safe signalling system.

Much of the railway's extensive fleet of locomotives and rolling stock is based on British Narrow gauge railway practice such as the well known "Great Little Trains of Wales", but one-third of the size!

Visitors will find the grounds also offer imaginative childrens' play areas, crazy golf and full catering facilities.

Click below to read about our Locos and Rolling Stock

1. Claudine	4. Dickie	7. Gem
2. Mr. P	5. Otter	8. Jimmy
3. Thomas	6. Linda	9. Alfred
Rolling Stock	Coaches	Wagons

"Claudine" - 2-4-4T, No 9

Completed in August 2005 and named during the railway's 30th anniversary celebration weekend by T.V. celebrity and rail enthusiast Pete Waterman, Claudine is a unique 2-4-4 single Fairlie tank locomotive. B.H.L.R. Chief Engineer John Macdougall designed and built the loco which has an articulated power bogie and rear truck making her eminently suited to the line's sharp curves and steep gradients. The boiler, motion and cylinders are all the same as those on "Mr P" except, in this case, piston valves have been employed on the slightly inclined cylinders. Claudine is named after the late Sydney Pritchard's wife who was a co-founder of the Peco group of companies in 1946, and is finished in L.B.S.C. "improved engine green" livery (yellow ochre).

"Mr P" - 2-4-2T, No 7

Designed and completed in 1997 by John Macdougall, Chief Engineer on the Beer Heights Light Railway. A 2-4-2 tank and tender engine with 3¼in by 4½in cylinders, 10in driving wheel, Walschaerts valve gear and 12in diameter boiler which employs the gas producer combustion system. This loco is named after the late Mr S C Pritchard, founder of the PECO group of companies as well as the BHLR. He was affectionately known to his staff as "Mr P". The engine has become the mainstay of the fleet and operates over 1000 miles each year. It is finished in Midland Railway livery.

"Thomas II" - 0-4-2 ST, No 4

Built in 1979 by Roger Marsh of Coventry. An 0-4-2 ST plus tender locomotive, following the general appearance of Quarry Hunslet loco's with 3½in bore by 4¼in stoke cylinders, 9½in driving wheels, Walschaerts valve gear an a 10¾in diameter boiler. "Thomas II" was named by the well known westcountry band "The Wurzels" (one of whose members is Thomas Banner!) on one of the busiest days the railway has ever seen. The loco' became the prototype of what has now become a class of engine popular with 7¼in gauge railway operators, ensuring many further examples being built since 1979.

"Dickie" - 0-4-2, No 3

Delivered in 1976. Built by David Curwen of Devizes, Wiltshire. An 0-4-2 tender engine, the design is based loosely on the famous Douglas locomotive which operates on the Talyllyn 2ft 3in gauge railway in North Wales. The loco has 9in driving wheels with two outside cylinders, a bore of 3½in and a stroke of 4in, with Walschaerts valve gear. The boiler has a diameter of 10¾in and it works at a steam pressure of 100lb per square inch. "Dickie" was named by the comedian Richard Murdoch and having been reboilered in 1992, has seen continuous service for the past 30 years.

"Otter" - 2-4-2, No 1

Built by Western Narrow Gauge and delivered in 2004, "Otter" is privately owned by one of the drivers and is permanently based on the BHLR. The 2-4-2 tender locomotive with 31/4" by 41/2" cylinders and a 12" diameter boiler is similar mechanically to the successful "Mr P" design but with a higher cab plus tender cab which gives the driver full weather protection. The locomotive is finished in West Midlands peacock blue livery.

"Linda" - 2-4-0 ST, No 5

Built by John Clarke of Denbigh, date unknown. Rebuilt by TMA Engineering, Birmingham in 1983 and delivered to Pecorama the same year. A 2-4-0 ST plus tender locomotive which started life as a scale model of the Ffestiniog Railway's Linda, with 3¾in bore by 4in stoke cylinders, inside Stephensons valve gears 8in diameter driving wheels and 10in diameter boiler. The prototype of this engine was built as an 0-4-ST for use on Lord Penryn's extensive slate quarry railway system in North Wales and was named after one of his daughters.

"Gem" - 0-6-0 + 4T, No 8

0-6-0T + 4 wheel Tender (Engerth arrangement). Built in 1999 by John Denslow/B.H.L.R. This is a heavily modified 'Romulus' design with cylinders 2¼in bore x 3 5/16in stroke, 6 5/8in diameter driving wheels, Baker valve gear, 8in O/D boiler barrel, 52 sq.in. grate area. Named 'Gem' by local Radio Gemini presenter Tim Schofield, No. 8 is turned out in Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway lined black livery.

"Jimmy" Bo-Bo Diesel, No 6

Built in 1986 by Severn Lamb, Stratford-On-Avon and named that year by comedian Jimmy Cricket, she is a bogie diesel hydraulic locomotive equipped with a Kaboto 2 cylinder engine. Originally intended for use as a standby loco' during quiet periods of operation, this engine is increasingly popular with the younger generation (some think it resembles "Mavis" from the Reverend W. Awdry's "Thomas" storybooks) and can often be seen hauling specials on the line. It is also extensively used for winter works trains, being quicker to "fire up" than a steam loco!

"Alfred" - Bo-Bo Electric Tram, No 10

Alfred is a tram style electric loco' which is powered by two pairs of on board traction batteries driving four powerful motors. Built in 2003 by John Macdougall and his assistant Carolyn Nation, he can occasionally be seen operating the new "Beer Mine Shuttle" down the steeply graded branch line to Wildway Down Station, usually hauling one or two trailers. Alfred was officially named by Alan Gardiner, Managing Director of the nearby Seaton Tramway, in memory of Carolyn's grandfather to whom she attributes her fascination with all things mechanical.

The Rolling Stock

The first coaches to run on the BHLR were supplied some 30 years ago by Cromar White Railways. Only three of these vehicles now remain which are of the 4 seat, two compartment sit-in type bogie coach. They are at present, painted green and called the "Deverset Special" and run in conjunction with "Alfred" the Tram or "Linda" on Mine Branch Shuttle Train.

A second set of carriages, built in the railway workshops using bogies supplied by John Milner, is called the "Beer Belle". These coaches are similar in design to the Cromar White vehicles but are somewhat wider and more substantially built. They are turned out in Full Pullman livery and bear the names of coaches which once ran in the "Golden Arrow" Pullman train, including "Orion", which is now preserved and open to visitors at Pecorama. This coach set is normally run a in rake of eight with one remaining as a spare.

The "Silver Jubilee Limited" is the name given to the lines newest coaches at their inauguration in the June of 2000 by the 7¼ gauge Society President Dr. Brian Rogers. These coaches are thought to be unique, being the only 'double quad art' - two sets of four permanently articulated vehicles - in regular passenger operation in the U.K. They were designed and built by BHLR Chief Engineer John Macdougall and considered by many to be the smoothest riding minimum gauge railway coaches in the country. They are turned out in Crimson Lake livery. All coach sets are fitted with fail-safe vacuum brakes.

The BHLR Rolling Stock List

Coaches

No.'s	Type	Builder	Remarks
1 to 10	Mk 1:4 seat bogie open coach	Cromar White	Named 'Deverset Special' (Coach No. 2, withdrawn in 1995, several others sold, only 1,3 & 10 now remain on site)
11	Mk 2c:4 seat bogie open "Pullman"	BHLR	Named PERSEUS
12	Mk 2c:4 seat bogie open "Pullman"	BHLR	Named PEGASUS
13	Mk 2c:4 seat bogie open "Pullman"	BHLR	Named AQUILA
14	Mk 2c:4 seat bogie open "Pullman"	BHLR	Named PHOENIX
15	Mk 2c:4 seat bogie open "Pullman"	BHLR	Named CARINA
16	Mk 2c:4 seat bogie open "Pullman"	BHLR	Named ORION
17	Mk 2c:4 seat bogie open "Pullman"	BHLR	Named CYGNUS
18	Mk 2c/4 seat bogie open "Pullman"	BHLR	Named ARIES
19	Mk 2c:4 seat bogie open "Pullman"	BHLR	Named HERCULES

21 to 28	Mk 3:4 seat quad-articulated	BHLR	Named 'Silver Jubilee Limited'

Wagons

BHLR Rolling Stock

No.	Type
1	4 wheeled loco coal, open
2	4 wheeled covered tool van
3	4 wheeled ballast hopper
4	4 wheeled loco ash, open
5	4 wheeled general purpose, open
6	4 wheeled general purpose, open
7	Bogie open with removable side and end boards
8	4 wheeled bolster wagon
9	4 wheeled bolster wagon
10	4 wheeled tipper wagon
11	4 wheeled tipper wagon
12	Generator wagon (covered, originally tender from loco No. 5 Linda)
13	Tank Wagon
14	Brake/Riding Van "Arthur"
15	Steel bodied open wagon for ash disposal

Signalling

All train movements on the Beer Heights Light Railway running lines are controlled by automatic, fail-safe track circuit based signalling. This system is very similar in principal to that used in full-size railway practice, except here we have no signalmen! Once a train is despatched from the terminus, all signals and points work automatically to ensure there is no possibility of two trains meeting each other on any single line.

To achieve this, the track is divided into a number of 'block sections' (sections between signals) and only one train at a time may occupy each of these sections. This is known as "absolute block working". A low voltage electric current is passed, via a resistor, through one rail of each track section, the other rail acting as a 'common' return (connected to the negative side of the same power supply). After passing through the track section concerned, the positive voltage is fed back to the signal box to energise a relay coil, this relay is an electrically operated switch known as the 'track relay'. When a train enters, or occupies each track section, the wheels of each vehicle act as a 'short circuit' across the rails causing the track relay to de-energise, thereby breaking its switch contacts and cutting off an electrical signal to other relays within the signal 'interlocking'. Thus the interlocking (a series of electrically interlocked relays) knows that a section of track is occupied by a train and will keep any signals protecting that section at 'danger'. Additionally, no automatic signal will show 'clear' until the track section prior to it is occupied by a train.

Signals, of course, need to be observed by drivers who are only human and can be distracted. So, on some stretches of single line where trains can run in either direction, such as through the tunnel, we also have "SPAD" (signal passed at danger) alarms. Should a train pass a stop signal, a loud alarm sounds warning the driver of his mistake!

To allow as much operational flexibility as possible, drivers can select 'alternative' routes, such as diverting down the Beer Mine Branch or into the engine shed sidings. This is done by pressing a plunger mounted on a signal post ahead of the junction concerned. Once the engine has passed the signal concerned the plungers become isolated to avoid any possibility of a train being sent the wrong way by a miscreant passenger!

The signalling system was designed by Mike Hanscomb who spent much of his life working on signalling for British Railways. Installation was carried out by the railway's small team of paid and volunteer staff.

The new Track Indicator Panel at Much Natter station. Coloured lights show staff and visitors alike which section of the railway each train is in at any given moment.

The new panel is conveniently situated on the arrival platform at Much Natter station.

Track Plan and Site Map

Click picture to see larger scale map

Winter Works

During the winter a great deal of maintenance is carried out on the Beer Heights Light Railway, and many improvements are made to enhance the experience of our future visitors.

All steam locomotive boilers need to be internally examined each winter both by our own, and insurance company, engineers. Every ten years the boiler must be removed from the engine for thorough examination and "cold" pressure testing. Last year it was the turn of "Mr P" to undergo such scrutiny. While dismantled, the opportunity is taken to thoroughly overhaul the mechanical parts of the loco and repaint it where necessary. This engine has travelled almost 15,000 miles since new in 1997! The photo above shows "Mr P" partially reassembled awaiting the return of his body parts from the paint shop, and below he is seen resplendent upon completion of the overhaul - ready for another ten years. Below we see "Mr P" back to his former glory, once again hauling passengers on the line.

Some members of the railway staff stand proudly with their locos on the occasion of the annual steam test for the boiler inspector.

The passenger coaches also travel well over a thousand miles each year and need frequent maintenance. In addition to mechanical overhaul, last winter all eight of our "Jubilee" coaches were being stripped and repainted by Carolyn Nation, assistant to the Chief Engineer.

During last year's closed season the railway's oldest loco, 1976 built "Dickie" had to have its boiler removed to clear an accumulation of sludge in the small water spaces around the firebox. The opportunity was taken to replate the smokebox sides and carry out mechanical improvements. Here he is in steam again for the first time.

A new brake van and tank wagon have been constructed to add to our impressive fleet of goods wagons.

A rare snow event at Beer in February saw "Linda" on winter maintenance duties.

Track, signalling, locomotives, rolling stock and structures, such as bridges, all need a lot of maintenance and there is usually a new project on the go somewhere around the railway. Currently under construction in our workshop is a second set of eight "quad-articulated" coaches.

Video

PECO have a video-cassette about the Beer Heights Light Railway:

Steaming the Beer Heights Light Railway - for those who have always wanted to know how to drive a steam locomotive. Price £14.00.

If ordering by post please add a postage-&-packing cost of £1 per tape.