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This page describes a train trip along the Old Kiln Light Railway from
‘Reeds road’ station is the railways main station. This station constructed in 2003 replaced an earlier sleeper built platform on a different alignment. The new layout amongst the trees is a far more open arrangement that allows locomotives to run-round trains and facilities for the off loading of visiting engines.
Immediately on leaving ‘
Passing the wind pump the train approaches ‘Waterhouses level crossing’, slowing to check that explorers crossing the line to visit the nearby RSPB reserve are clear. The concrete base of the former crossing keepers hut can be seen on the right hand side just beyond the crossing. This small hut was moved in 2006 from here for use further up the line as it severely impaired visibility of the crossing. Trees overhang this part of the line to form an almost tunnel like effect. The climb now starts in earnest.
Soon the water tower appears on the right. Often steam trains will stop here on uphill journeys to top up their tanks. The start away from here is sometimes difficult, especially if the rails are wet as the gradient also steepens to 1 in 30 at this point. Conifer trees brush against the left of the train and museum buildings encroach to the right. This section of line is known as the ‘village tramway’!
A short curve to the left sees the gradient easing and the scenery opening out once more. The train clatters over the points announcing the arrival at the operational head quarters of the line. To the left is the railways works yard where there are the sheds, workshops and sidings, often busy with staff beavering away on the latest project in hand. This is the railways nerve centre. The sign on the end of the shed proclaims this to be ‘Old Kiln Halt’. The halt platform itself is on the right, largely disused, except by the Engineers as a storage area for all sorts of bits and pieces needed for the upkeep and running of the railway. Passenger trains rarely stop here now, although once it was the main station on the line. The permanent way yard is behind this platform and is often filled with miscellaneous items of rolling stock and engineering materials. These sidings are officially called ‘Jubilee Sidings’ as they came into existence in our 25th year, however our regular members have nicknamed this area ‘Trumpton Yard’!
The line, still climbing, now swings to the right behind the ‘Old Schoolhouse’, with the last of the storage sidings to our left ending in a substantial buffer stop. The ¼ milepost is passed in the bank to the left. The gradient steepens once more for final pull up to ‘Oatlands’ station, this stretch of the line is colloquially known as
Creeping around the back of the museums display sheds and cricket pavilion the line passes the children’s playground and enters the platform of ‘Oatlands’ station. At Christmas time it is transformed into ‘Santa’s Halt’.
Pulling away from Oatlands is a very short but steep section up to the little used level crossing. Here the gradient eases to 1 in 45 and it maintains this grade for the rest of the journey. The former crossing keepers hut from ‘Waterhouses level crossing’ has found a new home here in use as a permanent way hut.
Passing behind the museums stores, a yellow sign with a black tree symbol indicates to steam engine drivers that there is a fire risk beyond here, as we are now approaching a more wooded section of the line.
The line curves to the right on a 100-foot radius curve as the ground rises around us and we are in a wooded cutting. The line twists and turns through here almost intertwining with the tree roots. The view to the right glimpsed above the cutting sides reveals just how high the line has climbed since leaving the works yard that can be seen in the distance. This is a most scenic part of the line and a woodland trail can be followed giving the visitor the opportunity to see locomotives working hard up this section. Above us and to our left is the heath and woodland area belonging to the RSPB.
Soon the cutting sides fall away, the climb of 1 in 45 is over and the line levels off as the train bursts out into the open. A little used and very overgrown branch line serving the timber yard climbs steeply up and swings in from the right to run parallel with us for the last few yards, through a park style gate and into the station area. The train slows through the pointwork, passing the ½ milepost on the left; we shortly come to a halt at the platform. The station nameboard proudly informs us that we are at ‘Mills Wood’, the end of the line. The train has climbed 22 feet from leaving ‘
Beyond here the line crosses a woodland track and ends abruptly in a shallow cutting. This section is purely for the use of locomotives running around their trains and the occasional storage of rolling stock.
The environs of ‘Mills Wood’ station are very pleasant with the sloping lawn leading down to the large Oak tree and the museum café. Also here is the museums forge where a blacksmith can often be seen demonstrating his skills. This is an ideal location for a picnic and for exploring the woodland trails.
