Lilleshall Abbey Woodland Railway

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I saw the featured image in a photo book compiled by Alton Douglas for Beacon Radio in 1987, ‘Memories of the Wrekin and Beyond’. It shows Lilleshall Estate’s 2ft-gauge railway in action in 1933. [1: p47]

The Lilleshall Estate in Shropshire featured a historic 2-foot gauge miniature railway that operated from 1928 until the onset of World War II. Built to entertain tourists, the line used unique petrol-powered, steam-outline locomotives manufactured by E.E. Baguley Ltd.

Opened in 1928 and closed in 1939.

In 1917 the Duke of Sutherland sold the Hall and and Gardens. Eventually these were acquired by Herbert Ford who developed the site into a tourist attraction.

A map of the Lilleshall Hall and its grounds which shows the route of the railway. [3]

“The guide book was titled ‘Lovely Lilleshall’, adding ‘see Lilleshall and know the thrill of living’. On offer to visitors were: lunches & teas in the Hall, tennis courts, putting greens, archery, bowling greens, children’s playground, formal gardens, abbey ruins and a 2ft gauge railway. Opened on Easter Saturday, 7th April 1928, the line was a balloon loop of 1 mile, giving a full ride of 1¼ miles. Stations were provided at ‘Lilleshall Hall’ (the terminus) and ‘Abbey’ on the return loop in the woods. Apparently, internal combustion motive power was chosen to protect valuable plants alongside the line from damage by a steam locomotive. The line was presumably a success as a second steam outline locomotive was ordered from Baguley, arriving in May 1929. The Hall and railway were closed at the outbreak of the Second World War on 3rd September 1939.” [2]

This railway was Baguley’s first foray into building steam outline internal combustion engine locomotives. The first locomotive supplied to the Lilleshall Abbey Woodland Railway was Baguley 1695 (1928). It is fully preserved and operates at the Apedale Valley Light Railway in Staffordshire. [4]

Baguley Locomotive No. 1695 of 1928 is waiting in the main station by the Hall. Note the thatch roof on the ticket office and the coaches with ‘knife board’ seats, © Public Domain. [2]
New to the Lilleshall Abbey Woodland Railway at a cost of £260 and supplied with a set of coaches to match, part of this survives at the Old Kiln Light Railway today. it was stored in 1939; preserved by the late Reverend Teddy Boston at the Cadeby Light Railway (CLR) in may 1967, it was Teddy Boston who nicknamed it “The Terror that walketh in darkness” due to it usually being dark by the time it was successfully started. Moved to Apedale on 22/4/2006 after the CLR closed. Baguley Built a number of these ”steam outline” locos, which worked until recently at Trentham Gardens (Stoke) and Alton Towers, and still work at Wicksteed Park (Kettering). However, 1695 is the only one to retain its original 2-cylinder petrol engine, all others having received Perkins diesel engines during their lives. During 2010 & 2011, this loco paid an extended visit to Wicksteed Park; amongst other things, it was part of the celebrations to mark the arrival of their new loco ”Merlin”. [4]
Another photograph of No. 1695 at work at Lilleshall with Lilleshall Hall visible in the background. This image was shared on the Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts Facebook Group by Derrick Why on 3rd May 2022, (c) Public Domain. [3]

Sadly, the 16hp engine No. 1695 came equipped with soon proved underpowered for even the modest line at Lilleshall; nevertheless the customer must have been sufficiently impressed and returned to Baguley’s in 1929 for a larger locomotive. [5]

When the site closed in 1939, No 1695 was left hibernating in the shed on site until it was purchased by Teddy Boston for the CLR in 1967. [4][5]

This photograph can be found in a photo book compiled by Alton Douglas for Beacon Radio in 1987, ‘Memories of the Wrekin and Beyond’. It shows Lilleshall Estate’s 2ft-gauge railway in action in 1933 with No. 1769 in charge of a pretty full train. [1: p47]

The locomotive in the image immediately above is Baguley 1769 “Altonia” (1929). This is a larger locomotive than No. 1695 which was purchased to boost capacity, effectively to replace the under-powered No. 1695. No.1769 was despatched on 16th May 1929. It was equipped with a larger 20/25hp 4-cylinder petrol engine. No.1769 quickly relegated No1695 to the status of ‘spare’. [5]

Closure in 1939, left ‘Altonia’ moth-balled until it was purchased in October 1952 along with the coaching stock for use at Alton Towers. [5]

No.1769 worked on the Alton Towers railway in all of its forms until eventually in October 1964 the original petrol engine was worn out and was replaced with a 27hp Perkins diesel engine. Sometime between 1966 and 1969 it received the name ‘Altonia’. [5]

Late in the 20th century, in 1997, the railway failed to open for the new season and was eventually taken up. No.1769 ‘Altonia’ languished on site until around 2002 when she was purchased by a private owner in Surrey. The wishes of her owner to build a line around his extensive gardens never materialised and the locomotive was again put up for sale in 2010. [5]

Meanwhile two of the original Baguley Coaches had made their way to Tilford in April 1996. They underwent a rebuild, with the braked coach receiving a roof canopy based on good tramway tradition.

In August 2012 an approach was made by the owner of No.1769 ‘Altonia’ to see if the OKLR would like to borrow her on an indefinite loan. She arrived at the OKLR on Tuesday 21st August and has been kept in full working order. It is used on the occasional special train pulling two of its original (1928) Baguley Coaches. Full details can be found here. [5]

‘Altonia’ at the OKLR. [5]

The three photographs below all show the site of the Abbey Station.

Abbey Station on the LAWR under construction. This image was shared on the Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts Facebook Group by Derrick Why on 3rd May 2022, (c) Public Domain. [3]
A similar view after the completion of the station. This image was shared on the Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts Facebook Group by Derrick Why on 3rd May 2022, (c) Public Domain. [3]
Abbey Station again, seen from below. This image was shared on the Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts Facebook Group by Derrick Why on 3rd May 2022, (c) Public Domain. [3]

A few more images. ….

No. 1695 at work at Lilleshall, a colourised postcard view. This image was shared by ‘Archivist’ on Facebook on 30th March 2020. [6]
This is a colourised postcard image based on one of the monochrome images above. This image was shared by ‘Archivist’ on Facebook on 30th March 2020. [6]
Another colourised postcard view of No. 1769 at work at Lilleshall. This image was shared by ‘Archivist’ on Facebook on 30th March 2020. [6]

References

  1. Alton Douglas; Memories of the Wrekin and Beyond; Beacon Broadcasting, Wolverhampton, 1987.
  2. http://www.minorrailways.co.uk/history3.php, accessed on 14th June 2026.
  3. https://www.facebook.com/groups/narrowgauge/posts/7637094779635817, accessed on 14th June 2026.
  4. https://avlr.org.uk/moseley-railway-trust/fleet-list/petrol-locomotives/51-lawr-wny-ba16951928, accessed on 14th June 2026.
  5. https://www.oklr.org/rolling-stock/baguley/altonia, accessed on 14th June 2026.
  6. https://www.facebook.com/100057330554833/posts/lilleshall-abbey-railway-shropshirethe-2ft-gauge-railway-at-lilleshall-abbey-nea/199886961438284, accessed on 14th June 2026.

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