Steam is up for park’s little trains

Mar 5 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

IT’S full steam ahead for Greenhead Park’s locomotives.

The miniature railway locomotives are back on the tracks after a two month break.

Children, adults and train enthusiasts were lining up to jump on board the trains at the weekend.

And organisers say they expect thousands more to take a ride on a miniature train over the coming weeks.

Graeme Hollyhead, who runs the service, said: “We stopped for two months to carry out repairs to the trains and track but we’re up and running now.

“The trains are a very popular attraction.

“I think it’s the best thing for children in Huddersfield, there’s not much for them to do or that gives them the excitement they get here.

“I think this has put Greenhead Park back on the map, it gets more people using the park.

“This has been my hobby for so long.

“We’re starting our eighth season now and it has gone from strength to strength.

“At weekends we can get 1,000 people coming down – the children especially love it and we get people coming back week in week out.”

There are two steam locomotives, two diesel locomotives and a battery operated train which was specially designed for wheelchair users.

Most of the track has been re-laid in the past two months and the trains have been given a new lease of life.

The trains run every weekend from 2pm until 4pm and at major holidays such as Easter and during the school summer holidays.