Trainspotter who put a railway in his garden to fool motorists into slowing down

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Eddie Knorn in his front garden where he has put in a railway track

As roadside features go, it is certainly an arresting sight.

So much so that speeding motorists have for once been slowing down to check trainspotter Eddie Knorn's front garden - complete with the 58ft railway carriage - is not a level crossing.

But while neighbours have welcomed its calming effect on the accident blackspot through Wardle, in Cheshire, council busybodies have ruled it is a hazard to motorists and must go.

The decision followed a visit by a planning inspector who said the blue and light grey carriage was a potential distraction to road users.

Mr Knorn, a railway engineer, yesterday insisted the 60mph stretch of the single carriagway A51 outside his two-bedroom cottage was safer because of his eye-catching hobby.

This year alone there have been two fatal crashes on the road - both before the carriage arrived.

"I've seen people slowing down for a closer look which has to be a good thing on this road," he said.

"I don't see how it can be a distraction to drivers. There are several giant heavy goods vehicles parked up at the service station nearby and down the road there's a farm which has made a giant rocket out of straw - but no one seems to be bothered about them."

"The council said I need planning permission to have the train in my garden and even if I were to apply for permission now, they say it will get rejected."

"I don't know why. I've had no complaints apart from this one planning officer."

The Diesel Multiple Unit was built in 1958 as part of a British Rail two-carriage service.

Both carriages had cabs for drivers to control the train as it shuttled back and forth, although only one had an engine. Mr Knorn's section was only fitted with brakes.

He was allowed to take it for free from a railway siding in Leeds last year where it had been used as a makeshift office as it slowly deteriorated after being taken out of service in 1989.

Since then he has spent more than £10,000 on it - £7,000 moving it by low-loader to his former home in Cambridgeshire and then to Cheshire and a further £3,000 on renovations.

He and wife Tracey, 36, a senior nursing sister, moved to their new home over Easter this year and the carriage arrived on October 6.

Less than a week later a letter arrived from Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council ordering him to move it or face enforcement action.

He is now trying to find a railway yard that will take it.

Neighbours yesterday said the carriage had helped lower speeds on the road through the village.

Retired farm worker Daniel Warburton, 79, said: "The traffic does want slowing down. Most people would slow down for something like this train and that has to be a good thing."

Another neighbour, Fred Archer, added: "There have been numerous accidents on this road with the speed people drive at."

"We have all complained about it but nothing has been done."

The council yesterday said a planning officer had been sent to investigate after receiving "a number of complaints."

A spokeswoman added: "At present the council are investigating the situation through our planning enforcement policy."

 

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