TREASURE TREASURE OF OF THE THE FOREST!
FEBRUARY 21, 1970 saw 28 enthusiasts gather for a meeting in Cinderford’s Swan Hotel, called purely with the initial intention of saving a GWR steam locomotive. However, a mighty oak was to spring up in the forest from a small acorn planted that day. It was agreed that not only should a locomotive be acquired, but also a section of track on which to run it, and during the meeting, a likely candidate emerged, for British Rail had recently announced that it intended to close the line from Lydney to Parkend – the last survivor of a labyrinthine network of railways which had once penetrated the Forest of Dean.
One of the surviving ancient woodlands of Britain, the Forest of Dean became a medival royal hunting forest. From Tudor times onwards, the forest was used a primary source of timber
