Established 1983

The Trolleybus Museum at Sandtoft started its life in 1969 on what was part of the former R.A.F. Sandtoft Aerodrome. Construction of a complex of depots to store preserved trolleybuses and some motorbuses proceeded at a rapid pace. In 1970 the museum started to open its gates to visitors. In 1971 the public were able to take their first ride on one of the preserved Huddersfield trolleybuses. In 1972 at the second Sandtoft Gathering event, the first trolleybus operated taking power from the newly erected overhead wires. To help attract more visitors and keep the children entertained, as trolleybuses alone were not all that interesting to the younger visitors, several schemes were considered to operate a small railway. After negotiations with some model engineers from Scunthorpe and the Doncaster areas, the Sandtoft Miniature Railway Group was formed  to construct and operate a 7¼ & 5 inch ground level circuit. The railway soon became a popular attraction with the visitors and their children.

Plans being considered to expand the railway should the museum expand onto new land in 1999 or 2000

The siding that could have provided the link  with what is now Stuart's locomotive "Reg"

In 1999 the railway was to vandalised in many locations. Above:  The railway track next to the railway shed. The two lengths of track had been pulled apart and lifted and with wires for the signalling circuit also being cut.  Similar vandalism in four other places was discovered. This damage was to be repaired at cost to the group.

More damage to the tracks.  The level crossing boards were never intended to take the weight of a car and three had to be replaced and others re-fixed by our members. The person responsible never offered to help repair the damage or recompense the group for the damage.

Sunday 7th May 2000 an incident took place that was to determine the future . We had no choice but to cease temporally railway operations after the May Day weekend. A vote by our members was taken to move as much of our property out of further harms way to an emergency storage location that had been offered to the group.
Upon hearing about our problems, the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society who operated the miniature railway in Thorne Memorial Park some 5 miles away, invited us to join them. We took up this offer and temporally transferred our members and rolling stock to Thorne. At an  E.G.M. in June 2000 of the SMR group, the members voted to permanently cease all operations at the Sandtoft Transport Centre. It was also voted that we would continue to give our assistance to the Doncaster & District Model Engineering Society and permanently transfer railway operations by our members and most of our rolling stock to Thorne. 

David Stubbins with the steam locomotive "Remus" Monday 29th May 2000 at Thorne some three weeks after last running at Sandtoft.

Lighting up the Grand! Our members are also now members of the Friends of Doncaster Grand Theatre helping to set up the lighting for a visit by members of Doncaster Metropolitan Town Council and the Doncaster Civic Theatre on the 4th October 2006.

Helping with the Thorne Moorends Community Radio station in 2006/7 our members show their other skills

Our member Stuart who used to drive the trains at Sandtoft and now at Thorne. Stuart is now a regular driver of the trams at the East Anglia Transport Museum. When not driving the trams Stuart is their main traffic control manager. Stuart has come along way since driving the miniature trains at Sandtoft in 1996. Well done Stuart!