This "Small Prairie" is vintage 1928 and is currently the mainstay of the Dean Forest Line, at least where steam motive power is concerned.

In the morning, before my lift to Norchard, I espy in the "Fountain Inn" one of the nicely framed models of what used to be an everyday sight in down-town Parkend - a colliery truck from the local coal mine. This truck is suitably loaded up with coal, perhaps to provide the fuel for countless domestic grates in some distant town or city.




This is a general view, in the middle of the forest, of the Norchard site of the Dean Forest Heritage Line. There are lots of locomotives, carriages and trucks - as on many a heritage line. But not many heritage lines can boast a close association with a large forest.




Norchard Station has a "Low Level" terminus platform ...




... and a "High Level" through platform.




Here's one of two "Teddy Bear" diesels on the line. British Railways - as it then was - bought a whole fleet of these locomotives, and then found that it did not need them! Many then found their way to industrial sites and coal mines, and some subsequently came to heritage lines.




This coach hails from the Great Western and is - as far I understand - a chief engineer's inspection coach. Nowadays, it makes a splendid observation car for seeing the line roll away in the distance as the train steams forward.




Here is an example of the "BR Late Crest", looking very spruce on the side of a Mark 1 carriage painted in GW chocolate and cream. English rose and Scottish thistle are separated by the English oak (well, an oak leaf actually). The Welsh are doubly represented by the two leeks.




One of the vestiges of the Thomas weekend just past. Thomas events are not to be sniffed at. They are a delight to families, make the younger generation interested in an important part of Britain's heritage, and, of course, are of financial benefit to the heritage line concerned. So all benefit: the present, the future and the preservation of Britain's past.




Here's one of those faces as seen in the illustrations in Reverend Awdry's books. It's the face of one of those annoyed carriages that don't like to be shunted around!




Heritage lines abound in old adverts - usually enamelled. "Cadbury's" of Bourneville has been around for a while, still providing snacks for the sweet-toothed members of society.




This insurance company has probably fallen prey to mergers and name changes some time ago. Saint George and the Dragon look like a large version of a Gold Sovereign. Note the "Capital" and the "Claims Paid" with no indication of what period of time over which these claims were paid out. In addition, which stationmaster today would act as an insurance agent?




Now this is interesting! In the front you see track laid to the 3'6" (sometimes 3 8" hereabouts) gauge. This was often used for horse drawn tramways such as the Bixlade Tramway (Day One). Right at the back is an example of Brunel's 7' 0¼" broad gauge as used by the Great Western from Paddington to the West, including Gloucestershire. In the middle you see an example of the 4' 8½" standard gauge. Each of these gauges has a fascinating story to tell.




The café is adorned by a number of railway memorabilia. "Berkeley Castle" is on the other side of the Severn, roughly opposite Lydney. Number 4085 was the 4-6-0 GWR "Castle" class locomotive of that name. Anyway, as mentioned, I had an interesting impromptu discussion for well over an hour with the café staff, about local history and plans to extend the Dean Forest Railway (DFR) further into the forest. Time well and pleasantly spent.

The museum is packed to the gunnels with engine nameplates (most of the typical GWR variety), shed code plates, station notices, warning notices, signalling equipment ...
In fact, railwayana of all shapes and sizes!




There was a ticket office complete with ticket rack and G.P.O. 'phone. Even the guy's breakfast was waiting for his delectation; as you might expect,
it was egg, bacon, tomato and toast and a cup of (presumably) strong tea!




The Forest of Dean was rich in all sorts of resources - originally timber as used in the Tudor navy, then coal and stone. In the 1800s, all had to be got out by railway. This resulted in a complex criss-crossing through the forest of a number of railway lines. The Severn & Wye Joint goes back to 1809, and was then taken over, mainly by the GWR, with the LMS also looking in as usual!




Canals lingered on for a while, but were soon supplanted by railways,
especially when steam power began to take over from horse power.




Railways reached most of the far flung corners of the land, even the Wye Valley.
On our Tintern visit we walked part of the track bed of the Wye Valley line.

The Great Western had a penchant for pannier tanks, which were made even into British Railways days - post 1947. These 0-6-0 tanks were a common sight in the Forest of Dean. Number 9681 is of 1949 vintage and is currently being overhauled. Lots of painstaking volunteer work! However, adherence to H&S regulations, including the need for the seven-yearly boiler certificate is obviously vital. The safety of members of the public and operations staff is always paramount - and that of course includes on heritage lines!




The current mainstay on the steam front is this 2-6-2 Great Western Prairie Tank, dating from 1928, just before the Great Depression. It has recently been restored to its former glory!




Here is the other "Teddy Bear" Diesel Hydraulic - vintage 1965.




Here is a small 0-4-0 industrial diesel shunter built by the famous Hunslet firm in Leeds.




Here is one of the ubiquitous class 08 0-6-0 diesel electric shunters and a DMU still carrying its "face mask" from the "Thomas" event of the previous weekend.

For a while ...




... the footpath hugs the railway track ...




... before entering the woods ...




... which are gradually awakening from their winter slumber.




There is a fine carpet of bluebells soaking up the spring sunshine.




The path ...




... reaches slightly higher ground ...




... from which there is a nice view to the north of the rolling Gloucestershire landscape.




On the way to Bream, I espied this memorial plate on a local cottage. In the early 1800s there was a severe shortage of naval timber. Hence, Parliament passed the Dean Forest (Timber) Act in 1808 to enclose all available 45 square kilometres of the Forest of Dean. Thus the already impoverished ordinary foresters lost access to the timber of the forest and indeed to their ancient grazing and mining rights in the forest. In 1830 the foresters formed a 'Committee of Free Miners' - led by a certain Warren James - "for the purpose of opening the Forest". After an unsuccessful petition to Parliament, James called for action, which led him and several colleagues to be deported to Australia. In this context, I'm sure most of you remember the mural of Warren James in the restaurant of The Fountain Inn in Parkend. A bit of local - and indeed national - history.




On a brighter present-day note were these spring blossoms on the way to Bream.




A part of the Gloucester Way I had not seen before, led to the track bed of
the Parkend to Coleford branch line ...




... and on past the site of the former Parkend West Station.
The end of an interesting day beckoned as the shadows started to lengthen.