Perrygrove Railway

The Perrygrove Railway is a 15 in gauge miniature steam railway set in woodland near Coleford in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire — one of Britain's best-equipped miniature railways, built from scratch on Perrygrove Farm from the early 1990s and opened to the public in 1996. The 1-mile line runs through mature woodland between four stations, all with working semaphore signalling, in a setting that gives the railway a character and atmosphere well beyond its modest scale.

Alongside the railway, the Perrygrove site offers a treetop walkway, children's play village, and indoor play barn, making it a comprehensive family day out. The Forest of Dean location — one of England's ancient royal forests, rich in industrial archaeology from iron and coal working — gives additional context to a visit, and the forest itself provides a natural backdrop that changes dramatically through the seasons.

The railway operates to a published timetable with steam haulage, and the engineering standards are genuinely substantial for a 15 in gauge line. Perrygrove sits comfortably alongside the Dean Forest Railway as a complementary Forest of Dean railway attraction, the two lines offering very different but equally authentic railway experiences within a few miles of each other.

History

The railway was built from scratch on Perrygrove Farm, with construction starting in the early 1990s and the line opening to the public in 1996. The site has been progressively developed with additional stations, an indoor village and a treetop walkway, all on the same farm.

Stations and infrastructure

Perrygrove is the principal entrance and station, with workshops and locomotive shed. The four-station running line winds through woodland, with stops accessing different parts of the play attractions.

Route and stations

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors

Special events and operations

Themed children's events, dining trains and Santa Specials are run alongside the regular timetabled services.

Visitor information

Perrygrove is signposted from the B4228 just south of Coleford. Combined entry covers the railway, treetop walkway, indoor village and outdoor play areas.