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Perhaps the ultimate in garden and estate runabouts. For young and old alike, a custom-built, narrow gauge railway never fails to delight. Let us help build your dream railway.
It's there for the pleasure and leisure times in your garden or estate, so ensuring your narrow gauge miniature railway works when you want it to is an absolute must - otherwise where's the pleasure? No matter what level of technical expertise you have, we can help you to create the ultimate, private, narrow gauge or miniature railway for your garden or estate. And if you want the railway to work a little harder, perhaps to be used to move firewood around, then of course, we can help you to understand what you'll need to consider to make it work.
Whether you're looking for a replica steam engine, a 'steam outline' battery electric or diesel locomotive or something altogether different, talk to us - we've been helping turn lifelong narrow gauge and miniature railway dreams into the perfect working reality for 50 years. We have all the expertise and vision to help you create the railway of your dreams. Whether you need a one-off consultation or on-going project support, Alan Keef Ltd offers a flexible approach to match your requirements.
Let us help make your dreams become a reality. We can help you create the perfect private garden and estate narrow gauge railway in any size.
We've been involved with stunning private garden and estate railways across the UK and beyond - large, small, short and long. Take a look at some of the railways we've worked on. To see more, click on the link below to explore our gallery pages.
This was a turn-key project for a locomotive and carriages including the design, supply and installation of over half a kilometre of track through protected woodland.
This was a turn-key project for a locomotive and carriages including the design, supply and installation of over half a kilometre of track through protected woodland.
Against the classic Scottish backdrop of Ayton Castle, an 0-6-0 diesel hydraulic locomotive, ‘Lloyd’ (AK109/20), and two bogie carriages will carry guests through the grounds of the estate to the Castle. Supplied as a turn-key project, this new 800m, 10¼” gauge railway was installed in a particularly sensitive landscape.
The railway’s track was thoroughly planned with extensive liaison with the project’s landscape architects and arboriculturalists. The track was carefully and painstakingly laid through the woodland area to minimise impact on the trees’ root systems. By slighly elevating the track bed and carefully packing the sleepers, the finished result is a railway that treads only lightly in its environment.
Ayton Castle has been newly renovated throughout with careful reference to its listed status. A classic deep blue and red livery was chosen by the client to suit the rest of the Castle’s stunning styling.
Easy-ride bogies ensure the locomotive and carriages offer a smooth and very comfortable ride for operators and passengers. The locomotive itself is fitted with a reliable, low emission, compact Perkins EU Stage V, US Tier 4 diesel engine, coupled to a hydrastatic drive. Together delivering single-lever, highly responsive dynamic control. Overall, the locomotive’s controls have been kept simple and intuitive to use. The engine is designed to require only minimal day-to-day maintenance and checks with just an annual service required to keep it running reliably year after year.
The locomotive and carriages with passengers illustrates the relatively spacious nature of the carriages for children and adults alike. Set low over the easy-ride bogies that are a hallmark of our design, the carriages are highly stable in use, and offer a smooth and very comfortable ride
This private garden 10¼" gauge railway is a recreation of a traditional Edwardian garden railway and is a pure delight.
This private garden 10¼" gauge railway is a recreation of a traditional Edwardian garden railway and is a pure delight.
After emerging from its engine shed and station area in the lower garden into a wooded area, the railway traverses through the beautiful landscape before entering a paddock set with sculptures that can then be viewed from all angles as the train continues its journey. A further holt is set alongside the estate's helipad and driveway which allows passengers to alight before continuing their onward journey!
The engine and rolling stock were acquired from an earlier private garden railway and were extensively overhauled before being put into service.
Further work to the estate and garden here necessitated part of the railway being taken up to protect it, before being carefully relaid.
The Eaton Railway is part of the extensive estate of Eaton Hall in Cheshire. Designed for the private use of the estate, home to the Duke of Westminster, the railway is often operated as part of the estate's occasional charity open days.
The Eaton Railway is part of the extensive estate of Eaton Hall in Cheshire. Designed for the private use of the estate, home to the Duke of Westminster, the railway is often operated as part of the estate's occasional charity open days.
As well as helping to maintain the locomotives and carriages, our work with this railway has, in recent years, included a complete track relay to replace all the sleepers and ease curves and turnouts that were causing issues.
Difflin Lake Railway winds 2.5 miles through Oakfield Park in County Donegal allowing visitors to view the surrounding countryside in comfort.
Difflin Lake Railway winds 2.5 miles through Oakfield Park in County Donegal allowing visitors to view the surrounding countryside in comfort.
Originally conceived as a private estate railway, the park is now open for the public to visit and enjoy all year round.
We acted as consultants for the original design and installation of this 15" gauge railway and supplied the locomotives and rolling stock which were styled with a nod to the original County Donegal Railways.
We continue to work with the estate to maintain and inspect the railway as part of its ongoing development as a public attraction.
This hand-worked railway allows firewood to be moved between a drying kiln, storage area and a modern wood-fired heating boiler serving the main house of the estate.
This hand-worked railway allows firewood to be moved between a drying kiln, storage area and a modern wood-fired heating boiler serving the main house of the estate.
Alan Keef Ltd installed the track and supplied suitable wagons, making further adjustments and additions once the original concept had been proven.
A 15" modern-day Heywood style railway allows the owners to maintain their grounds with ease, as well as travel in comfort.
A 15" modern-day Heywood style railway allows the owners to maintain their grounds with ease, as well as travel in comfort.
Alan Keef Ltd built two diesel locomotives and a selection of passenger and goods rolling stock for this 1.5 mile railway.