Ted Martin's Garden & Woodland Railway

Organised by Pete Joels


This visit happened on the 15th September 2019 which was the last of one the four open days this year, but unfortunately the last ever time it will be open, as the land is being sold off to developers. Around 40 Club members including their guest met up at the railway at bout 2.30pm, for an afternoon of fun, also there were many members of the public there as well, so trains were full. The work of this 7¼ in gauge railway was built by EC “Ted” Martin (1922-2010) from the 1970s onwards on a hectare of land in Thame in Oxfordshire. With a lot of care and attention made to all the work involved track laying to the various buildings, which is not surprising as he was a very accomplished precision engineer. His friends and family have kept the railway running since his death.


Below is a video taken by Ray Gomm, from one of the trains, as it travels round the garden.

VIDEO SITS HERE


Below are a selection of photographs that where taken throughout the afternoon, click on the below to see a larger image:

8_tm2019.jpg 30926 ‘Repton’ posing in the sun
Photograph by Graham Bucknell

5_tm2019.jpg The complete freight train that was running all afternoon
Photograph by Graham Bucknell

38_tm2019.jpg Graham's son Jack making sure the tender gets the correct amount of water
Photograph by Graham Bucknell

36_tm2019.jpg Locomotives ready, and scones for the drivers
Photograph by Graham Bucknell

ASCII 30926 ‘Repton’ and 31873 off to find their train of passengers
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII Shear power of the '47XX' 4701 and '9F' 92184
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII ‘N’ class Mogul 31873, piloted by ‘Schools’ class 30926 ‘Repton’ sets off for a garden tour
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII Trains passing at the Junction
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII The best way to fire a steam loco, when it is not moving!
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII Maximum Boiler Pressure – Preparing for today’s heavy load
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII GWR Mixed Traffic ‘47xx’ class2-8-0 (‘Night Owl’) approaches the station a bit too fast!
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII The ‘Dean Goods’ Doing Goods Stuff on the freight turn
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII With fifteen on, only a ‘9F’ Pilot for the ‘Saint’ would do up this 1:50 bank
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII Crossing paths, ‘9F’ Pilot for the ‘Saint’ on passenger with Dean Goods on the freight
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII 31873 ticks over in the shed area
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII Drivers having a chat about the next move
Photograph by Pete Joels

ASCII 30926 ‘Repton’ and 31873 bring another train load round the bend
Photograph by Roy Norton

29_tm2019.jpg There should be enough milk in the wagon for the drivers cuppa!
Photograph by Roy Norton

16_tm2019.jpg Close up of Dean Goods 2542
Photograph by Roy Norton

13_tm2019.jpg 30926 ‘Repton’ and 2986 'Robin Hood' on shed
Photograph by Roy Norton

35_tm2019.jpg Close up of 30926 ‘Repton’
Photograph by Roy Norton

2986 'Robin Hood' being fired-up
Photograph by Paul Wright

The 9F making another run
Photograph by Paul Wright

General view of the engine shed area
Photograph by Paul Wright

Adding some more coal before off to find its train
Photograph by Paul Wright

The Risborough Venturer really stands out
Photograph by Paul Wright

‘9F’ and the ‘Saint’
Photograph by Paul Wright

The Dean Goods doing sterling work on the freight
Photograph by Paul Wright

30926 ‘Repton’ and 31873
Photograph by Paul Wright

30926 ‘Repton’ and 31873 steam by
Photograph by Paul Wright

Pete has his camera all lined up from the seated position
Photograph by Paul Wright

The Dean Goods taking a passenger train
Photograph by Paul Wright

Time for a break for the drivers and the engines
Photograph by Paul Wright

GWR 1004 'County of Somerset' and mixed traffic ‘47xx’ come off shed
Photograph by James Aitken

Paul, Pete and David look on at the engine shed
Photograph by James Aitken

Another full load for a GWR paring
Photograph by James Aitken

2986 'Robin Hood' and the 9F light engine
Photograph by James Aitken

Close up of large Prairie 3151
Photograph by James Aitken

30926 ‘Repton out for a spin on the turntable
Photograph by James Aitken