No engineering works on this line! Grandfather, 83, rides around working miniature railway in his back garden complete with eight mini engines – after spending 30 years building it

A grandfather with a love for trains has spent the last 30 years lovingly building a working miniature railway in his own backyard.

Since 1993, Derek Burwell has been creating the impressive 272m rope course at his home in Pelsall, Walsall, West Midlands, which comes with eight hand-built mini-motors.

The line now runs around the edge of the 83-year-old’s 12-metre-wide garden, which also houses the workshop where he spent hours a day improving his job.

The track, which Burwell spent thousands to create, is made of wood and aluminum, with a mix of electric, battery-powered, and gasoline-powered hydraulic motors.

His unique garden also features a host of railway memorabilia, including a 100-year-old signal he reclaimed from a level crossing. He now stands proudly in the center of his lawn.

His unique garden in Walsall also contains numerous trackside railway memorabilia

In the garden is a 100-year-old signal that the 83-year-old found from a level crossing

The grandfather of two has built a range of vehicles by hand in his own workshop in his garden

Along the track are signs collected by Mr Burwell over the course of the 30-year project

The backyard train track originated from Mr. Burwell’s love of locomotives, which began when he was a child when his father took him to work at Birmingham Coach and Carriage Company.

He then spent his working life repairing and restoring engines, rolling stock and carriages before retiring.

He revealed that the song was something he “always wanted to do.”

“The neighbors were a bit surprised when they saw I had my own railroad, but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” said the grandfather of two.

“I used to enjoy riding the train in the arboretum, but it closed in the late 1980s due to health and safety concerns. The council didn’t bother to fix the problem and just shut it down which was sad.

“So I thought, I’ll build one myself. Now I can now ride my train whenever I want because it is in my backyard.

‘I’ve always loved locomotives. My dad would drive me to work and I’d be in all these great bikes. One was built for the late Queen.

The train track in the backyard was born out of Mr Burwell’s love of locomotives which started when he was a child when his father took him to work at Birmingham Coach and Carriage Company

The signs are a nice addition to the backyard track that Mr. Burwell has been working on since 1993

He also added a variety of unique features, including boards that run across the 40ft track

The track, which Mr. Burwell spent thousands to create, is made of wood and aluminum, carrying a mix of electric, battery-powered and gasoline-powered hydraulic motors.

Mr Burwell spent his working life repairing and restoring engines, rolling stock and carriages before retiring

“As I got older I thought it would be a fun hobby and keep me busy. It’s better that I do this than sit in front of the TV all day.

“It really keeps me active and I enjoy it. Not many people can say they have a fully working railroad in their backyard.

‘There are some fantastic miniature railways all over the country, but you have to know where to find them. People like to keep them a secret.’

Mr Burwell lives alone after his wife, Margaret, died two years ago at the age of 73. He sees his daughter and two grandchildren regularly and has even hired grandson Thomas to help him with track chores.

‘My grandson helps me with my chores, he can weld and I’ve passed on my love of trains to him,’ said Mr Burwell. “We used to have birthday parties when the grandchildren were kids and give everyone a ride on the tracks, we used to have a lot of fun.

‘My wife just accepted it, she didn’t have much choice. She knew how much I enjoyed building this song.”

One of eight vehicles that Mr. Burwell has lovingly hand-built in his backyard

He revealed that the project, which started in 1993, was something he had always wanted to do

Mr. Burwell’s skills are still used by other miniature railway enthusiasts and collectors who want to restore their own vehicles

His impressive skills are still used by other miniature railway enthusiasts and collectors who want to restore their own vehicles.

“I should be retired,” Mr Burwell added. ‘But there is always someone who wants to do something, but I like to restore things

‘I’m currently working on a van coming from a fair in Belgium for a friend of mine. It takes up a large part of the garden. I think this will be my last big job. In the end I need to slow down and concentrate on working on my own garden.’