The railway’s name was taken from Echills Wood near Stoneleigh in Warwickshire where it originated with the settlement of Echills Wood going back over a thousand years with a record in the Doomsday Book. The railway itself enjoys a somewhat shorter history stretching back only over only forty years with its move to Kingsbury Water Park in the early part of 2004 and the first steam hauled passenger trains commencing at Easter of 2006.
Since relocating to Kingsbury the railway has grown considerably in size. With the provision of comprehensive maintenance and engineering workshops, the railway has an infrastructure to operate a wide range of engines and rolling stock to carry the general public safely and in comfort.
The railway’s name was taken from Echills Wood near Stoneleigh in Warwickshire where it originated with the settlement of Echills Wood going back over a thousand years with a record in the Doomsday Book. The railway itself enjoys a somewhat shorter history stretching back only over only forty years with its move to Kingsbury Water Park in the early part of 2004 and the first steam hauled passenger trains commencing at Easter of 2006.
Since relocating to Kingsbury the railway has grown considerably in size. With the provision of comprehensive maintenance and engineering workshops, the railway has an infrastructure to operate a wide range of engines and rolling stock to carry the general public safely and in comfort.
The railway now has a main line of over 2 km, a number of sidings and branch lines plus a large loco and stock depot area. All this is located in the park of over 600 acres of woodlands and fifteen lakes, run by the rangers and staff of Warwickshire County Council.
The railway is classed as a 7 ¼” gauge railway which carries standard and narrow gauge locomotives and rolling stock. The 7 ¼” denotes the distance between the rails. It is close to 1/8th of the distance between the rails on the national system.