Full steam ahead for Mansfield attraction despite covid setbacks

The Sherwood Forest Railway was just one of the Mansfield area attractions which had to close during the recent coronavirus crisis.

The railway should have been celebrating its 21st season recently, but plans for its programme of celebrations hit the bumpers when the nationwide lockdown and social distancing rules kicked in.

The popular attraction’s annual special gala should have been held last week, but was cancelled and there will be no Santa Trains this Christmas.

But despite the difficulties, the Colley family initiative, run by mum and dad David and Colleen, and their sons Bob and David, is still thriving.

Bob, 32, said: “The Covid situation has been quite challenging for us – when it first struck we had to close and send all our 12 volunteers home. But, myself and my dad and brother, we are very much steam enthusiasts, and we were stubborn, and absolutely determined we’d keep it going for the future, and it was never in danger of closing down altogether.

"We have had to introduce a set timetable rather than running on demand, and we put passengers in every other carriage, each which has four seats, to meet the social distancing rules.

"It was quite hard, during the virus when no one was able to come, and the saddest thing was coming up to the railway, when no-one was here and seeing how lovely it looked and how sad that no one could use the railway.”

The railway, is a 15 in (381 mm) narrow gauge light railway running through the old site of the Sherwood Forest Farm Park. It runs from Loxley Station to Weldale Station, a travelling distance of about half a mile.

Plans are afoot to extend the track, eventually the family have plans for it to become a 2 mile ride. A new station is planned, though the name has not been decided yet.

The railway was started in around 1999 with the construction of a permanent way, and the acquisition of two locos Pet and Smokie Joe. It opened to passengers in 2000.

Bob said: “My dad, David, who is now 67, had always had an ambition to build his own steam railway, and back in the late 90s, he got the opportunity, and now here we are down the line. We have six engines altogether, two steam, two petrol, one battery electric and one diesel.”

"Despite the setback of the virus, and all the regulations we have to follow now, the future is still looking bright for the railway,” he said.

"We have just started inviting the volunteers back and although we have had to adapt our operations, and we take fewer passengers per journey, we are still going full steam ahead!

"It will be a little quieter now the schools have gone back, but we do hope people of all ages will still come and see, and enjoy the experience of travelling on our railway.”