To keep pace with a growing demand, the Fylde Water Board planned to build a reservoir on the River Hodder in the Forest of Bowland. Land was aquired before the First World War and construction started in the 1920's, officially opened in 1932.
For moving men and materials, a 3 foot gauge railway was constructed between Tosside and the dam site above Slaidburn. This five mile long 'main line' threw off numerous branches to quarries and borrow pits, for fill, totalling another thirteen miles. Upon completion, the railway was dismantled and forgotten, but a chance pub conversation resulted in finding a branch that had not been lifted, 42 years after it was last used!
Please enjoy some railway decay.
A typical train
A quarry, similar to the one discovered
Remains of a crane
A point frog
Hanging rails
A gap too far!
For moving men and materials, a 3 foot gauge railway was constructed between Tosside and the dam site above Slaidburn. This five mile long 'main line' threw off numerous branches to quarries and borrow pits, for fill, totalling another thirteen miles. Upon completion, the railway was dismantled and forgotten, but a chance pub conversation resulted in finding a branch that had not been lifted, 42 years after it was last used!
Please enjoy some railway decay.
A typical train
A quarry, similar to the one discovered
Remains of a crane
A point frog
Hanging rails
A gap too far!
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