In April 1911 Wenman Bassett-Lowke announced he was going to build a mile-long 15" gauge passenger-carrying railway around the Marine Lake in Rhyl. By May that year the 'father' of model and miniature railways in Britian had completed the line and commenced services. On August Bank Holiday Monday 1911 just over 5000 passengers were carried during 13 hours of running.
By 1920 it was clear the original locomotives needed replacing and in August 1920 a local engineer, Albert Barnes of Albion Works, Rhyl, produced the first of his 'Albion' Class of 4-4-2 steam locomotives for the Rhyl line. This 'Atlantic' type of engine was named Joan.
Between 1920 and 1934 a further five locomotives were built, three of which - John, Michael and Billy - remained at Rhyl. Another Michael (subsequently named Railway Queen) went to Belle Vue, Manchester and Billie (named after a girl) went to Margate.
It is a tribute to Albert Barnes and his Rhyl craftsmen that all six locomotives are still in existence and are universally known as the 'Barnes Atlantics'. Joan still runs at Rhyl. Billy, Railway Queen and Michael slumber in North Wales, awaiting the call to home and duty. Billie and John are privately owned elsewhere in the UK. John has recently paid a courtesy visit. Despite many difficulties in latter years, the oldest public passenger-carrying 15" gauge miniature railway in the UK, and possibly the world, is still hard at work. Trains run from Easter to September.
A board of trustees, mainly local residents, now manages the assets. Plans for the future include a new station which will also function as a Visitor Centre. A maintenance depot is envisaged as part of the complex. A supporting group, the Friends of the Rhyl Miniature Railway, has been formed. The 'Friends' not only raise money for the railway but supply trained volunteers to drive and maintain the locomotives, repair the track and staff the station. Most of the volunteers are North Walians, several being Rhyl citizens. However, as the fame of the railway grows, 'Friends' are joining from all over the UK and abroad.
The Trustees and 'Friends' are working hard to see that Rhyl Miniature Railway's historic and special place in both the world of miniature railways and the world of entertainment is assured for the foreseeable future. The August 2003 Gala Weekend at the railway saw 1300-plus passengers carried. The fiery jewel in Rhyl's entertainment crown is burning brightly again.
your comments
Mick Smith, Hull
Loved the railway round the lake, I used to watch it from the front garden when I lived with my girlfriend and her family the Barnhams at a house called the Inglenook after leaving the army from Kimmel Park camp. Marine Lake was thriving with the fairground and the railway. I had many happy years living in Rhyl.
Wed Jan 21 09:40:01 2009
Roger Lloyd Jones from Worthing, West Sussex
I used to come from Wrexham to Rhyl on the Sunday School Trip every June and a ride on the Marine Lake Railway was always the highlight. I used to like it when a main line steam train raced past us at the far side of the Lake on its way to Rhyl Station. For a short while in I think around 1960 there was also a very realistic miniature tramway which operated from near the coach park. The double deck closed top tram was extremely cramped for taller kids!
Thu Jan 15 10:05:36 2009
Laurence Smith (R.M.R volunteer), Rhyl
We now have 4 Albert Barnes Atlantics in the new station building, these are: Joan, Michael, Billy and Railway Queen Joan is running well and we hope to have Michael running by 2011 for the railway's 100th birthday. Earlier on this year we had John (ex Rhyl Miniature Railway) visit the railway for our gala weekend.
Mon Jun 2 08:57:36 2008
Graham - Migs Williams
My bro, Meg/Bernie, lived in Gwynfryn Ave. We lived by the roundabout, it had trees in the middle which became goals. It was a nice shape as Wembley, so each cup final we became the team who ran out at Wembley. Later it became the speed/way track with our made up bikes. From the tipwe would go to Marine lake, jump on the mini train, get a free ride, jump by the rowing boats, 1 would row to the other side. Then, we all jumped in to have a great time until they chased us, we would run home under the railway bridge or the sand dunes, collect empties then go to pics Regal or Plaza. Took my first girl (Ruth). Set up the street team, football teams, our team. Websters Dave Jones he went to the Grammar school, Hughes Esplys manager was Mr Sutton. Good days.
Fri Mar 28 09:31:56 2008
David Hughes
Sorry the website reference should have read: www.kingshartbooks.co.uk. The Reso is also available in the town at Y Siop Morfa. Hope this helps.
Tue Sep 4 16:39:21 2007
Tony Harris, Worcester
My grandparents lived in a place called Cefn Meiriadog not far from Rhyl. I used to stay there during the school holidays. Taid was the local gamekeeper. We used to travel to Rhyl on the Saturday bus from Cefn - one bus there and one bus back on the evening. The Marine Lake was like Disneyland to me, so much to see and do. The train ride around the lake was the thing I looked forward to most. My late grandfather Owen Evans told me that in the 1920s he used to operate the merry go round at the Marine Lake fun fair before he became a gamekeeper. Oh happy days! I wish I could relive those days just one more time.
Mon Jul 2 08:58:23 2007
Jim Gidman from Stoke on Trent
My memory of this railway is on a family holiday to Rhyl, staying in Prestatyn and coming to Rhyl for the day and riding the lake railway.
Fri Jun 29 08:52:17 2007
David, Nottingham
Hi Martin, The Reso should be available in bookshops or through Amazon from July 1st. It is published through Kingshart and will also be available through their website: www.kingshart.co.uk
Tue May 29 10:35:17 2007
Martin
Could David Hughes who is writing the book about "The Reso" please inform me were the book can be purchased and when, thanks.
Fri May 25 09:38:10 2007
David Hughes, Nottingham
What a treat to find so many who held the Marine Lake Railway so dear in our childhoods. It was a family tradition that every Easter Monday, come rain, snow or shine my Nain would lead all the family to the Marine Lake and the Railway was always the first port of call. The Railway features in a book I have written that will be published in April 2007, called The Reso, it is written about the large council house just over the iron bridge from the Marine Lake and is set in those magical days of the 1960s. I've had to write it under the name of Ambrose Conway as there are too many David Hughes' in publication! I look forward to a ride behind Joan on my next visit home.
Mon Mar 26 08:47:18 2007
Sharon Lee (nee Henley) Rhyl now USA
Derek Evans (Ex Ferodo Driver), my grandmother was the Rene Saville that you mentioned. I grew up in that house on Wellington Rd just by the Marine Lake. I can't count how many times I have ridden on that train. As a child the Marine Lake was my personal playground. My friends and I hung out there for hours. I even walked the same dog as Derek did. It was either Judy (black and white mutt) or Taffy (white and brown terrier). Rhyl was a great place to grow up, especially if you lived by the Marine Lake and the Fairground.
Fri Feb 2 08:50:37 2007
justin bell rhyl (railway trustee)
To answer some of the comments - the station was put in its current location as it was the easiest place to fit it in on flat level track as you need to have, under modern health and safety laws. It could not be sited back on its original corner location as the track is not level and it would not fit. The design of the new station is as close to the old 1930s station with its curved roof, the only difference is it wider and straight as to fit in all the needed bits to run a railway, because, dont forget, in those days the maintaince was done over the road at the fun fair. We now have to do it all on site.
Mon Nov 13 08:21:46 2006
Michelle Rhyl
Yes, keep our heritage sites alive and running, but open your eyes. Denbighshire county council have done it again!
They see something that's refreshing to look at - The Marine Lake - and give planning for an ugly building to obscure the view. Why are Denbighshire council so intent on hiding away the few picturesque locations we have left in and around Rhyl? If the miniature railway needed a new station (I am not disputing that) then why not use some foresight and build it to the side of the lake, not almost slap bang in the middle? After the last brainwave they had, The Children's Village, you would have thought they would have put some of their grey cells to work!
Mon Oct 16 09:40:02 2006
Shirley McBryde from denny, Scotland
I remember my first holiday in Rhyl, some 26 years ago. I thought it was a brilliant place, everything a teenager would want: sun, sea, fairground, great beaches and nightlife. I have been a few times, but not for a long time now, a few friends have been and said "it's not the place it used to be". My Dad used to live in Rhyl and in fact worked on the Marine lake driving the miniature train around the park. Happy days, sadly he has past away but i remember his love of the wee train, and the joy he brought to a lot of visitors to the park.
Tue Feb 28 19:13:34 2006
Joy from Prestatyn
I came past your little raillway today 18/09/05 and found it was closed, Why ? its only September and still a lot of holiday makers still here, can you please tell me when the railway will reopen and the times,Prehaps it would help to put the opening times on your website!!. Kind regards Joy..
Mon Sep 19 17:02:27 2005
Alan George from Nantwich, Cheshire
What happy memories I have of the Marine Lake Railway. Went to Rhyl Grammar from 1948 to 1954 and watched the Lilywhites in the great days of Don Spendlove. How great to see the railway back and Rhyl FC doing us all proud in Europe.
Sun Aug 28 19:07:20 2005
Mike Ellis from Sheffield
From the age of two to the age of nineteen I was transported annually, by my parents, from Sheffield to "Sunny Rhyl" for our holidays. Our accommodation was a self-catering flat on John Street. Some 52 years later, with young children of my own, I visit Rhyl most years even if it's only for a day trip. My parents, now aged seventy plus, have taken holidays exclusively at Rhyl all their adult life. My fondest memories are of clean sand, paddling/boating pools, fishing off the harbour wall and the "Punch and Judy" show, by the Clock Tower. Ultimately, the "Fun Fair" situated by the Marine Lake has a place in my heart that will stay with me for the rest of my days. Having purchased a bag of doughnuts from the archway entrance to the seafront amusement park we would walk down the side-road stalls to the entrance of the Marine Lake amusement park. My namesake "Michael" the Atlantic class steam engine along with John and Joan used to be my favourite ride of all rides! When my computer is first switched on for work each morning, my desktop has a picture of two of the trains waiting in the station, steaming and ready to go! This was taken from a postcard dating back to 1963. When I look at this picture now I can still conjure up the smell of cinders, steam and smoke!
It is nice to see the preservation society hard at work with Joan still running round the lake Spring to Autumn, however I have seen the plans for the proposed new station and personally feel a little disappointed that the buildings will be somewhat ultra modern in design. Call me old-fashioned but surely steam locomotion is from a bygone era and perhaps a more nostalgic approach might have been better.
Thu Feb 24 15:34:22 2005
Moira Fisher (nee Tierney) now aged 50!
I was lucky to have been able to see the brightly shining engines on a daily basis throughout the summer months during my childhood. This was because my parents owned a circular stall (hoopla) in the entrance of the Marine Lake adjacent to the Minature Railway Station. I remember the smoke and the blue carriages and that it was always a better and longer ride at the back carriage!
Wed Feb 23 23:03:11 2005
Derek Evans (Ex Ferodo Long Distance Driver)
On my journeyings to and from Caernarfon, I used to stay overnight with a Mrs Rene Saville on Wellington Road, and every night I used to take her dog for a walk round the Marine lake! When I first started staying there the Railway had been lifted. And I watched the contractors relay it,(not quite on the same route) and was fortunate to travel on the first train on re-opening. I have got in my possession a short section of the new track on my garden which is of a larger section than the original. I have been retired for several years now but still recall rides on the old railway and on the new one! I hope that it remains for several years to come. I will continue to visit it whenever I visit North Wales! Derek Evans(Ferodo Caernarfon 1969-1991)
Thu Nov 11 23:31:10 2004
Don Jones, Lincs
Great to know Stan Worthy is alive and well. I lived round the block in Vale Road and was right behind you Stan when you had the misfortune to break your leg playing football at the Grammar School. You are so right about Rhyl FC Cheshire League Champions. Come on the Lillywhites!
Wed Oct 6 00:30:25 2004
Stan Worthy - Ravenswood W.Australia
I left Rhyl in 1952 and like Don Jones remember all he mentioned plus the " Golden Days" of Rhyl Football Club! Glad to see there is still a future for the minature railway!
Fri Sep 17 08:49:43 2004
Mrs D Lorrimer-Riley, Pentir, Bangor, Gwynedd
What a comprehensive and most interesting article. Unsung heroes of history on our doorstep and through the goodwill of many we are still able to enjoy their efforts.
Wed Nov 19 11:43:54 2003
Don Jones from Lincolnshire
Power to all your elbows. My childhood delights up to 1950, were the Marine Lake miniature railway and "on the farm" pony rides. Billy Parkin's open air theatre, and the open air swimming baths. These are all gone, with the sole exception of the miniature railway, and at times it looked as if it too, would would be lost. Let us hope that this jewel in Rhyl's crown will survive for many more years, to delight Rhyl's residents and visitors alike.
Sun Nov 16 12:26:51 2003
Colin Duthie from Christchurch, New Zealanda
Great to learn that this railway is still going strongly. A wonderful link with times gone by!
Sat Nov 15 06:34:13 2003
Alan Cliff of Rhyl talks about the development of the town's miniature railway...
