Narrow Gauge Steam 2023 Challenge

The challenge is to score 1250 points, by visiting Narrow Gauge Steam Railways across the British Isles, riding the metals & taking photographs of steam locomotives.

**STOP PRESS ** after visiting 12 railways, I decided to up my initial target of 1000 points and then again after 34 railways I once again altered my target to 1250 points, primarily because of the impact driving around the country was taking on my health & finances. This challenge will finish end of October, 2023 and any railway I don't manage to vist in 2023 will be visited in 2024. It's been an amazing year visiting all these railways, thank you so much for your contributions.

Collecting Points

• 8 points - Visiting a different narrow gauge steam [rail]way.
• 6 points - Photograph a unique narrow gauge steam [loco]motives in steam.
• 4 points - Each unique narrow gauge [mile] travelled under steam.

My Rules

1. Visits to narrow gauge steam railways can only be counted once, along with the milage. e.g. the Talyllyn Railway is 7¼ miles long, so even if I visited the railway, and rode it twice the maximum visit & mile points I could earn is 8 (for the visit) & 7¼ x 4 (unique miles) total = 37 points.
2. I can only count an individual steam locomotive once, and it must be in steam. e.g. if see Talyllyn Railways No. 2 ’Dolgoch’ on multiple occasions, and on multiple visits, I can only count it once.
3. Of course I may visit a railway more than once. The second visit would probably be for the purpose of photographing loco/s that were not rostered on the day of my previous visit/s.
4. The length of a railway will be rounded up to the nearest ¼ of a mile & a railways length is taken from either their website, wikipedia entry or in the case of smaller railways, using the google maps ‘measure distance’ feature. The minimum points I can get from riding a railway is 1.
5. I’m defining ‘narrow gauge’ as less than 4’ 8½” (1435mm) but equal or greater than 1’ 11½” (597mm). I will make one exception to this rule & include the 19" gauge (483mm) Great Laxley Mine Railway on The Isle of Man due to its industrial past.
   

Evidence

• For evidence of my railway challenge & photographs of steam locomotives, visit my 'Flickr' account:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rob58gb/albums/72177720305493611

• Or check out my regular posts on the 'Narrow Gauge Enthusiasts Group' on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/385672148111486/user/1356939957/

• I'll also provide regular comment in the 'updates' section below, on all my journeys & current score.
  

Why Prostate Cancer UK?

Not surprisingly the biggest percentage of people who consider themselves steam railway enthusiasts are male & over 50, the very same demographic that is most likely to be at risk from ‘Prostrate Cancer’. 

Here are a few UK average statistics: 143 men a day are diagnosed, 1 in 8 males will get prostrate cancer during their lifetime, & every 45 minutes a man dies from prostrate cancer.

Early detection is the key to survival, as it can be treated and cured.

Thank you for reading, please support me & donate. Rob Nicholls