Anyone from the BSME will tell you that I am a confirmed Narrow Gauge fan, a condition which has no known cure. As I visit the many narrow gauge railways in both England and Wales I often take pictures for use in these website items. The Statfold Barn Railway is very unusual in many ways. Firstly it is not a preserved Railway but a completely new and strictly private affair built by Mr Graham Lee. Graham retired from business and decided to build a Railway around his home at Statfold Barn Farm. The railway fits in neatly with his locomotive refurbishment and new - build business, Statfold Works, which is also based at the farm. The results of Graham's labours are mind blowing....Dual gauge tracks of 2' 0" and 2' 6" run the main line whilst there is also a short length of 4' 8 1/2" track crossing the dual gauge track. If that were not enough, there is a quite separate 'Garden Railway' of 2' 0" gauge around a lake which is currently having 7.25" and 10.25" gauge tracks installed in the centre of the 2' 0' gauge track. The Statfold Locomotive Works Some time ago the family Company ( LH Group Holdings Ltd ) chaired by Graham Lee purchased the Hunslet Engine Company in its entirety. There is often confusion over this. Some journalists refer to 'the newly reformed or re-emerged Hunslet company' although Hunslet have been in existence continuously since 1864. After the purchase was complete, Graham set to work with his team. Together they have completed the first two all new Hunslet Steam locos to appear for some 35 years. They also happen to be the first locos built to the "late Port" quarry design (the last of which was delivered in 1932) for 75 Years. The results of the Statfold Works' labours, as you will see later on, are very impressive. More locos will follow. I was very lucky to get an invitation to a private gathering at the Railway on the 31st of March 2007. The visit proved to be absolute heaven for me. The following pictures taken during the visit are here for you to share and I hope you enjoy them. Note that I have kept the narrative that accompanies the pictures very light and brief, mainly because I get a lot of folk E mailing me to point out some rather insignificant error. The Main Railway(s) 2'0", 2'6" and 4' 8 1/2" gauges

The top Station with access to the main line though the loco shed.
Possibly unique in the British Isles (if not the World), the impressive crossover of 2' 0", 2' 6" tracks by 4' 8 1/2" track. The WHR has a similar crossover but it features only one Narrow Gauge track crossing the 4' 8 1/2".
Man-powered multi-gauge turntable allows access to more loco sheds and the works. The green Baguely-Drewery inspection trolley (built in 1919 and Petrol powered) is delightful, showing a complete lack of weather protection or any visible form of occupant safety measure. Things certainly ain't what they used to be!
The main line ( dual gauge 2' 0" and 2' 6" ) stretches away to the right. The Welsh Highland Railway Diesel, a low - geared machine used for placing ballast, sits on the 2' 0" gauge link from the Garden Railway.
The main loco shed. The main line is accessed to the right of the picture whilst the top Station is situated to the left, outside the other end of this building. Note the substantial overhead lifting gantry.
A rake of trucks which I presume are used for Graham's Oil from Seed business, also sited at Statfold. The main loco shed shown in the last picture is seen to the left of the track.
The middle Station as seen from the bridge over the track. Wonderful cast pillars await their roof.
A train pulls into the Station, tender first. The main line curves off to the right of the picture. When taking photos, there's always an elbow around when you need one...

The Locomotives

'Statfold', the first new Hunslet late Port class Loco to be built at the new Statfold Locomotive Works. I hope you'll agree that they made an excellent job of it. Statfold will be kept as the Railway's own, although it has visited the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway. Port class Locos differ from the more common 'Alice' class in that they have deeper buffer beams and no angled relief at the front and back ends of the frames. When working in the Port, these locos were not required to climb and descend the steep inclines that the quarry locos had to negotiate daily, hence the Port classes did not need as much ramp entry / exit clearance. Also not that very few Locos of the 'Alice' class had a steam dome.
'Jack Lane' is the second late Port class loco to be built at Statfold Locomotive Works. It was named after the street address of the Hunslet Company when it was located in Leeds. This Loco, like its sister, is magnificently built. The Green livery may not seem an obvious choice (most Hunslets are Red although the last one to be delivered in 1932 was Green) but it certainly works very well. It has encouraged me to use the colour for one of the 3 x 7.25" versions I am building, although it could not be named after this one as it is an 'Alice' class loco. Note the coupling safety chain, a wise precaution.
More of 'Jack Lane'. I admit to a little indulgence here, it's my favourite Loco. Jack Lane is up for sale at £135,000, a very reasonable sum for an all new loco, especially when one considers the cost of overhauling a standard gauge tank. I'm sure that this little work of art will be working a preserved (or new) narrow gauge line in the near future and will reward its owners with sterling service for many decades.
A halt in proceedings.... The Hudswell 'Badger' quite undramatically came off at the points when travelling very slowly, just outside the middle station. As result, the Darjeeeling and Himalayan loco that was hauling passenger trains became blocked in at the station platform. Trips (hauled by another loco) had to be run from elsewhere on the site. Yet another loco was stuck at the other terminus for some two hours. Careful thought and a huge effort by these chaps had the loco back on the rails a lot more quickly than many expected. All was well again. One wonders how long this would have taken on a full sized Railway, having visits from several authorities whilst Train operating and Track providing companies agrue about liability and cost....
This huge Darjeeling and Himalayan Railway loco was visiting Statfold, running trips up and down the main line with two coaches. It must be about as big as NG locos get before evolving into Farlie or Garratt types.
Another shot of the D & G loco.
And another....
Some serious valve gear!
Another train load of passengers, this time hauled by a 'Mallet' loco from the Sugar mill 'Pakis Baru'.
Pakis Baru No 5 leaving the shed.
Pakis Baru No. 5 is an 0-4-4-0 T, an articulated 'Mallet'. It is the only one of its type working in this country. An ingenious double cylinder arrangement makes it a powerful loco, whilst still being compact and agile. That's what heavier NG locos are all about. There are various solutions, the most notable can be seen on the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways.
My favourite shot of Pakis Baru No 5.
Ex - Pakis Baru loco No 1 is an Orenstein and Koppel 0-4-0 with a tender. It has perfect NG proportions.
Trangkil No 4 waits on shed. This was one of the last Hunslet Steam locos to be built for some time. Until now that is!
Trangkil No 4 now living and breathing.
SBR's Saddle Tank Peckett NG loco.
The Garden Railway A train full of passengers takes a trip round the lake.
Another train load ready to leave.
An interesting form of 2' 0" transport, full of character. It carries up to 4 people along the garden railway. Nice shed too!
View across the lake, railway on the opposite bank.
A tidy little siding on the Garden Railway.
The Workshops Newly restored Royal Scot waits for the new Garden Railway 10 1/4" track.
Huge Traction Engine restoration project close to completion.
'Simplicity' Roller fully restored.
Another Narrow Gauge rescue / restoration project awaits attention.