Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective

Dean Forest Railway

Heritage railway in Gloucestershire, England From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dean Forest Railwaymap
Remove ads

The Dean Forest Railway is a 4+14-mile (6.8 km) long heritage railway that runs between Lydney and Parkend in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.

Quick facts Locale, Commercial operations ...

The route was part of the former Severn and Wye Railway which ran from Lydney to Cinderford. The society that operates the line started steam locomotive operations in 1971, and bought the trackbed and line from British Rail in 1986, reaching Lydney Junction in 1995 and Parkend in 2005.[1] Trains are operated by both steam and heritage diesel locomotives, and heritage diesel multiple units.

The Dean Forest Railway has been given the former Panteg and Griffithstown railway station building. Its removal was completed in June 2016, and is expected to be placed at the new upcoming Speech House Road.

The Dean Forest Railway plans to extend its heritage services a further 2+12 miles (4.0 km) through/into the middle of the Royal Forest at Speech House Road (close to the nearby Beechenhurst Visitor Attraction), bringing the line to a total of about 6+34 miles (10.9 km) in length.[2] In 2016, DFR's director of civil engineering and director of development Jason Shirley announced plans to expand the railway to Cinderford. The project's status as a strategic regional development means that a large proportion of the estimated £8million cost could be met by Government funding.[3] As of 2025, progress has been slow, with the extension being delayed by a proposal for a new level crossing at Travellers Rest that requires the permission of the Office of Rail and Road.[4]

Remove ads

Stations and Junctions of the DFR

Summarize
Perspective
Dean Forest Railway
Traveller's Rest Crossing
Parkend Crossing
Parkend
to Marsh Sidings
Whitecroft Crossing
Whitecroft
Tufts Bridge
over River Lyd
Severn and Wye Railway
to Princess Royal Colliery
Tufts Junction
Norchard
High / Low Level | Loco Shed
Lydney Town Crossing
Lydney Town
St Mary's Halt
Lydney Bypass Crossing A48
Pidcock's Canal
Station Road Crossing
Lydney Junction Heritage railway
Lydney National Rail
Left arrow Newport  Gloucester Right arrow
Gloucester–Newport line
Railway lines in Lydney
For canal icons used below, please refer to waterways legend.


Princess Royal Colliery
Tufts Junction
Tufts Bridge
Norchard High Level
Norchard Low Level
Lydney Town
St Mary's Halt
Engine shed
Dean Forest Railway Lydney Junction
Severn Bridge Tunnel
Severn Bridge
National Rail Lydney
Lydney Harbour Branch
Pidcock's Canal
Severn Railway Bridge
(Dismantled 1970)
Forges
Lydney Canal
Lower Docks
Upper Docks
Swing bridge over
Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
Locks onto River Severn
River Severn
More information Point, Coordinates (Links to map resources) ...

Proposed future extension

Remove ads

Locomotives

Steam

More information Number & Name, Description ...

Diesel and electric

More information Number & Name, Description ...

Former Steam Locomotives

More information Number & Name, Description ...

Visiting Steam Locomotives

More information Number & Name, Description ...

Former Diesel Locomotives and Multiple units

More information Number & Name, Description ...

Visiting Diesel Locomotives and Multiple units

More information Number & Name, Description ...

For the 2001 diesel gala a number of diesel were display at Lydney Junction. These were 37029,37308,37906, D172, 47306, 56111, 60081, 66250 and 66524.

Remove ads

Coaches

Summarize
Perspective

The main running set is a mix of BR Mark 1 and 2 stock. Two Mark 2 carriages were purchased by the DFR Society in 2018 so that the Mark 1s could be overhauled. In early 2020, all the Mark 1 and 2s were transferred ownership from the Forest of Dean Railway limited company to the DFR society, including XP64 number 4729. In 2025 Mark 1 SO w4786 hired in from the Churnet Valley Railway

Great Western Railway coaching stock

More information Design, Type ...

British Railways coaching stock

More information Design, Type ...

Ex coaching stock

More information Design, Type ...

Coach type codes

Remove ads

Wagons

There are lots different types of wagons at the DFR. Some are used for display and other for engineering works. Many of the wagons can be seen in sidings along the line. There are rakes of Dogfish ballast wagons, VEA Vans and TTA tank wagons.

Brakevans

More information Design, Type ...
Remove ads

References

Loading related searches...

Wikiwand - on

Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.

Remove ads