THEN & NOW 

        THEN STARTED IN 1999, NOW IS ONGOING…

Like all good fairy stories, the beginnings of the SDLRS started very simply and arose during one of the weekly workshop sessions conducted by Barry Metcalf at what subsequently became known as the ‘Laundry Works’ near Horsham.

The need for the new Society came about when it became apparent that a number of like-minded individuals needed to create a new organisation, one that was able to qualify for membership of the Southern Federation of Miniature Engineering Societies.  In this increasingly litigious age it was clear that those concerned needed to be able to obtain insurance protection against any possible third party public liability, something that was & is still offered by the Southern Federation as a service to its affiliated Clubs & Societies

So it was that those same enthusiasts (Barry Metcalf; Paul Cowlin; Chris Knibbs; Peter Taylor; Jerry & Julian Chivers & Chris English) set up the new South Downs Light Railway Society. They were the founder members, and still are members of our Society.

Although there were initially no plans for the Society to be anything other than a small group of like minded individuals who met regularly to work on and talk about model engineering projects, it was always at the back of our minds that one day it would be nice to have our own railway.

That we now have just that came about as a result of both good & bad luck. The good luck came about when a very casual chance visit in 1999 by two of the founder members, (to what was then the Riverview Miniature Railway at Pulborough), elicited the information that the then operator of that railway was about to cease operations. The bad luck being that although the line had only been re-laid with new rail in the previous eighteen months, the gauge was 7.25" whilst all our locomotives and rolling stock were (and are) 10.25" gauge.

A further visit to the site at Pulborough revealed to all concerned that here was the possibility of a solution to our immediate needs. It was immediately clear that such a plan would involve vast quantities of both enthusiasm, effort and not a little cash, quantities of which there were an abundance of the first two and a complete dearth of the latter.

Not unnaturally perhaps, the initial approach to, (what was then the Country Gardens), the management was met with a somewhat cautious reaction. This was only turned into something more positive by a direct approach to the then Finance Director of Country Gardens plc. Following seemingly endless 'phone calls came the first glimmer of hope, which in turn finally resulted in a go ahead for the new railway with effect from 1 March 2000.

An appeal for funding to satisfy the need for a quick order for 3500 treated sleepers, 14,000 bolts and washers and 20 tonnes of granite ballast, (when the new Society was virtually penniless), was quickly fulfilled by a handful of members.

So it was that an apprehensive group gathered at Pulborough to see just what had been taken on by a then still small group of individuals, namely the rebuilding of a complete railway to a point where we could start running trains again, (as was required by our agreement with the owners, in just eight weeks). That this was achieved, albeit initially over just a part of the line, was and still is a credit to that initial group who were aided by an increasing band of enthusiasts.

In parallel to the track laying was the refurbishment of the structures on the railway, with the station at Stopham Road being painted, closely followed by the external decorations of both the Signalbox, and Loco shed. Subsequently the interiors of both the Lobby and the Loco Shed were painted, with in addition a new electrical distribution system being installed in place of the somewhat rudimentary original arrangement.

Improvements have continued with, amongst many, the upgrading & maintenance of the fully operational signalling system using miniature replica upper quadrant signals and an ex. BR 14 lever frame, operational scale water cranes in the station and loco shed areas, an extended siding that enables locos to be tested without effecting the railway operations, the rebuilding of a derelict building into the current Carriage Shed & currently the complete replacement of Stopham Road Station. (For pictures of the old station see the ‘ARCHIVE’ section).

So it is that the South Downs Light Railway Society entered its eighth year of existence with a list of achievements and a superb locomotive & rolling stock collection that is the envy of many long established groups.