THE Ruislip Lido Railway (RLR) at Ruislip, Hillingdon, London, is Britain’s longest 12in gauge railway, at 1¼ miles, with a balloon loop.
A busy gala on May 13/14 saw 2-6-2T Christopher visiting RLR from the Littlehampton Miniature Railway, West Sussex for the first time. Built by Exmoor Steam Railway (191 of 26/10/1991) as Lorna Doone it has since resided on several railways, been rebuilt and regauged – and the wheel arrangement changed on numerous occasions (RM October 2021, p76). Over the years this loco has been gauges 12¼, 10¼ and 12¼in again; an 0-6-0T, 0-6- 2T and 2-6-2T, and allocated ESR builder’s Nos. 191, 191RB and 310.