History
Built by Eric Booth having recently retired from a carrier in the RAF. Eric had bought the steam locomotive Royal Scot in 1966 from Jersey and started looking for sites to run a public railway. He contacted the various councils in Cornwall and was offered two sites, one in Truro and the other being where we operate today. Eric knew the potential of Newquay with it's vast visitor numbers and he was also told about an up coming idea to build Newquay Zoo on an adjacent site. By the time discussions had been held and a lease agreed construction started in 1967, opening in 1968 - being the oldest miniature in Cornwall. He chose the name Little Western as the impressive Trenance viaduct built by the Great Western Railway looks down over the site of the railway.
In it's first year the Little Western was basic, there were the two bridges and a tunnel, this was used as over night storage for the rolling stock. The ticket office was a mere wendy house and there was a siding at the station to keep rolling stock not needed that day out of the way. The first season started in time for Whitsun and finished in September, the summer days were long for Eric and his family but their hard work paid off and 70,000 passengers rode behind Royal Scot in that year. It was quickly realised that additional power was needed and a petrol locomotive modelled on a British Railways Class 35 'Hymek' was bought from Cromar White for the 1969 season just in time for the opening of Newquay Zoo. Over the next 5 years the railway had a lot of investment including, a turntable with a 2 road engine shed for the growing amount of rolling stock, which now totalled 2 steam locomotives and 1 petrol along with 4 carriages. Lamp posts were added so trains could run well in to the evening. A signal box with working signals, as well as a metal footbridge and the siding changed to a second platform. The railway was now a brilliant success with huge crowds queuing to ride the Little Western with all it's miniature marvels. Eric then went on to build the Lappa Valley Railway, although he didn't sell Little Western until 2014 at the age of 90.
Things went on well for Little Western, however in 1979 the Hymek locomotive kept breaking down resulting in disappointing passengers and lost income, so for 1980 the Hymek was disposed of and a brand new locomotive was ordered which resulted in the HST we still have today. Around this time a gentleman called Rudi, was taken on by Eric to run Little western whilst he focused on his other railway. The Business couldn't have been in better hands for the next 30 years. Today locals still talk about Rudi and the great things he used to build, which included working electric signals, many hand painted signs and even a bell that would ring at the station as the train came through the tunnel. He kept the railway in pristine order and was his pride and joy.
Following Rudi's retirement and Eric's ever increasing age the railway did begin to suffer, infrastructure costs kept increasing as they had all now seen out there useful life, the first to go was the footbridge and signals. Then over the next few years the railway was left with just the HST and 3 carriages, the bare minimum to maintain a service.
In it's first year the Little Western was basic, there were the two bridges and a tunnel, this was used as over night storage for the rolling stock. The ticket office was a mere wendy house and there was a siding at the station to keep rolling stock not needed that day out of the way. The first season started in time for Whitsun and finished in September, the summer days were long for Eric and his family but their hard work paid off and 70,000 passengers rode behind Royal Scot in that year. It was quickly realised that additional power was needed and a petrol locomotive modelled on a British Railways Class 35 'Hymek' was bought from Cromar White for the 1969 season just in time for the opening of Newquay Zoo. Over the next 5 years the railway had a lot of investment including, a turntable with a 2 road engine shed for the growing amount of rolling stock, which now totalled 2 steam locomotives and 1 petrol along with 4 carriages. Lamp posts were added so trains could run well in to the evening. A signal box with working signals, as well as a metal footbridge and the siding changed to a second platform. The railway was now a brilliant success with huge crowds queuing to ride the Little Western with all it's miniature marvels. Eric then went on to build the Lappa Valley Railway, although he didn't sell Little Western until 2014 at the age of 90.
Things went on well for Little Western, however in 1979 the Hymek locomotive kept breaking down resulting in disappointing passengers and lost income, so for 1980 the Hymek was disposed of and a brand new locomotive was ordered which resulted in the HST we still have today. Around this time a gentleman called Rudi, was taken on by Eric to run Little western whilst he focused on his other railway. The Business couldn't have been in better hands for the next 30 years. Today locals still talk about Rudi and the great things he used to build, which included working electric signals, many hand painted signs and even a bell that would ring at the station as the train came through the tunnel. He kept the railway in pristine order and was his pride and joy.
Following Rudi's retirement and Eric's ever increasing age the railway did begin to suffer, infrastructure costs kept increasing as they had all now seen out there useful life, the first to go was the footbridge and signals. Then over the next few years the railway was left with just the HST and 3 carriages, the bare minimum to maintain a service.
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Little Western was to get itself a new owner in 2014 in the form of John Littlefield who built and ran many businesses in his lifetime with his pride and joy being the beautiful crazy golf opposite Little Western. John immediately began work on the railway, he took away skips of rubbish and broken fencing as well as clearing over grown areas. He then turned his attention to the rolling stock, the HST was overhauled and resprayed along with the 3 carriages. A steam engine called Angor Wat was purchased which was to run on Sundays and special occasions. His next mission was to replace the track but sadly before this happened John passed away. His family continued running the railway for the next few years until they sold it in 2018.
The next owner carried on running the railway in the same way but due to other business commitments to focus on they sold the railway in 2020. This time to Richard Curtis a born and bred Newquay Man. Richard had purchased Royal Scot from Eric in 2014 and with the purchase of the railway he could bring the engine back 'home' again.
This started a huge regeneration for Little Western. It was in such bad condition the decision was taken to close for 2020 and get it in perfect order for 2021. The whole railway was dismantled, 2 new metal bridges were fabricated to replace the rotten wooden structures. The entire mainline was re-laid using over 1000 sleepers, over 10,000 bolts and brand new aluminium rails. 50 tons of stone was needed to firm up the track bed to give a smooth ride and drain the water away. All of which had to be moved by hand due to limitations on site for machines. 5 points were made in house giving LWR two working platforms for the first time in over 10 years. Plus a new depot to maintain the locomotives and coaches on site, another first for LWR.
An expansion of the rolling stock included a new petrol locomotive in the form of 'Linda' along with 8 sit-a-stride carriages which increased the capacity on the trains and also didn't just give the railway a spare coach but a complete whole spare set. Some of our coaches came from the now closed but famous Dobwalls forest railroad and we couldn't resist bringing some back home to Cornwall.
Our last big job before the railway was to re-open was the building of a complete new station.
Make sure you visit us to find out what we have been up to!
The next owner carried on running the railway in the same way but due to other business commitments to focus on they sold the railway in 2020. This time to Richard Curtis a born and bred Newquay Man. Richard had purchased Royal Scot from Eric in 2014 and with the purchase of the railway he could bring the engine back 'home' again.
This started a huge regeneration for Little Western. It was in such bad condition the decision was taken to close for 2020 and get it in perfect order for 2021. The whole railway was dismantled, 2 new metal bridges were fabricated to replace the rotten wooden structures. The entire mainline was re-laid using over 1000 sleepers, over 10,000 bolts and brand new aluminium rails. 50 tons of stone was needed to firm up the track bed to give a smooth ride and drain the water away. All of which had to be moved by hand due to limitations on site for machines. 5 points were made in house giving LWR two working platforms for the first time in over 10 years. Plus a new depot to maintain the locomotives and coaches on site, another first for LWR.
An expansion of the rolling stock included a new petrol locomotive in the form of 'Linda' along with 8 sit-a-stride carriages which increased the capacity on the trains and also didn't just give the railway a spare coach but a complete whole spare set. Some of our coaches came from the now closed but famous Dobwalls forest railroad and we couldn't resist bringing some back home to Cornwall.
Our last big job before the railway was to re-open was the building of a complete new station.
Make sure you visit us to find out what we have been up to!
