Severn Beach Miniature Railway (update thread)

[overthere 2]

Follow up to this thread: https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/severn-beach-miniature-railway.280562/ and its not good news.

First post on page 2: Steam trains now not to return at Severn Beach - updated topic, Nov 2025

Its with sadness and deep regret that the Severn Beach Miniature Railway project which I been working on for so long is now officially over. Our local parish council have tried to get this through and all were in support. South Gloucestershire Council have put everything theve got into stopping the planning going ahead even though at the beginning with had written permission to do so. A lease was drawn up and later retracted by council. This was a huge community project that I set up and we woukd have been open by Easter this year. The frustrations and stress this project has given me and my family had become too much to bear.

Yesterday I wrote an official letter to our parish council informing them I have cancelled the project. Im writing this as I would like you all to know the reasons why this project has failed. This of course means now I will have to see everything as I dont have anywhere else to go.

Included in the items for sale are 65 x 6 metre panoramic track using S10 rail mounted on 11 pressure creosoted timber sleepers 5x4x24" sufficient fishplates and track screws. Track tools, 5 pairs of brand new switch blades in S10. We have a rake of 3 x 10 1/4" gauge toast coaches. A practically new Exmoor 2-4-2 tank locomotive with a new 10 years hydraulic and in ticket till next year. This locomotive is ready to use now. A 40 shipping container proffesionally insulated al lined with electrics, 400 plus metres of new 4 inch round posts, stock fencing, post and rails. New galvanised gates in various sizes. 20 new ish Heras fencing panels with clips and stays. Spare sleepers and other items.To see any of these items go to website www.sbmr.co.uk or Facebook.

While we don't know the full story - though councils being obstructive and difficult when somebody wants to do good and create jobs is sadly not exactly a rare occurrence - it does sound like the guy was serious as he had already got everything needed to build and run a railway and looking at Google maps I can't see anything to make it worth going to Severn beach for at the moment so it would have given a reason to visit.

 

[Gloster]

It does read to me that he never had an actual signed and legal lease, merely one being considered. Despite owning what looks like sufficient stock and equipment, had he got adequate financial backing and reserves to cover unforeseen eventualities? We don’t know how long he has been working on the project, but fifteen months or so is not particularly long when dealing with something like this. There are many details missing in the brief report, which appears to come from only one source (him). I am sure that he is honest and well-intentioned, but it seems to me (I may be wrong) that he has charged ahead before getting everything sorted out and is now blaming everyone else for his inability to continue.

 

[Russel]

I'd been keeping an eye on this one, now I understand why the updates were somewhat sparse.

 

[JohnofWessex]

For those who have never been.............

 

[tumbles]

Maybe they should open the monorail that runs under the Prince of Wales bridge instead. I’d go

 

[Narrowgauge725]

His website Joe has been involved with 10 1/4” railways for a long time so he would have all the bits mentioned in stock rather than bought specifically for it. I seem to remember previous failed projects

 

[tumbles]

His website Joe has been involved with 10 1/4” railways for a long time so he would have all the bits mentioned in stock rather than bought specifically for it. I seem to remember previous failed projects

Maybe he will get involved in the reopening of clevedon miniature railway announced this week. I have vague recollection that he may have bought the rolling stock from it when it closed few years ago

 

[JohnofWessex]

Maybe he will get involved in the reopening of clevedon miniature railway announced this week. I have vague recollection that he may have bought the rolling stock from it when it closed few years ago

When |I went on the Clevedon line with my oldest about 20 years ago the condition of the wheels was 'interesting' flanges inside and outside the rail!