In the early 1980's the Uckfield Model Railway Club operated its portable track in the
grounds of the Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum at Halland, just south of Uckfield.
Work was started on a permanent ground level track at that time by a small team of people,
caught in the photograph below during an early working party. It is interesting to note
that two of the four are still regular attendants at the railway. The first part of the
railway to be officially opened, in 1984, was the circuit next to Bentley Central Station.
This was for all three engineering gauges, 7¼", 5" and 3½". However the 3½" circuit
was not actually completed due to the difficulties of operating this gauge at ground level.
The infrastructure has gradually been improved over the intervening years, including the
extension to Glyndebourne Wood. The railway now has a run of some 830 yards (758 metres).
This means that the passenger joining a train at Bentley Central Station (located near the
childrens play area) is taken on a leisurely trip all the way to Glyndebourne Wood Station
before returning, via a loop and tunnel, to Bentley Central. The ride takes approximately
6 minutes to travel the half mile circuit.
