Page 37 - The Badger - Issue 8

THE BADGER Celebrating 125 Years of The Downs
After retiring from the Manchester textile industry in the late 1960s, he moved to Colwall, became a Master at The Downs, and took charge of the railway, dedicating two decades to its restoration. The locomotive James Boyd is named in his honour.
Indeed, James was the reason I became involved with the DLR myself. I was filming a short documentary about his life and interests when he turned to me and said, “I’m a Manchester lad, and so are you — that’s good enough for me.” That was enough for him to invite me to get involved with the DLR. James sadly passed away in 2009, but his influence continues to shape what we do.
The railway doesn’t just benefit pupils. It quietly fascinates the wider railway community too. Because it is on school grounds, access is limited, but hardly a week goes by without someone contacting me to ask for a look around. To enthusiasts, it is a real hidden gem.
In 2010, floodwater nearly wiped out the line, with repeated washouts in the tunnel. Thanks to a major effort, supported by parents, the drainage was reworked and the railway saved. We marked the turnaround with a public Railway Gala in 2017, drawing hundreds of visitors and renewing interest from both volunteers and the wider community.
The Downs Light Railway is a unique educational tool, giving young people something real, something challenging, and something they’ll remember for life.
One hundred years is an amazing age for any miniature railway to have reached, and Geoffrey ” Hoyland would have undoubtedly been pleased.
Nick Dodson
Chair of the DLR
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