Narrow Guage Railway

During the FIrst World War a logging line - The Downham Hall Timber Railway - operated three Bagnall locomotives between 1917 and 1922.

The bridge across the river was erected sectionally early in World War I by the Canadian Army for the Home Grown Timber Board, a part of the Ministry of Supply. The 3ft gauge logging line stretched from High Lodge  for two and a half miles to sawmill with a second 1.5 mile branch to Little Lodge farm

 

Some form of narrow guage railway was still in use in the 1980's with original track and equipment. The site was finally cleared in 1988.

Barry Griggs wrote a piece on the subject in 2006 in the Forestry Commision Association newsletter.

His article can be found here. FCA Newsletter