Fawley Hill Railway

An acknowledged railway enthusiast, Sir William McAlpine returned to Hayes depot during the Beeching Axe to find that the company's Hudswell Clarke 0-6-0ST No.31 was for sale for £100.   He purchased the locomotive, and moved it to his country estate home at Fawley, Buckinghamshire.   This marked the start in 1961 of the Fawley Hill Railway, a private railway which now runs to over a mile long, combining the steepest gradient at 1:13 on a British railway, and includes:

• The GER railway station from Somersham
• Midland Railway signal box from Shobnall Maltings
• The footbridge from Brading on the Isle of Wight, Bridge No 25, where it spanned the Ryde Pier to Shanklin line

In addition, the perimeter of the railway line is adorned with several prominent architectural features which McAlpine acquired - although these were received mostly as donations; these include the original Wembley Stadium Flagpoles, some early cast-iron bridge parapets, and several arched structures from prominent London locations. Entrance to Fawley Hill Railway is by invitation only on select days, usually during the summer period.