DORSET’S 10¼in gauge Poole Park miniature railway has been closed following a derailment in April – and a reported “strike” by 40 volunteers and resignations of its management.
It was understood that several youngsters were riding on the train when it came off the tracks, although no further details of the incident were available.
On May 22, several national newspapers ran stories claiming that the volunteer train drivers, guards, engineers and ticket office clerks who run the line for recently-appointed operator the Friends of Poole Park had walked out on April 25, after a dispute with its management.
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On May 5, the Friends group had posted on its Facebook page: “We are recruiting for volunteer drivers, guards, ticket office clerks, maintenance crew.”
A statement from owner the Borough of Poole Council, issued on May 23, said: “The safe operation of the Poole Park Miniature Railway is Borough of Poole’s prime concern. Following recent derailments the operation of the miniature railway has been suspended. In addition we have been notified of resignations at director, management and operational levels of the operating group the Friends of Poole Park and its wholly-owned operational subsidiary, Poole Park Railway Community Interest Company.
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