Introduction to the Bentley Miniature Railway

The Bentley Miniature Railway is located in the grounds of the Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum, a popular tourist attraction in the East Sussex countryside at Halland, just south of Uckfield.

Constructed and operated by the Uckfield Model Railway Club, the Railway offers visitors to Bentley the opportunity to ride behind steam and electric locomotives over a one mile circuit for a small additional fee, currently £1 for a return trip.

The original part of the Railway, officially opened in 1985, was constructed in all three engineering gauges, 7¼ inch, 5 inch and 3½ inch. However the smallest gauge was found to be impractical at ground level and so was subsequently lifted. Evidence of its existance may still be seen in the turntable and some of the original turnouts which were built to accomodate all three gauges. An extension to the Railway, opened in 1995, and thus built to only 7¼ inch and 5 inch gauges gave the line an overall circuit travelled by trains of some 844 yards (772 metres).

During 2011 a new track extension to the Railway was constructed, doubling the length of the line and connecting the Wildfowl Reserve at Bentley to the Railway and the creation of a new station, Bentley East. Although not yet complete, with some of the line still to be doubled, passengers now travel for over a mile on the Railway before returning to their departure point. At the present time this extension is only to 7¼ inch gauge but future plans include the laying of the extra rail to accomodate 5 inch gauge locomotives and stock.

The mainline is fully signalled with three and four aspect colour lights controlled by two signal boxes, one at each station. Shunting movements are correctly controlled by the provision of shunt and subsidery signals. The stations have single platforms with passing loops allowing through trains to run non stop from each station. Extensive stock sidings and sheds are located at Horsted Sidings and Ridgewood Junction using both layover and stub turnouts to faciltate access.

Passengers joining a train at Bentley Central Station (located near the childrens play area) are taken on a leisurely trip all the way to Bentley East Station and then onto Glyndebourne Wood Station before returning, via a loop and tunnel, to Bentley Central. The ride takes approximately 12 minutes to travel the circuit. Passengers may break their journey at both Bentley East for the Wildfowl Reserve or at Glyndebourne Wood Station for a chance to explore the Wood, which in the spring has some beautiful bluebell walks and is a peaceful break from the hectic pace of modern life at any time of the year.

As well as the Railway, the Bentley Wildfowl and Motor Museum is home to a fine wildfowl reserve where the visitor can roam freely around enclosures containing many species from around the world. There is also the motor museum displaying many rare and in some cases unique motor vehicles. Finally no visit is complete without a trip around Raymond Erith's Palladian inspired Bentley House and the formal gardens by Jim Russell.