Locomotives & Rolling Stock

Meet our varied fleet of 12-inch gauge steam, diesel, and battery-electric locomotives alongside our passenger coaches.

No. 6 'Mad Bess' — 2-4-0ST+T Steam Locomotive
#Steam Locomotive

No. 6 'Mad Bess' — 2-4-0ST+T Steam Locomotive

Locomotive No. 6 'Mad Bess' is the flagship steam locomotive of the Ruislip Lido Railway and a firm favourite with visitors of all ages. Built entirely in the Ruislip Lido Railway Society's own workshops at Woody Bay between 1986 and 1998, she is a half-scale replica of the famous Hunslet locomotive Blanche from the Penrhyn and Ffestiniog narrow-gauge railways in North Wales. Key Specifications Number & Name: No. 6 'Mad Bess' Type / Wheel Arrangement: 2-4-0ST+T (Saddle Tank + Tender Steam Engine) Fuel: Oil Fired Weight: 3.5 to 4 tons (approx. fuelled) Built: 1986–1998 Builder: The Ruislip Lido Railway Society (Woody Bay Workshops) Special Notes: Designed so she can be regauged between 12-inch and 15-inch gauge Advanced Technical Details Tractive Effort: 1,594 lbs at 85% Boiler Pressure Estimated Drawbar Horsepower (E.D.H.P.): 64 H.P. Cylinders: (2) 5" diameter × 7" stroke Wheel Diameter: 14" driving wheels, 9" carrying/tender wheels Coupled Wheelbase: 2' 6" (Overall Wheelbase: 12' 6") Overall Dimensions: Length 16' 4" • Height 4' 10" • Width 3' 0" Boiler Pressure: 150 psi Minimum Radius Curve: 60 ft Capacities: Water 200 gallons • Fuel (Oil) 50 gallons (or Coal 4 cwt) Valve Gear: Stephenson's link motion via rocking shafts to outside piston valves Brakes: Air brakes to driving and tender wheels Maximum Speed: 17 mph

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No. 10 'Dougal' — 0-6-2T+T Steam Locomotive (Arriving 2026)
#Steam Locomotive

No. 10 'Dougal' — 0-6-2T+T Steam Locomotive (Arriving 2026)

Locomotive No. 10 'Dougal' is the newest addition to the Ruislip Lido Railway fleet, bringing the permanent locomotive fleet to seven and fulfilling the Society's long-standing aspiration to secure a second operational steam locomotive alongside Mad Bess. Key Specifications Number & Name: No. 10 'Dougal' (Arriving 2026) Type / Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-2T+T Steam Locomotive (Coal-Fired) Cylinders: Twin outside cylinders, 4¼" × 5" Weight: Approx. 3 tons (2 tons locomotive + 1 ton tender) Built: 1970 (Major rebuild in 2009 with new larger boiler and tender) Builder: Severn-Lamb Ltd, Stratford-upon-Avon Preparation for Ruislip: Regauged from 15-inch to 12-inch gauge and repainted into early Penrhyn-style lined black livery. History & Career Originally built by Severn-Lamb Ltd in 1970 for MiniRail Ltd at Longleat House, Dougal moved in 2004 to The Valley Railway Adventure (formerly Evesham Vale Light Railway), where it received a comprehensive rebuild in 2009 including a larger boiler and tender. Purchased by the Ruislip Lido Railway Society, Dougal is undergoing regauging from 15-inch to 12-inch gauge and upgrades to join the operational fleet at Ruislip in 2026.

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No. 3 'Robert' — 4w-4 Diesel Hydraulic Locomotive
#Diesel Hydraulic

No. 3 'Robert' — 4w-4 Diesel Hydraulic Locomotive

Locomotive No. 3 'Robert' is the oldest resident locomotive still at Ruislip Lido Railway. Built in 1973 by Severn-Lamb Ltd to the designs of David Curwen, Robert was styled with an iconic cab and body outline similar to the famous mainline Class 52 'Western' diesel-hydraulic locomotives of British Rail. Key Specifications Number & Name: No. 3 'Robert' Type: 4w-4 Diesel Hydraulic Engine: 1.8 Litre 'Ford' Engine Weight: 1.3 tons Built: 1973 Builder: Severn-Lamb Ltd (to the designs of David Curwen) Other Notes: Repainted in 2011; operated the railway prior to the formation of the Ruislip Lido Railway Society in 1979.

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No. 5 'Lady of the Lakes' — 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical Locomotive
#Diesel Mechanical

No. 5 'Lady of the Lakes' — 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical Locomotive

Locomotive No. 5 'Lady of the Lakes' was the first of the new generation of more powerful bogie diesel locomotives built to handle longer trains as the Ruislip Lido Railway Society began extending the line in 1986. Key Specifications Number & Name: No. 5 'Lady of the Lakes' Type: 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical Engine: 4.5 Litre 'Perkins' Diesel Engine Weight: 2.4 tons Built: 1986 Builder: The Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway Other Notes: Comprehensively overhauled in 2007.

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No. 7 'Graham Alexander' — 4w-4w Battery-Electric Locomotive
#Battery Electric

No. 7 'Graham Alexander' — 4w-4w Battery-Electric Locomotive

Locomotive No. 7 'Graham Alexander' was originally built in 1990 by Severn-Lamb Ltd as a 4w-4w diesel-mechanical locomotive to support the extension of the railway to Haste Hill. In 2024, she underwent a pioneering clean-energy conversion to become a whisper-quiet, zero-emission Battery-Electric locomotive. Key Specifications Number & Name: No. 7 'Graham Alexander' Type: 4w-4w Battery-Electric Motors & Drive: 32kW AC motor with 80-volt battery bank & 600-amp controller unit Weight: 4.5 tons Built: 1990 (originally 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical) Builder: Severn-Lamb Ltd Other Notes: Overhauled in 2005 (as Diesel); converted to battery-electric traction in 2024.

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No. 8 'Bayhurst' — 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical Locomotive
#Diesel Mechanical

No. 8 'Bayhurst' — 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical Locomotive

Locomotive No. 8 'Bayhurst' is a heavy-duty 4.5-ton bogie locomotive built by Severn-Lamb Ltd in 2003 to haul the railway's full 120-passenger trains on busy operating days. Originally built with hydraulic transmission, she was rebuilt with a mechanical drive system by Alan Keef Ltd during summer 2012. Key Specifications Number & Name: No. 8 'Bayhurst' Type: 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical Engine: 3.3 Litre 'Kubota' Diesel Engine Weight: 4.5 tons Built: 2003 Builder: Severn-Lamb Ltd Other Notes: Converted from hydraulic to mechanical drive during summer 2012, with exhaust relocated directly behind the cab and rear headlight mounted atop the engine bay.

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No. 9 'John Rennie' — 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical Locomotive
#Diesel Mechanical

No. 9 'John Rennie' — 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical Locomotive

Locomotive No. 9 'John Rennie' is the sister locomotive to Bayhurst, named after the celebrated canal engineer who designed the original Ruislip reservoir in 1811. Built by Severn-Lamb Ltd in 2004, she is a mainstay of the passenger fleet. Key Specifications Number & Name: No. 9 'John Rennie' Type: 4w-4w Diesel Mechanical Engine: 3.3 Litre 'Kubota' Diesel Engine Weight: 4.5 tons Built: 2004 Builder: Severn-Lamb Ltd Other Notes: Converted from hydraulic to mechanical drive during summer 2012 alongside Bayhurst.

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Covered Coaches (6 in Fleet — Wheelchair Accessible)
#Rolling Stock

Covered Coaches (6 in Fleet — Wheelchair Accessible)

Our Covered Coaches provide comfortable all-weather travel along the woodland line, with wide doorways and adaptable seating that allow each coach to accommodate up to two wheelchairs. Specifications Number in Fleet: 6 coaches in total Weight: 1.7 tons each Capacity: 16 passengers Accessibility & Safety: Fitted with continuous air brakes; can accommodate up to 2 wheelchairs.

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Covered Brake Vans (4 in Fleet — Guard & Wheelchair Accessible)
#Rolling Stock

Covered Brake Vans (4 in Fleet — Guard & Wheelchair Accessible)

Our Covered Brake Vans combine weather-protected passenger seating with a dedicated Guard's compartment at the end of the carriage, plus space for up to two wheelchairs. Specifications Number in Fleet: 4 coaches in total Weight: 1.7 tons each Capacity: 12 passengers & 1 'Guard' compartment (with 2 seats) Accessibility & Safety: Fitted with air brakes; can accommodate up to 2 wheelchairs.

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Open Coaches (6 in Fleet — Panoramic Woodland Views)
#Rolling Stock

Open Coaches (6 in Fleet — Panoramic Woodland Views)

Ideal on sunny days and warm summer afternoons, our Open Coaches offer unobstructed panoramic views of Ruislip Lido lake and the ancient trees of Ruislip Woods. Specifications Number in Fleet: 6 coaches in total Weight: 1.5 tons each Capacity: 16 passengers Safety: Fitted with continuous air brakes.

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Open Brake Vans (2 in Fleet)
#Rolling Stock

Open Brake Vans (2 in Fleet)

Our Open Brake Vans pair open-air passenger seating with a rear Guard's compartment equipped with air brake controls. Specifications Number in Fleet: 2 coaches in total Weight: 1.5 tons each Capacity: 12 passengers & 1 'Guard' compartment (with 2 seats) Safety: Fitted with continuous air brakes.

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Buggy Wagons (3 in Fleet — Pushchairs, Buggies & Bikes)
#Rolling Stock

Buggy Wagons (3 in Fleet — Pushchairs, Buggies & Bikes)

To make family visits effortless, every train includes one of our dedicated Buggy Wagons, specially built to carry pushchairs, buggies, and children's bikes or scooters between Woody Bay Beach and Willow Lawn. Specifications Number in Fleet: 3 wagons in total Weight: 1.0 ton each Capacity: Accommodates buggies, pushchairs, and children's bikes/scooters Safety: Fitted with continuous air brakes.

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