Wortley Top Forge model railway back on track

MODEL railway enthusiasts in South Yorkshire worked like navvies to repair flood damage and ensure its annual open day ran like clockwork.
By The Newsroom
Published 3rd Sep 2007, 11:38 BST
Updated 3rd Sep 2007, 12:14 BST

Members of Wortley Top Forge Model Engineers put in a huge restoration effort after the River Don burst its banks in June.

The flood washed away bridge timbers, destroyed trackwork and ballast, inundated the club room and badly damaged engines and rolling stock.

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One of the railway carriages was rescued from halfway up a tree several hundred metres away from the site.

But yesterday the mini-trains were once again chugging through the beautiful and tranquil setting at Wortley Top Forge, near Sheffield, with passengers aboard. The third-of-a-mile-long loop includes stations, signalling and even a tunnel.

Visitors also viewed exhibitions and took guided tours of the site which boasts a large collection of industrial exhibits including working water wheels.

Group secretary Alec Butteriss said: "It was great to see so many people attend, we had about 200, everything went well.

"We also had about 15 trains running with drivers coming from all over the north of England."

Related topics:South YorkshireSheffieldEngland