Page 36 - The Badger - Issue 8

THE BADGER Celebrating 125 Years of The Downs
Built to Inspire:
100 Years of The Downs Light Railway
As the iconic DLR celebrates its centenary, Nick Dodson, Chair of the DLR Trust, reflects on the past, present and future of this extraordinary miniature railway.
“ It’s quite something, isn’t it? One hundred years of a school railway, still running, still inspiring, and still entirely unlike anything else. The Downs Light Railway has been part of my life for many years now, and I still get a genuine sense of joy watching pupils throw themselves into it, just as they did in 1925.
The line owes its existence to Geoffrey Hoyland, who became Headmaster in 1920. Alongside his uncle, Frank, he laid the first rails on what became the world’s oldest private miniature railway. It was always much more than just a novelty; it was a totally unique education.
We started with 71⁄4-inch gauge but soon regauged to 91⁄2 inches. That may seem inconsequential, but it’s actually very rare, and the railway remains one of only a handful in the world to use it. Today, three locomotives run on the line: Brock, a 1974 steam engine; James Boyd, built in 1991 and named after one of the DLR’s most dedicated champions; and Tim Cadbury, our petrol-hydraulic workhorse from 1986. Many pupils earn their blue neckerchief for driving Tim Cadbury, and some go on to gain their red, signalling they are qualified to drive steam under supervision. It’s a huge and unique achievement; after all, not many pupils can say they have driven a certified steam engine before they have left Prep school!
Old Downians will recall James Boyd, author, teacher, much respected historian and rail enthusiast. He was born in 1921 and became known for his extensive research and writing on narrow-gauge railways.
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