Greywood Miniature Railway, 1947: John Samuels 1940s, Walton Films, Sam's Garden Railway, F947

An early Walton Films release showing the miniature railway "Greywood" built in John Samuels' back garden on the Burwood Estate at Walton on Thames in 1946. This footage is from the late 1940s when John Samuels appears to have found peace after the War organising the development of this railway in his back garden with the help of volunteers. The railway became so remarkable that by 1950 a syndicate of enthusiasts allowed it to be opened to the public on Sunday afternoons.
Sadly John Samuels died in 1962, and the railway's future was in doubt. Ian Allan purchased the line at this time and it moved to its present site at Hardwick Lane, Chertsey. It reopened to the public on 14 September 1968 under the new name Great Cockcrow Railway, taken from Cockcrow Hill which rises on its south side, where it can be visited today.
This footage was frame by frame digitised at 1920x1080 and no more credits appear than can be seen in the film.
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[@carlboon1]

Firstly thank you for sharing this wonderful and historic film. We wonder how you came across it? Is there any backstory about it please ? We suggest the filming may have occurred in September 1947.

[@maxustaxus]

Hi, I fear there is little to say. I buy large collections of old film every so often and go through them for anything interesting. This came from a live auction in the South of England a couple of months ago...with little to suggest it was from a single collection that could be identified. Indeed, it looks like this was published by Walton films, which may mean many copies were released at the time but may not have sold well, and hence we have little footage surviving today. I am sure you are right about the date, which I will change when I get a chance. I also assume you are connected with the descendant of this miniature railway today, and of this is so, thank you for your work in preserving our past.

[@P0RT3RS1GN4LM4N]

What a gorgeous film, thank you so much for restoring and sharing it with us. As someone who joined the Great Cockcrow Railway as a young lad soon after it opened, it's always good to see more of the history and people that started it all.

[@maxustaxus]

Thank you for the kind comment.