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Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall

The Forest Railroad at Dobwalls, near Liskeard in Cornwall was once a major tourist attraction. It was opened in 1970 by John Southern who progressively turned his pig farm into a superb network of two 7 ¼ inch miniature railways based on The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad in the USA.

By the beginning of the 1980s the railway network had been fully developed with some superb miniature locomotives which included the only working Union Pacific “Big Boy” – WILLIAM JEFFERS in the world. Other attractions followed, including the development of Mr Thorburn’s Edwardian Countryside a museum dedicated to displaying the large collection of Thorburn Wildlife prints which had been collected by the owner, this museum of prints was accompanied by a period refreshment rooms.

During the 1990s the site became more of a general theme park and was marketed as the Dobwalls Adventure Park. It was this point your web master stopped visiting as the emphasis was switching away from the railroads. Dobwalls Adventure Park closed in 2006 and was partly redeveloped, into a campsite and luxury holiday home development, known as Falcon Ridge, before going into administration.

The site has now been acquired by a new developer who appears to be continuing the plans for luxury holiday home development under the name Southern Halt.

Your web master visited The Forest Railroad quite a few times in the 1980s and was able to photograph the system at its peak. It is highly unlikely such an impressive miniature railway system will ever be developed again in the UK.

After closure of Dobwalls the locomotives were sold to a new owner in Dorset who planned to develop a miniature railway system associated with a Garden Centre. Unfortunately this intention was frustrated by a council planning decision. The council decision resulted in the locomotives being sold on again to a new owner in Australia.

The Forest Railroad at Dobwalls certainly brought a lot of pleasure to many people during the 35 years or so of its existence and scanning these slides brought back many happy memories.
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  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The interior of the automatic signal box which controlled the complex Forest Railroad system.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    'Big-Boy' WILLIAM JEFFERS passes Eagle Rock.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    Caboose.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The locomotive shed. In the background can be seen 'Sherman Hill' crowned by a replica of the Ames Monument.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    'Big-Boy' WILLIAM JEFFERS speeds through a cutting.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    Crossing Dale Trestle behind Union Pacific 'Big Boy' .

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    OTTO MEARS on the turntable at Dobwalls depot.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    Crossing Dale Trestle on the Union Pacific route.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    'Big Boy' - WILLIAM JEFFERS approaches the main station with a good load of passengers.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    Approaching the main station waiting for the signal to clear - not the indicator showing "platform occupied". The automatic four aspect signalling system on the Forest Railroad was very sophisticated.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    Entering Hermosa Tunnel behind "Big-Boy" WILLIAM JEFFERS.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    Eagle Rock on the east side of the site.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    Starting off from Harriman Station about to pass over the signal controlled level crossing whose gates appeared to be operated by standard gauge point motors.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    "Big Boy" WILLIAM JEFFERS approaching the locomotive depot

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    WILLIAM JEFFERS departing from the main station.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    Front seat view of "Big Boy" WILLIAM JEFFERS about to set off along the Union Pacific Route.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    Replica of the Ames Monument.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    GP35 locomotive built by Severn Lamb in 1980 and named MATTHIAS BALDWIN operating on the original Rio Grande circuit through the forest which was only planted when the railway opened around 1970. This view looks north along the eastern perimeter of the site.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - September 12, 1986

    GP35 locomotive built by Severn Lamb in 1980 and named MATTHIAS BALDWIN operating on the original Rio Grande circuit through the forest which was only planted when the railway opened around 1970.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - May 16, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - May 16, 1986

    SPIRIT OF AMERICA was supplied from Severn Lamb in 1983 outside Mr Thorburn's Edwardian Countryside. This was an exhibition of Thorburn's Wildlife Prints collected by the Railway's owner. The building opened in 1986 included an Edwardian Style tea rooms and period street.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - May 16, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - May 16, 1986

    A quiet day as QUEEN OF WYOMING passes the depot.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - May 16, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - May 16, 1986

    A view from "Sherman Hill" looking out from the north side of the site towards Caradon Hill whilst QUEEN OF WYOMING passes. It is in this area that Holiday Lodges are being developed.

  • The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - May 16, 1986

    The Forest Railroad, Dobwalls, Cornwall - May 16, 1986

    QUEEN OF WYOMING approaches the main station.

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