Amber Arrow.
Photo courtesy L. Anderson
Amber Arrow was built by Minirail in 1960 at Severn Beach Railway nr Gloucester as a 4w-4DM, in 1963 it was rebuilt as 4w-4WER.
In June 1965 it came to Longleat, where it ran until 1974. Shortly after its arrival it was rebuilt as a 4w-4DER, its 250v electric motor was powered by an attendant power van that was coupled behind the railcar. At that time, the railcar was able to carry 12 people, including the driver. I understand that apart from the driver (who sat on a box), nobody else could sit properly upright due to the curvature of the glass at head height.
It left Longleat for the Axe & Lyme Valley Railway in 1974. The Axe & Lyme scheme folded and, I believe, Lappa Valley Railway bought it when it was sold at auction in 1976.
It is has been rebuilt several times since its arrival at Lappa Valley and in 1986 became 4wDH. Since 1976 Amber Arrow has had two name changes. It was changed to Lappa Lady around 1991 and again in June 1996, when it was named Gladiator.
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