Dean Forest Railway, Heritage railway in Forest of Dean, England
Dean Forest Railway is a heritage line in the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, running more than six kilometers between Lydney and Parkend. Steam and diesel engines travel the rails through woodland sections and past open clearings where wildlife can be spotted.
The line was part of the Severn and Wye Railway and carried coal and timber from local mines and forests beginning in the mid-19th century. After freight operations ended, enthusiasts took over the tracks and reopened the railway for passenger journeys.
Volunteers from nearby towns run the trains and care for the rolling stock, showing visitors how to work with steam locomotives. This practice offers a look at the crafts that were once routine on every British railway.
Visitors can buy day tickets for multiple trips and leave the train at any station to explore the villages and forest paths. The connection to the mainline at Lydney makes the journey easier from larger towns.
Evening trips with fish and chips are served in old dining carriages that roll through the darkening woods. Meals come to the table while the train is moving and trees pass outside the windows.
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