History of the railway

the old workshed

RVR moved onto the site in 1995.  There had been a small railway here before, but there was virtually nothing left of it.  RVR have bought and built everything that is here today.

The first year was spent building, and the first train ran on 24th August 1996.  This was hauled by the diesel Maurice the Major (still going strong at RVR today) with borrowed coaches from Poole Park Railway.  During this time RVR built their own coaches which were first put into service in mid November 1996.

In 1997, RVR bought the steam locomotive Isambard Kingdom Brunel which ran at The Age of Steam in Cornwall until 1985 or 1986, and she also is hauling RVR's trains today.