 Hello, thanks for joining me. I'm standing by the lake at Vanstone Park in Hartfordshire. This is a former country estate It's now a garden centre, but it also has a miniature railway Now it's been quite a while since we last went to a miniature railway We've all the lockdown and everything last minute row I went to was Manor Park in Glossop up in Derbyshire So it's been yeah a few months since we've done a miniature railway Britain episode But as the country gets back to normal, I'm really excited to be going to a miniature railway again Look at that. That's the sign. I've waited three months to see railway open today So we're gonna leave the lake behind us We're gonna walk up to the railway station and we're gonna go for a ride on the Vanstone Woodland Railway It's a 10 and a quarter inch gauge railway. It runs through the woods over this other side of the estate It's quite well known for having these locos called meteors. There was 10 of them built by Sheperton metal engineering. I think they're called They built 10 of them. I believe two have been scrapped, but most of them Have worked at various seaside railways around the country. Quite a lot of them have ended up here Quite pleasant parkland. The actual house You know this estate belonged to Vanstone estate belong to is just over there. It's private now So we won't be able to go into it, but I can show it to you It is over the hedge It's maybe Just see it. That's the house Here's our first location This is the local here It's called Vanstone, but it once ran at the miniature railway in Buxton We have already been to the miniature railway at Buxton Park Pavilion Gardens Railway used to be 10 and a quarter inch and then they regaged it to 12 and a quarter inch Let's go and ride the Vanstone Park or Vanstone Woodland Railway and Vanstone Park Here's the station Vanstone Railway Hall We've got three locals sitting here There's two of the locals and in this local here This one is called Borough of Buxton because it also ran at the miniature railway at Buxton It's now here at Vanstone. So let's go for a ride Vanstone Park. I've had a ride behind these two locals So it's been really really exciting had a great afternoon. What I'm gonna do now though. There's somewhere else. I want to go A few miles up the road. I'm gonna get in the car I'm gonna drive on there's something I want to show you something I've been over many times, but never been under so I said I've been over it many times, but I've never been under it Just a few miles away from the Vanstone Woodland Railway. We have this This is Dictwell Viaduct also known as Welling Viaduct. It was opened in 1850 by Queen Victoria Designed by Qubit who will also design Kings Cross and I just love how it just spans across the valley like this It's just such an impressive structure. I've been over all these times You know on all the everyday trains. I've also been out on it behind Flying Scotsman But I've just never ever walked underneath it. That's why I thought seeing as I'm in the area I've come down here today, and we'll finish the video here at Welling or Dictwell Viaduct because it's just such an impressive structure It's main job really is to carry the railway over the River Minram Which I can't actually see it but behind those trees there is the River Minram And it's the valley of the River Minram that the railway has had to span It is a bit of a nightmare the fact it's only two tracks They've always wanted to double track it but also north of Welling North Station, which is just over there There's tunnels as well. So if they ever wanted to four track it to be Well a nightmare. So I don't think it'll ever happen. It's a grade two star listed building. So I hope you enjoyed this video Thank you very much for watching forever in the area. You know why not come and visit the Vanstone Park Garden Center with the Vanstone Woodland Railway One thing I will say is I wouldn't suggest going by train because it is a few miles away I drove down from Vanstone Park down to here to see this But if you wanted to come see this you could come by train But you know come come for a day out in Hertfordshire have a ride on the on the Vanstone Woodland Railway or there we have a 10-link train and You know come and watch trains over the Viaduct and then go and ride the miniature railway So thanks very much for watching. Please do feel free to like subscribe comment tell your friends. Thank you very much. Goodbye