Dobwalls Adventure Park

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dobwalls Adventure Park is a family run visitor attraction in the village of Dobwalls, near Liskeard, Cornwall. Founded in 1970, by John Southern, the park is one of Cornwall's top visitor attractions.

The park primarily consists of two miniature railway networks complimented with large play areas and recreational grounds, both indoors and outdoors, an award-winning art gallery and woodland walks.

It is currently closed for redevelopment work and is scheduled to reopen in 2008.

Contents 1 The Miniature Railway Networks 2 The Locomotives 3 Redevelopment Work 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] The Miniature Railway Networks

The main attraction in the park is the 7.25 inch gauge miniature railway networks. Based on two very different American railroad routes, The Rio Grande Cumbres Pass line and the Sherman Hill route of the Union Pacific Railroad, the passengers are whisked through tunnels, over bridges and trestles and into canyons.

The Rio Grande line was opened in 1970 and beings on a 1.25 gradient, is the steepest climb anywhere in the world on a passenger - carrying miniature railway. The line weaves in and out of a magnificent forest recreating the wonders of the Colorado railroads.

The Union Pacific route was opened 1979, due to the success of the Rio Grande system and added another stunning miniature railway network to travel on. Modeled closely on the real Union Pacific Sherman Hill line in Wyoming, the ruling gradient is 1:66, a very steep hill for a 7.25 inch railway.

[edit] The Locomotives

Dobwalls is the home to 9 superb replicas of American giants. All engineering triumphs in their own rights, each is now worth in excess of £50,000.

The locomotives are as follows:

Steam Locomotives

Union Pacific 4-8-8-4 No. X4008 "William Jeffers"

Union Pacific 4-8-2 No. 818 "Queen of Wyoming"

Union Pacific 4-8-2 No. 838 "Queen of Nebraska"

Rio Grande 2-8-2 No. 488 "General Palmer"

Rio Grande 2-8-2 No. 498 "Otto Mears"

Freelance 2-6-2 No. 88 "David Curwen" (Sold in 2005 - this locomotives is now at the Eastleigh Lakeside Railway)

Diesel Locomotives

Union Pacific DDA40X Do-Do No.6908 "Centennial"

Rio Grande GP35 Bo-Bo No.3008 "Mathias Baldwin"

Santa Fe FP45 Co-Co No.5908 "Pioneer"

Amtrak E8 No. 248 "Spirit of America"

[edit] Redevelopment Work

In October 2006 it was announced that after over 25 years in operation, the Union Pacific railroad was to close. The last train over the rails, fittingly hauled by Big Boy on October 29th 2006.

The park is now closed for major redevopment which will include the construction of new holiday chalets, a new arts centre and various other adjustments designed to boost income to the park at a time when many theme parks are filling the pinch of increasing competition and falling profits. The exsisting John Southern Gallery and Go Karts track will also be demolished in the process.

It is also understood that the 'Big Boy' William Jeffers is up for sale, apparently it is too big to make it round the bends on the Cumbress Pass route. The other locomotives look safe, for now, as all have previously been in service on the Rio Grande line, before the opening of the Union Pacific route.

[edit] See also

• Ridable miniature railway

[edit] External links

• The Southern Gallery / Dobwalls Adventure Park Official Site
• Cornwall Association of Tourist Attractions