Brooklands Miniature Railway Removal Worthing 2018

A short video taken between Monday 8th October 2018 and Monday 29th October 2018, showing stages of the removal of track at the Brooklands Miniature Railway at Brooklands Pleasure Park in Worthing, West Sussex. The miniature railway closed on Sunday 9th September 2018, with two “final” runs made on Sunday 23rd September for staff, family, friends and the local press. This video also shows the un named loco (once in a different guise as “Diddly Dee”) with the fibreglass sided set of three carriages being used on the demolition train. Staff can also be seen removing the track, which started on the bridge on Monday 8th October, finishing at the station on Monday 29th October 2018. The track, the un named loco and wooden sided three carriage set have been purchased and are now awaiting collection. Locomotive “Diddly Dum” and the fibreglass sided three carriage set will be put into storage until a buyer is found. The miniature railway first opened in Easter 1965 as a 9 1/2 inch gauge end to end line but in 1967 was replaced with a 10 1/4 inch gauge railway and laid around the lake with a bridge over the Teville Stream. The miniature railway in it’s entirety was put up for sale on eBay for £20,000 which included just under a mile of track, two locomotives and six carriages (two sets of three) but was later split into two listings. The Worthing Herald reported the final runs: “The miniature train at Brooklands Park completed its final journey on Sunday (September 23) as it prepares to make way for a new era. The train’s owner, Kevin McCluskey, cancelled his lease for the operation of attractions at Brooklands earlier this month after 11 years and, after the council opted not to keep the train, is looking to sell the family favourite. Stuart Coles, who has been friends with Kevin for 11 years and driven the train at the weekends for five, was at the wheel for its farewell. “There were a few tears from staff. Lynne, Kevin’s partner, and I were given the privilege to drive the last train rides ever,” he said. “I’m going to be a little lost at weekends now, because Brooklands has been like a second home to me for the last 11 years. “We had lots of good, fun times which I will treasure forever. It’s the end of an era.” Stuart said about 45 people turned up for the goodbye, meaning he had to do two trips.” The council announced a ‘masterplan’ for the park at a public meeting on Thursday 11th October 2018 at Worthing Town Hall.