Orchard Farm Lakeside Railway

Miniature Railways - Colin Peake's Photographs

14th August 2007

We visited this line at Hunmanby, near Filey on Saturday 22nd July 2006, on our way to our holiday destination. Okay, so we took a *slight* diversion having passed a sign saying 'Miniature Steam Railway'.....

This holiday park based line is approx 500m long, in the form of two balloon loops joined by double track to make a circuit and folded back on itself so that the two loops are very close together at one point. The station buildings are very well presented and are very railway-like in appearance. The line is open to non residents of the caravan/camping site and a fare of 50p is charged.

The railway opened in 1995 and for a time an Intercity 125 outline locomotive was used, along with two steam locos. There is presently an American outline Co-Co diesel 'Orchard Flyer' and the driver informed me there was a smaller diesel on site and a steam loco under construction which has so far been run on compressed air.

Thanks to Dave Holroyde I have discovered that Orchard Flyer is a Co-CoDM built by R Yates in 1979 ex Morecambe Bay Miniature Railway, which was in Scotland at Ness Islands Caravan Park before arriving at Orchard Farm.

A return visit almost exactly a year later on 28th July 2007 found the railway in pretty much the same state as before, although the coaching stock had been repainted. The steam locomotive is still a work in progress, but the ride is still a pleasant one, although watch out for the shark in the lake... oh.. it isn't real...

An overall view of the station at Orchard Farm, the line on the left continues around the lake and returns to the right hand platform. 567x425	A closer view of the locomotive, seemingly awaiting the arrival of Tony Christie! 567x425	Orchard Flyer ftom the side, a substantial locomotive recently rebuilt for the railway. 567x425
A view from the train at the approach to the first balloon loop. The line joining in front of the loco comes down from the shed. 567x425	Part way around the first loop the driver concentrates on the line ahead. 567x425	A view of the station from the footbridge. The two platforms on the left are not used in everyday use. 567x425
Orchard Flyer from the other side, ready to depart on another trip. 567x425	The train rounds the bend before passing through the station around the second loop. 567x425	By the lakeside the train is at the end of it's trip, the station is just behind the photographer. 567x425
A year on and not a lot has changed, the loco basks in the sunlight. 567x425	A view over the station from the footbridge. 567x425	A glance the other way at the impressive level crossing. 567x425
Orchard Flyer awaits custom. 567x425	A side view of this impressive machine. 567x425	Out of the station and on to the double track section. 567x425
A look backwards up the line to the shed. 567x425	The view of the station from the second balloon loop. 567x425	On another trip Orchard Flyer passes the station. 567x425