August 2015
Coate Water Miniature Railway
Hurrah!! After twenty-two years in Swindon I made it to the miniature railway at Coate Water. It was great. As the nearly-two-year-old I was with said “Choo choo’:
July 2015
Regular listeners will know, from my blog post about the Hooter Express, that I love a miniature railway. Which makes it all the more surprising that I’ve never managed to get my butt into gear and take a trip on the Coate Water miniature railway – something I really must address.
Just this evening I was reading the Link magazine (find them on Facebook here) and came across a small piece about the railway. Would you believe that 2015 marks the FIFTIETH birthday of the railway? Blimey!
‘The NWMES was founded in the early 1960s by a small band of enthusiasts interested in the building and running of miniature steam locomotives. They leased the land and constructed a small loop of track, with a steaming bay, on the present site at Coate Water Country Park, Swindon, Wiltshire.
In the early days there was nothing else on the site and they had to bring everything, including water to the track for each running session.’
You’ll find opening times and other information here:Â https://coatewaterrailway.wixsite.com/swindon
There’s lots of great reasons to visit Coate Water – aside from the railway and seeing the listed concrete diving platform. It has lovely walks, is a nature reserve and an area of scientific interest. Visit Swindon Web to find out more.
About the North Wilts Model Engineering Society
We open every Sunday (weather permitting) and most bank holidays. The railway is also open where advertised on Saturdays (but may be open if sufficient volunteers are available). During the summer school holidays we open on a Tuesday. Opening times are from around 11am through to 5pm, or dusk during the winter. Go here for more information.
See also:
And for more on the Richard Jefferies museum go here for a number of posts about that most splendid establishment.
