History 1 - The Beginning and Multi-Gauge Raised Track

The Society was formed in August 1992 as the Rotherham

Narrow Gauge Society changing to its present name in

March 1994. The Society members come with a variety of

engineering and other skills, enabling the Society to provide

the expertise required for carrying out the majority of tasks

needed to enhance the facilities of the Society.

The Society took over part of Rosehill ( Victoria ) Park on the

outset of the Society in 1994. Clearance of the site, which was

considerably overgrown, commenced immediately with the

priority to construct a simple oval shaped raised track. For

this purpose redundant concrete sleepers were used as a

base for the steel bar track, the track being donated by

Rotherham Engineering Steels. The track was completed in

1997 and rides commenced for the public in that year. The

circuit included a tunnel underneath the access road to the

bottom part of the site. All the construction work was carried

out by the members of the Society. In 1997 the Society

became a Limited Company by Guarantee.

In 1998 the top part of the site, including two brick

buildings, was offered to the Society and accepted. This

coincided with the commencement of a 5 year lease. The

Society is currently coming to the end of a second 5 year

lease and the aim is to negotiate a longer lease if possible.

The two buildings were converted to a workshop, fitted out

with machine tools, and a club house which includes a toilet

block. A number of containers were obtained, one being

used as another workshop the others used for storage.

Twenty sections of portable track were constructed for use at

outside events, initially at Elsecar Heritage Centre.

Initially the Society did not own its own locomotive and had

to rely on Peter Farrar’s 5” gauge LNER B1 and his 7.25”

gauge Homeside, together with the occasional use of other

members locomotives. Subsequently the Society were able to

construct its 7.25” gauge Wren “Victoria Rose”. A set of five

coaches were constructed for use on the multi-gauge raised

track.

The running of the Society is controlled by a committee of

eight, this includes a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The

Chairman, Treasurer and one other member of the

committee act as Directors/Trustees of the Company.

Inside the Clubhouse

Pete Farrar’s B1 leaving the tunnel

Pete Farrar’s Homeside in steam