Minimum Gauge Railways

In this richly detailed account, the author chronicles the birth and growth of 15‑inch gauge railways, drawing on personal experiments at Duffield Bank near Derby and later at Eaton Hall in Cheshire. The narrative weaves together the practical motivations that sparked these miniature lines with the technical challenges of laying track, shaping locomotives, and fitting rolling stock to tight clearances. Readers gain a rare glimpse into the early days of a niche engineering hobby that promised cheap, efficient transport for estates and farms.

The book proceeds to describe the construction methods employed at both sites, the design principles that make such small locomotives surprisingly powerful, and the systematic experiments that measured cost, performance, and reliability. Illustrated with plans of workshops, wagon layouts, and scientific notes, it serves as both a historical record and a practical handbook for anyone interested in narrow‑gauge engineering. Its clear, first‑person voice makes the technical material accessible while conveying the author's genuine enthusiasm for perfecting these diminutive railways.